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Romero To Ride London-Paris 2010

Posted: 27th November 2009

Olympic and former world cycling champion, Rebecca Romero, is to ride London-Paris 2010. Romero, who won gold in the 3km individual pursuit at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the 3km individual pursuit world title in the same year, will line up with riders for the start of London-Paris 2010 on June 24th.

Romero said:

"I'm constantly looking for new and exciting challenges and that's why I've decided to ride the London-Paris 2010. It's a professional endurance event and I know it's going to test me physically and mentally."

Romero is the only British woman and one of only two women in the world to win summer Olympic medals in two different sports. Romero was a rowing silver medallist at the Athens Olympics in the quad sculls. Romero added:

"I'm really looking forward to the experience of riding in a fast-paced ride alongside some of the country's most serious cyclists. It's obviously a longer distance than I'm used to but that's what appeals to me. London-Paris 2010 will be one of my key targets for next year and I'm really looking forward to the challenge,"

London-Paris 2010 is the blue-riband of cyclosportives and is recognised as the closest the amateur rider can get to the Tour de France experience. The ride covers 550km in three days with a rest day in Paris. The Daily Telegraph recently ranked the event as one of the world's top 25 participation events, alongside the London and New York marathons. The event has also been named in the top ten of adventure events for women.

Also in the line-up for London-Paris 2010 is Swedish former professional cyclist, Magnus Backstedt, who won the Paris-Roubaix in 2004 and the 19th stage of the 1998 Tour de France. Backstedt now runs his own coffee company, which aims to put something back into cycling by funding Team MagnusMaximusCoffee.com, a squad of young Swedish and British riders. Backstedt said:

"London-Paris was one of few events I heard a lot about when I was a professional rider out in Europe and I have always said I would love to ride it one day. Knowing people who've ridden L2P and having heard so many great things about it, I couldn't resist riding when the opportunity came up for 2010.

"It gives me a goal to work towards and the training will keep me fit now I've ended my professional career. The event just seems to have everything, from the organisation to the sheer amount of fun everyone seems to have riding this event. I can't wait for June 24th 2010."

Registration for London-Paris 2010 opens on Monday, November 30th when details of how to enter will be available at www.londres-paris.com