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Rugby Legends to Ride The London-Paris 2010

Story posted March 2nd, 2010: Source: Sybil Ruscoe  | www.londres-paris.com

England and New Zealand rugby legends, Will Carling and Zinzan Brooke will be riding The London-Paris 2010. Carling, who won 72 caps for England and was captain from 1988-96, will cycle in the event from June 24th – 27th. Under his leadership, England won three Grand Slams and reached the 1991 World Cup final.

Above: Will Carling and his new Specialized bike

Carling and his team will be riding for the international children’s charity Right To Play (www.righttoplay.org.uk), which aims to improve the lives of the world’s children by using the power of sport and play for development, health and peace.   Right To Play works with communities to create sport and play projects that empower vulnerable children and foster leadership skills, teamwork, self-esteem and fair play.

Carling said: “The L2P is the Six Nations of cyclosportives and it’s going to be every bit as tough and demanding as a bruising encounter at Twickenham.   But I’m training hard and we’re determined to make it to Paris."

“If it’s tough out on the road for us, all we have to think about is the young people we’re cycling for.  Children across the globe face unimaginable hardships and through Right To Play we use sport as an educational tool to make a significant improvement to their lives. I’m really looking forward to leading my team out on the road to Paris.   I only hope we make it to the Eiffel Tower.”

Brooke was a legendary number eight for the All Blacks who played in 58 Tests.  Three years ago he survived a blood clot on the brain after a taxi accident in Spain, where he was coaching the Barbarians.  

Brooke said:  “I’m always looking for new challenges and when Will talked to me about The L2P, I immediately joined the Right To Play team.   As a professional sportsman, I know the power of sport and how it can build self-esteem and self-confidence.   Respect through sport is at the heart of what Right To Play is trying to do.”

Riding with Team Right To Play will be Carling’s 22-year old stepson, Tom, Carling’s business partner in the rugby website www.RuckU.com Mike Powell and businessman, Ian Lobley, a partner in 3i's Venture Portfolio. Carling and Brooke’s fundraising pages can be viewed at:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/London2Paris

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ZinzanBrooke

The London-Paris 2010, staged by HotChillee, the global marketing and events company, is the blue-riband of cyclosportives.  It 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 L2P as one of the world’s top 25 events, alongside the London and New York marathons.  The event has also been named in the top ten of adventure events for women.

Carling and Brooke join Olympic and former world cycling champion, Rebecca Romero, who is riding The L2P 2010 as part of her switch from track to road cycling.  She is riding in preparation for the World Time Trial Championship in Melbourne this September.

Also in the line-up for London-Paris 2010 is former professional cyclist, Magnus Backstedt, who won the Paris-Roubaix in 2004 and the 19th stage of the 1998 Tour de France. Other big name riders from sport and show business will be announced shortly.

This year’s L2P sponsorship partners are adidas, Science in Sport, Specialized, Cyclevox, Sigma Sport, Mavic, Sportique and Pearson Cycles.