Marie Curie launches once in a lifetime opportunity to ride ahead of the Tour de France
Press release published
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Marie Curie, the official charity partner of the Tour de France Grand Départ, this week launches the Power Peloton. A gruelling cycling challenge which offers 25 people the chance to ride on Stage One of the Tour de France, just hours before cycling legends such as Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome. On the 5th July this year Le Tour, the world’s largest annual sporting event, will visit Yorkshire beginning in the historic city of Leeds before moving 190kms to the spa town of Harrogate via the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Then on 6th July it moves from York to Sheffield via the Peak District National Park, before heading south for a third stage from Cambridge to London. Marie Curie’s Power Peloton, a feat of cycling endurance, will see the 25 participants undertake one of the biggest challenges of their lives and take on the gruelling roads and stunning scenery of Stage One just hours ahead of the Tour de France Publicity Caravan leads out the pro peloton. The elite group of 25 riders will take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity with each of them raising £19,000 - enough money to fund a Marie Curie Nurse for an entire year. As well as this, each of the participants will have the opportunity to attend an exclusive training weekend with coaching and nutritional advice from a top cycling coach and visit Paris to watch the thrilling climax of the Tour from the grandstand on the Champs-Élysées. Dr Jane Collins, Chief Executive of Marie Curie, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a very select group of people to take on one of the biggest challenges of their lives as well as raising an amazing amount of money to help support the work of our Marie Curie Nurses. “This challenge is not for the faint hearted, but we’re calling on cyclists to take on this very exclusive challenge before all the places are gone.” Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “It is great to have a UK charity partner for the Grand Départ of the Tour de France and particularly one which is so close to my heart. Marie Curie’s activity and initiatives in the run up to the Grand Départ will raise much needed funds for people coping with cancer and make a difference to thousands of lives.” -ENDS- |
Contact information
Marie Curie press office
- 0844 893 2101
- media@mariecurie.org.uk
Updated
Notes to editor
Marie Curie is the Official Charity Partner of the Tour de France Grand Départ in the UK.
About the Power Peloton
The Power Peloton is being provided to Marie Curie by Sports Tours UK in association with Tour de France Hub and Welcome to Yorkshire.
Participants in the Power Peloton are required to maintain a high level of fitness to take part in the event and be capable of riding an average speed of at least 18mph over a period of approx. 7-8 hours.
Riders will need to remain at least 2.5 hours ahead of the pro riders to ensure that the whole group is allowed to complete the course, anyone who is unable to keep the pace will be removed from the course for safety reasons.
As part of the Power Peloton, participants will get:
The sponsored nurses will have the participant’s name/company logo on their uniform for 365 days in recognition of the fundraising.
PRE GRAND DÉPART TRAINING CAMP
Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 April
- Briefing on the Stage One weekend
- Cycle training ride
- Seminar on training, nutrition and getting ready for the challenge - attended by an ex-UK pro rider
- Team dinner – with guest speaker
- Overnight accommodation
- Option for morning ride and lunch
LE GRAND DÉPART
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Thursday 3 – Sunday 6 July
Thursday 3 July
- Seats at the presentation of the teams in Leeds
- Dinner
- 3 nights half board accommodation at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate
Friday 4 July
- Stage one briefing
- Route recce ride
- Team dinner and early night Saturday 5 July
- Ride on Stage One with official accreditation, on the same day as the pros. This fully supported ride includes official finish line and podium experiences.
- Bespoke Power Peloton kit from Endura
- Support from experienced reps and NEG escort on the road
- Water, snacks and nutrition out on the road
- Mechanical assistance
- Grandstand seats for Stage One finish in Harrogate
- Two tickets for you and a guest to attend the official champagne reception and celebratory gala dinner at the Royal Hall, Harrogate.
REUNION AND VIP HOSPITALITY AT THE GRAND FINALE
Champs-Elysées, Paris
Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 July
- Eurostar to Paris
- Overnight accommodation near Tour Eiffel
- Grandstand hospitality by the finish line of the 2014 Tour de France
About Marie Curie
Marie Curie is the leading charity providing care to people with any terminal illness in their own homes or in one of its nine hospices. The charity is also a leader in research into the best ways of caring for people with a terminal illness. In addition to this the charity designs and advises on end of life services and works to ensure that the best possible care and patient choice is at the heart of commissioning end of life care across the UK. All Marie Curie services are completely free of charge. Around 70% of the charity’s income comes from donations with the balance of funds coming from the NHS.
Tour de France
- The Tour de France is the world’s biggest annual sporting event and attracts 12 million spectators along the route in a typical year's race
- There are 4700 hours of TV coverage
- 2000 accredited journalists from around the world attend
Welcome to Yorkshire
- Welcome to Yorkshire is the official tourism agency for Yorkshire, working to grow the county’s visitor economy.
- Welcome to Yorkshire is a not-for-profit membership organisation, funded in part by local grants, sponsorship and Welcome to Yorkshire members.
- All money raised is reinvested directly back into promoting Yorkshire.
Welcome to Yorkshire led the winning bid to bring the Grand Départ to the county. The Grand Départ of the Tour de France takes place in Yorkshire on the weekend of the 5th and the 6th July. The first stage races from Leeds to Harrogate via the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the second stage races from York to Sheffield via Pennine Yorkshire and the Peak District National Park.
More details about the Grand Départ are available online at www.letouryorkshire.com – a third stage takes place on the 7th July racing from the cycling city of Cambridge to historic heart of London before it returns to northern France.
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