LONDON TO PARIS BIKE RIDE - 26TH TO 29TH JUNE 2008
GEOFF Thomas is on his bike again and heading back to France for the third time in four years.
The latest fund-raising challenge for the Geoff Thomas Foundation will see the former England footballer, and leukaemia survivor, tackle the gruelling London to Paris challenge ride.
The route may not be quite on the scale of the entire Tour de France routes that Geoff and his team took on in 2005 and 2007.
But with riders covering 600km in three days, starting in Hampton, London on June 26, the challenge is not one to be taken lightly.
This year, just to make it even more challenging, the route takes in cobbled sections of the famous one day classic road race Paris to Roubaix.
"I just can't seem to get away from the bike!" joked Geoff who has also run the London Marathon this year as part of his efforts to raise funds and awareness for the GTF.
"I must admit I haven't done much cycling so far this year with most of my time and energy being spent on training for the marathon. But since the weather improved, I've been getting out for a couple of rides and, hopefully, I'll be in good enough shape to get through.
"I like the obvious link between cycling and our Foundation and I like the friends and partnerships we have made in the cycling community over the past few years. Hopefully, events like this - and many others that we have planned for this year and moving ahead - can only help what we are trying to achieve with the Foundation."
Other team members in ‘Geoffs’ elite team include former Olympic Bronze medallist Max Sciandri and former British road race champion Brian Smith.
One of Geoff's most loyal backers, sports nutrition company Science in Sport, are again involved with Peter Slater and Tim Lawson from SIS part of the GTF team riding London-Paris.
"The idea to enter a team in the London to Paris event came about over a beer in Pau, France last November after the Science in Sport team had just ridden the 2008 Etape du Tour route as a recce for a promotional DVD," explained Pete.
"Geoff was invited as a guest commentator for the DVD after his epic Tour rides and accepted the challenge of entering a team in London to Paris from co-commentator Anthony McCrossan. It will be an interesting three days in the saddle, but being the true professional sportsman I’m sure Geoff will have no problem leading Max out for the key sprints and stage wins!!”
For more information on the London to Paris ride visit:
