CYCLING FOR CHARITY REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
July 2011
A Galashiels dad has raised money for Borders children by cycling one of the toughest stages of the Tour de France on Sunday.
Father-of-two Richard Moore has been training for 18 months to take on the 130-mile closed-road section in the Massif Central and fulfil a lifelong dream.
Before the start, Richard admitted: “This will be unbelievably hard for me and will take me about 10 hours to complete.”
His 40th birthday present to himself was to see him join up with 10,000 others on the Acte II stage of l’Etape du Tour, taking place a week after the pros blasted through.
The official sportive is supported by the Tour de France organisers – and even they describe it as “a real leg-breaker”.
The highest point of the mountainous ride is 1,589m and the route takes in eight official climbs (three Category 2s, three Category 3s and two Category 4s).
His choice of charity came about after an accidental meeting with Borders Childrens Charity (BCC) fundraisers in a big red London bus. “I didn’t want the money I raised to be swallowed up in a big national charity. I’ve done that before when I raised money for Macmillan after my Dad died 10 years ago, walking the Three Peaks (Britain’s highest mountains).
“I came across BCC when shopping in Peebles when they toured with their London bus last year and really felt that this would be a great cause to support because it would benefit local kids and so make a real difference to the community.”
Richard, a lifelong cyclist who enjoys Sunday morning club runs and occasional sportives, ramped up his training starting with two-hour 25-mile loops to nearly eighthour rides covering 140 miles. He completed the 87-mile Kinross sportive in April and, more recently, the local 108-mile Braw Lad Baw Breaker organised by Gala cycling club.
“It’s always been an ambition of mine to do the Etape and my wife Clare consented to all the training I’ve needed this year because I’m 40 in October: it’s my mid-life crisis.”
And with her support and that of his sponsors, he achieved his ambition AND raised over £2000 for Borders Children’s charity.
Commenting on his achievement, Richard said: “It was a really hard ride with the magazine Cycling Weekly calling it "L'Etape du Torture". The weather was awful with sub-zero temperatures, strong head-winds and heavy rain.
“With these conditions some riders were reportedly suffering from hypothermia. Some were even evacuated from the high point of the ride, the Col du Pas de Payrol, at 1,600m for their own safety.
“Indeed, because of the weather forecast only 4,053 of 7,223 registered riders started. And only 1,982 of those finished. That compares with a normal attrition rate of 33%.
“For the record I was placed 1,079 so pretty much midway and I was really, really happy with that. My official time was 9hrs 44mins. The fastest was 6hrs 48mins and the slowest of the finishers was 11hrs 31mins.
“But the really important thing is that between us we have raised £2,092.71 including giftaid but excluding the £250 I hope to get from RBS (my employer). That is fantastic.
“So thank you all, Borders Children's Charity really do appreciate this generosity”.