London-Paris Cycle Tour Press Statement
On the afternoon of Friday 27 June 2008, a cyclist taking part in the London-Paris Cycle Tour was involved in an accident in which he sustained serious head injuries. No other cycle riders were involved in the accident.
Andy D'Agata, 44, from Surrey, was evacuated by French emergency services to a hospital in Lille for treatment. Sadly, despite continued care, he was unable to recover and died from his injuries on Saturday 28 June 2008.
The condolences of the L2P organisers, sponsors, tour staff and all participating riders are extended to the family at this sad time.
All concerned in the organisation of L2P will continue to assist the authorities in all matters related to this tragic accident.
Record number of Team Entries for 2008 London-paris Cycle Tour
London,UK. 27 May 2008
The London-Paris Cycle Tour which will roll away from Hampton Court Palace on 26th of June will boast a record line up of teams ready to take on the challenge of the 3 day, 600km run to the Eiffel Tower.
One familiar name to cycling fans the world over will be entering the event for the first time. CSC will field a strong team drawn from their corporate organisation and sporting the famous Team CSC colours. The company, which currently sponsors the world’s number 1 professional squad will for the 1st time, be extending their links with cycling into the sportive arena. Thankfully for the other teams riding the 2008 L2P, they will not be recruiting any of their star professionals such as Milan San-Remo and Eroica winner Fabian Cancellara!
However, the team to watch out for in 2008 will be Team Altio-SIS. The team’s rider roster is a veritable ‘who’s who’ of former champions and Olympic medallists. Double National Champion and TV pundit Brian Smith will be riding alongside Olympic bronze medallist Max Sciandri and both will be showing team mate and guest rider Geoff Thomas the way across the cobbles.
Defending Overall Jersey holder Jerone Walters of Australia has already stated that he’s; ‘coming back, not make up numbers’ and super-climber Michael Blann will be there to help him in the Sigma Sports team, backed by the well known south west London shop.
Anthony Burnett-Scott, twice a recipient of the Fundraiser’s Jersey, returns with the strong Team Ashurst hoping to show once again that the ‘Professional Event for Amateurs’ can do so much for charities around the world as well as provide the ultimate ‘grand tour’ sportive feel.
Lend Lease return to the fray with a new line up led by battling Phil Ransom, who has already distinguished himself in 2008 by breaking a collar bone in hard riding fashion during early season training. His toughness will be well known to the riders around him.
Disney is for the first time fielding a team in the London-Paris Cycle, riding L2P with the aim of animating the peloton on the road to Paris.
2007 Green Sprints jersey holder Anthony Shippard is back with a new and highly motivated team in Valad-Sportique. Road captain David Kirkby will be marshalling his riders in a bid to take ‘Shippy’ one rung higher that the green jersey and into the yellow of overall leader as the bunch rolls into Paris after 3 hard days in the saddle.
Making the final ‘conversion’ to cycling is multiple Olympic medallist James Cracknell. The former rower has the strength and commitment as well as the excellent Team Trainsmart around him to guide him through the rough and tumble of a fast moving peloton.
Last but by no means least, Team Glasshouse-La Fuga will make a welcome entry to the London-Paris Cycle Tour. Andrew ‘Gilly’ Gill has the prior experience of the L2P peloton and as part of last year’s 2nd placed Lend Lease team he will be out to make a mark for his new outfit.
Geoff Thomas Foundation guest charity on 2008 L2P
London, UK. 9 May 2008.
Former Crystal Palace skipper, England soccer star and super-cycling charity fundraiser Geoff Thomas, will line up as part of an all-star team in the 2008 London-Paris Cycle Tour when the event rolls out for its 3 day, 600km route to the Eiffel Tower in June.
Once again the sounds of the Palace faithful, this time Hampton Court Palace, where the event will begin, will cheer Thomas on in his latest fund-raising event in aid of the Geoff Thomas Foundation.
As a man who was picked to play for his country on 9 occasions and captained his club to an F.A.Cup final Geoff is a man used to challenges, but when he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2003, just a year after retiring from professional football, he faced by far his greatest challenge.
Having successfully battled the condition, Geoff has dedicated himself to high profile fundraising for leukaemia charities and to his own Geoff Thomas Foundation. His reputation as an ultra-cyclist was forged in 2005 when he completed the entire route of the Tour de France raising £170,000 in the process, a feat he repeated just 2 years later with former England colleague Ian Wright.
The Geoff Thomas Foundation will be the guest charity for the 2008 alongside long standing children’s educational charities Christel House, Schools for Children of Cambodia and Morning Star Children’s Centre.
Thomas will line up in a team of stars, backed by sports nutrition giant Science in Sport (SiS) alongside former classics winner and Olympic medallist Max Sciandri, former double British road race champion Brian Smith, cycling commentator Anthony McCrossan and the ever fit Pete Slater and Tim Lawson of SiS.
Thomas is looking forward to the experience even if it is with a degree of trepidation;
''I am delighted to be taking part in the London to Paris ride this year and grateful to Sven for allowing the GTF to be the guest charity. We've got a great team together so the pressure is on me now to get back on the bike and clock up some miles. This is the first time I'll be taking part in the L2P so I'm looking forward to the challenge and riding with some top class cyclists. Unfortunately, I can only envisage being with them at the start!'
For further information on the Geoff Thomas Foundation visit the official website at www.geoffthomasfoundation.com
London-Paris Cycle Tour Riders to be supported Subaru.
London, UK. 28 April 2008.
Multiple World Rally Championship – winning marque Subaru, is to become official vehicle supplier to the London-Paris Cycle Tour from 2008.
Subaru, which recently launched the boxer diesel version of its famous flat-four engine, has had an association with professional cycling in the past. It provided team vehicles for Lance Armstrong’s U.S. Postal squad in the 1990’s and is currently supplying French Pro-Tour outfit Bouygues Telecom.
In a multi-year deal Subaru (U.K.) Limited will provide vehicles to support L2P, known as ‘The Professional event for Amateurs’, in the run-up to and during the event itself. The all new boxer diesel Legacy and Outback models will be used to support each of the 4 groups on the road to Paris along with further vehicles used by the overall event control units.
John Fossey, Subaru (U.K.) Limited Marketing Manager said: 
“Working with the London-Paris Cycle Tour is an innovative new development for us and we are very pleased to join the team of Principal Brand Partners. The profile of both businesses works extremely well together and this new partnership is very positive for both companies. Cyclist’s in general are very aware of quality engineering and advanced technologies and their appreciation of our commitment to quality makes the London-Paris Cycle Tour an excellent match for us at Subaru.”
The all new ‘boxer’ diesel Subaru’s have already made their debut with L2P being featured along with event organiser Sven Thiele and jersey holders in a recent photographic shoot for U.K national, ‘Cycling Weekly’.
The London-Paris Cycle Tour leaves Hampton Court Palace on June 26th and after running through Kent to Dover will swing through the north of France to Amiens and finally down toward Paris, finishing at the iconic Eiffel Tower on June 28th.
The route takes in 600km of challenging terrain with 4 groups on the road ranging for the elite Group 1 riders to the relaxed cruising of Group 4 with jerseys awarded to best climber, best sprinter and overall classification winners each day, reflecting the ‘grand tours’ such as the Tour de France.London-Paris Cycle Tour 2008 ushers in a new era for cyclosportives
London, UK. 15 April 2008.
The London-Paris Cycle Tour 2008 continues to lead the field in the ultra competitive world of cyclosportives with the announcement of new and
significant partners that will ensure that the mass participation rides move up to a new level.
In a star-studded press conference at Stamford Bridge (shown right), home of English Premiership soccer team Chelsea, event organiser Sven Thiele unveiled an exciting double partnership with sportswear giant adidas and the governing body of cycling in the U.K. British Cycling.
adidas, the Official Sportswear Partner to London 2012, and sponsor of British Cycling are proud to announce a new 3 year sponsorship of the London 2 Paris event. Using some of their key Olympic symbols such as their 2012 ambassador James Cracknell, adidas will be offering involvement from Beijing Olympic bound cycling superstars Victoria Pendleton and Chris Hoy whilst also becoming the official jersey suppliers to the L2P peloton.
“Previously we have had involvement with the professional peloton but it’s key to adidas that we support cycling at the grass routes level too,” commented Mark Sinclair, Senior Sports Marketing Manager for adidas, “I rode the event myself last year and was really impressed by its level of professionalism and the creative way it’s structured, we’re very pleased to offer our support to the London-Paris Cycle Tour”
Also announcing a new and vibrant link with L2P was Simon Lillistone, Marketing and Communications Director for British Cycling;
“Sven Thiele has been very creative in the way the London-Paris Cycle Tour is structured. We think it’s a great way to blend leisure and competition riding and it sits perfectly within our Everyday Cycling initiative. We intend that the London-Paris Cycle Tour will be the flagship event for British Cycling in the rapidly expanding sportive market and we endorse and support it fully as such.”
Clockwise: Cracknell, Sinclair, Thiele, Roche
Amongst the guests present to share the occasion were Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell and Tour de France winner and former world 
champion Stephen Roche.
Cracknell, who since retiring from rowing has embraced endurance cycling, will line up alongside the Irish cycling legend in group 1 as both make their first appearance on the London-Paris Cycle Tour;
“The whole event looks fantastic, I’m really looking forward to it,” said James, “Riding with great champions like Stephen, especially on the 21st anniversary of his Tour de France victory, is a privilege but I know I’ll have to train hard and practice my bunch riding!”
Walters, Roche and Cracknell.
The London-Paris Cycle Tour leaves Hampton Court Palace on June 26th and after running through Kent to Dover will swing through the north of France to Amiens and finally down toward Paris, finishing at the iconic Eifel Tower on June 28th.
The route takes in 600km of challenging terrain with 4 groups on the road ranging for the elite and competitive Group 1 to the relaxed cruising of Group 4 with the all new adidas jerseys will be awarded to best climber, best sprinter and overall classification winners each day, reflecting the ‘grand tours’ such as the Tour de France.
Amateur Cycle Tour offers Professional Touch
London, UK. 10 April 2008.
For every amateur cyclist who craves being part of a professionally organised race where roads are closed and mechanical problems are resolved in seconds there is the London-Paris Cycle Tour. This year the event will reach a whole new level with increased numbers and an exciting new line of up sponsors, including sportswear giant, adidas.
Taking place from 26th to 29th June 2008, 300 riders will complete the exclusive 600km three-day cycle tour, starting at Hampton Court Palace on the outskirts of London and finishing past the Arc de Triomphe at the Eiffel Tower.
Double Olympic gold medallist, James Cracknell, is set to ride the London-Paris Cycle Tour, aiming to pit himself against former professionals, such as former Tour de France winner Stephen Roche.
He said: “I’ve taken on some huge challenges since retiring from rowing, and the London-Paris Cycle Tour really excites me. As a regular cyclist the prospect of riding on traffic free roads and having the opportunity to ride in a group with the likes of Stephen Roche, is unique.”
“Amateur sportspeople don’t usually have the opportunity to enjoy the type of professional support that is being offered on this tour. It’s a fantastic concept and I’m delighted to be taking part.”
Cracknell’s involvement in the Tour is in part due to his continued association with adidas, who having taken a keen interest in the L2P Cycle Tour over the last few years are pleased to become official sportswear suppliers to the event from 2008 onwards.
Robin Money, Head of Sports Marketing adidas Area North, commented: "The London-Paris Cycle Tour is rapidly becoming the must-do cycling event for UK amateur cyclists and is part of the adidas commitment to British Cycling and its Everyday Cycling campaign. It is a perfect way for adidas to support amateur riders in the same way that we do the National team"
Organiser Sven Thiele will unveil plans for the 2008 Tour at a select media briefing at Chelsea Football Club, Stamford Bridge, London today, Wednesday 9th April.
He said: “This is the fifth and biggest London-Paris Cycle Tour, with a new route and some unique features. Riders will not only enjoy all the ambience of a professionally organised event, but they will also be escorted into Paris during peak hours ensuring maximum visibility!”
“To have the likes of James Cracknell, Stephen Roche and Max Sciandri riding indicates the true pedigree of this event, but our new fourth group also ensures that it is accessible to a wider range of riders.
As well as attracting a raft of top class ex professional sportsman, the governing body of cycling in the U.K. is equally enthusiastic. Simon Lillistone of British Cycling commented:
“The London-Paris Cycle Tour is one of the leading Cyclosportive events and we are pleased to support the event through our Everyday Cycling programme. London-Paris forms part of our overall event calendar, available through the www.everydaycycling.com website, where participants will be able to find useful information to prepare for the event as well as using the sites group, activity log and challenge functionality.”
“Participation in cycling provides excellent health benefits and helps reduce congestion on our busy roads. This event can inspire cyclists to fulfil childhood dreams of taking part in a professionally organised event, and a pathway into cycling at any level; it certainly holds a special place in the calendar of events for 2008.”
For more information on adidas please visit www.adidas.com
The Route for 2008
Day 1 Hampton Court Palace to Dover. A new 185km (1850m of climbing) route from Hampton Court through Kent, arriving at Dover for the end of day ferry crossing to Calais. Riders will tackle the short sharp ascents of Capel le Ferne and Goudhurst Hill, the latter being familiar to race fans as a King of the Mountains climb in Stage 1 of the 2007 Tour de France. Ferry crossing overnight to Calais.
Day 2 Calais to Amiens. A massive 210 km (1400m of climbing) route that will test the mettle of every rider as the event swings north east toward the famous cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, cycling’s ‘Hell of the North’. Wheel and tyre choice will be crucial on sections like Mont Casel, a 2.5km cobbled uphill and the challenging, rolling roads of the Collines l’Artois before arrival at Amiens.
Day 3 Amiens to Paris.Leaves Amiens and winds south to Paris covering a demanding 201km (2100m of climbing) in the true spirit of the Tour de France, rolling into the capital, past the Arc de Triomphe and ending at the Eiffel Tower, a fitting spot at which to end the challenge of the 2008 London-Paris Cycle Tour.
A Galaxy of Cycling Stars to ride L2P in 2008
London, UK. 08 April 2008
Following the much talked about rides of ‘King of the Classics’ Sean Kelly and triple Tour of Flanders winner Johan Museeuw in 2007, the London-Paris Cycle Tour is set to welcome a new wave of star riders to the event for 2008.
Exactly 21 years after his legendary triple crown of Giro d’Italia, World Championship and Tour de France victories, Irish superstar Stephen Roche will once again lead the peloton into Paris, this time with the London-Paris Cycle Tour.
In 1987 Roche became only the 2nd rider in history, after the great Belgian Eddy Merckx, to achieve this stunning treble in a single season. The Dubliner was also a winner of the Paris-Nice, Tour of Romandie and Criterium International during his long and illustrious career. While Stephen can now be regularly seen as a studio expert with British Eurosport for the Grand Tours, his son Nicholas continues in the family tradition as a professional and racing with ProTour squad, Credit Agricole.
Joining Roche up the sharp end of the L2P peloton will be the last British rider to have won a single day classic, Max Sciandri. A fast man in the sprint and a versatile all rounder, Max’s greatest moment in the eyes of the British public was his solo win in the 1995 Leeds Classic. He also took 3 stages in the Giro d’Italia in his career before retiring in 2004. He now runs the GB U23 road racing programme in Italy.
Brian Smith is best known nowadays as a commentary box pundit for CyclingTV but the amiable Scotsman is a former double British National Road Race Champion, taking his first title in his opening season as a professional. He then went on to ride beside Lance Armstrong in the Motorola squad of the mid 1990’s before bowing out of the peloton in 1999. Brian will be training hard for his debut in the London-Paris Cycle Tour in 2008.
More ex-professionals are expected to join the London-Paris Cycle Tour in 2008
As the ‘Professional Event for Amateurs’ continues to gain in both popularity and respect. So keep up to date with all the latest on the biggest name’s in the event at the London-Paris website.
The London-Paris Cycle Tour will take place between June 26th–29th 2008. For further information visit the London-Paris Cycle Tour website at www.londres-paris.com.
Science in Sport sign deal as official nutrition partner with London-Paris Cycle Tour.
London, UK. 07 April 2008
U.K. Sports nutrition manufacturer Science in Sport is to become the Official Nutrition Partner to the London-Paris Cycle Tour in a deal signed this week.
The company, founded by Tim Lawson and Peter Slater will provide product and nutritional advice to the L2P community in the run up to and during the 2008 event which runs from 26th – 29th June.
SiS is one of the world’s top suppliers of nutritional products to the professional peloton having sealed prestigious deals with Spanish ProTour team Saunier Duval and Danish squad CSC, who are currently ranked No.1 team in the world.
London-Paris competitors will be able to benefit from SiS’ vast experience of preparing athletes to the very highest level both for intense competition and recreational sport.
The company will also provide product including their excellent range of Go Gels, Go Bars and Go Sports drinks in all Londres-Paris events on the run up to the Tour itself.
L2P organiser Sven Thiele is thrilled with the partnership and the benefits to all those riding this summer;
“It’s fantastic that a company of the quality of Science in Sport is joining the L2P family. Their experience and integrity is second to none and every rider should really feel the benefit of their experience in sports nutrition”
For further information of SiS product visit the Londres-Paris Cycle Tour website or visit the SIS website at www.scienceinsport.com.
Sprint King Shippard to ride Cape Epic for L2P
London, UK. 28 March 2008
2007 London-Paris Cycle Tour Sprint Jersey winner Anthony Shippard will be flying the Anglo-Gallic flag for the event in the southern hemisphere this coming week as he makes his debut in the ultra-tough Absa Cape Epic in South Africa.
Shippard, a former GB triathlete who also took the overall title in London-Paris in 2005, will swap tarmac for dirt as he partners Western Cape rider Riaan Boshoff on the gruelling 9 day off-road stage race, starting in the town of Knysna on South Africa’s Garden Route and ending outside of Cape Town at the Lourensford Wine Estate.
“This is a whole new challenge for me,” commented Shippard before leaving for The Cape, “I climbed back on a mountain bike a couple of months ago just for fun and absolutely loved it but 9 days in the bush is unlike anything else I’ve experienced, thankfully Riaan is a 3 time veteran of the race.”
Shippard and partner Boshoff will ride in the colours of Londres-Paris.com/adidas on the 900km race, the first time the German sports giant has enjoyed a joint venture with the London-Paris Cycle Tour, known as the ‘Professional Event for Amateurs.’
“We are exceptionally excited that Anthony and Riaan are riding for L2P and adidas, nobody should underestimate ‘Shippy’, he’s a fierce competitor,” says London-Paris Cycle Tour organiser Sven Thiele, “and we are thrilled that a brand whose mantra of “impossible is nothing…” will be sharing this new adventure with us.”
The Londres-Paris.com/adidas team will face stiff competition during the race as some of the biggest names in the history of MTB racing line up for the 17km Prologue including; Swiss superstar Christoph Sauser, ex-road pro Udo Bolts and living MTB legends Bart Brentjens, Tom Ritchey and the evergreen Thomas Frischknecht.
The Absa Cape Epic, presented by adidas starts with the Prologue of March 28th and runs until 5th April, ending at Elgin - Lourensford taking in over 18,500 metres of climbing in 966km of racing.
To follow the progress of Team Londres-Paris.com/adidas visit the official race website on
www.cape-epic.com or enjoy Anthony Shippard’s Race Diary on the London-Paris Cycle Tour website.
The London-Paris Cycle Tour will take place between June 26th–29th 2008. For further information visit the London-Paris Cycle Tour website at www.londres-paris.com.
Jersey Sponsors Sign for 2008
London, UK. 05 March 2008
A new and exciting route awaits the riders in the 2008 London-Paris Cycle Tour as the ‘Professional Event for Amateurs’ will, like the Tour de France itself on occasion, visit the cobbles of northern France, before swinging south to finish at the Eiffel Tower in the heart of the French capital.
However, while new riding challenges await the participants, the 3 classification jerseys on offer for Best Climber, Best Sprinter and Overall Leader will have a familiar and very welcome feel about them as all 3 major jersey sponsors continue their support for the event for another edition.
The red ‘Best Climber’ jersey, awarded to the rider that accumulates the most points within the red climbing sections of each day’s route will continue to be sponsored by top London law firm, Bircham Dyson Bell.
Current holder Michael Blann is a 3 time holder of the classification and following a threat to retire from the event at the end of 2007 has opted to attempt a record 4th victory in the category.
For those riders challenged by elevation, the green ‘Best Sprinter’ jersey is once again generously sponsored by COR-FS whose specialist software provides solutions for the global banking and asset management communities.
Former GB triathlete Anthony Shippard took the Sprinter’s classification in 2007 lifting the jersey from the shoulders of arch ‘rouleur’ Neil Goodman. This is sure to be the most hotly contested jersey of the ride, with 3 different holders in the last 3 years.
Finally the yellow ‘Overall Leader’ jersey will again bear the logo of Egg Design whose creative design and flair are the hallmark of many a successful corporate communications programme around the world.
The question remains, will ex-Rabobank Espoir rider Jerone Walters of Australia take this title for a record 3rd time in this increasingly challenging event?
The London-Paris Cycle Tour will take place between June 26th–29th 2008.
GB Olympic and Commonwealth Medallist, Emma Davies to join London-Paris training camp.
London, UK. 09 January 2008
This year’s London–Paris training camp will visit Majorca during the first week of February, helping to kick-start the training programmes of some of the hundreds of entrants who will line up in June for the 5th London-Paris Cycle Tour.
In 2007 Eurosport cycling commentary pairing David Harmon and Sean Kelly joined a group of riders from across the globe on the Canarian mountain island of Tenerife in the inaugural L2P winter camp, which culminated in the fabulous ‘Ride the Volcano’ Cyclosportif honouring the incredible professional riding career of Kelly.
This year the newest member of the Eurosport team, Emma Davies will travel out to Majorca to help dispel a little testosterone and show the boys that girls can ride a mean bike too!
Emma, who has ridden in both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and took a fabulous Bronze medal in the Pursuit and the 2006 Commonwealth Games just 6 months after breaking her back in an horrific ‘hit & run’ accident, has joined top British registered team Swift Racing for 2008 and will be on hand to pass on her expertise to the riders on this years camp.
“We are very pleased to welcome Emma to the L2P family,” says Sven Thiele, tour organiser, “she is an exceptional cyclist who has not only survived serious injury but returned to the professional ranks against all the odds. Many riders, both men and women, face their own challenge in taking part in the London-Paris Cycle Tour and Emma will be a huge inspiration to us all. Added to which she will always out-ride David Harmon, so that’s even better!”
The 2008 London-Paris Winter training camp will take place between 2nd and 9th February based at the 4-star Estrella del Mar, Alcudia, Majorca.
London-Paris Announces new "Classic" Route for 2008
London, UK
22 October 2007
Following a hugely successful 2007 event which saw over 170 riders complete the gruelling 600km parcours in 3 days, the London-Paris Cycle Tour is set to offer new challenges to entrants in 2008
Inspired by the presence of legendary ‘hard man of the cobbles’ Sean Kelly throughout the 2007 event and buoyed by the visit of multi-classics champion Johan Museeuw, the London-Paris Cycle Tour 2008 will, for the first time in its history, swing north to visit the famous ‘pave’ of the Paris-Roubaix race, before plunging down to end in Paris at the Arc de Triomphe.
Day 1 takes a new 200km route away from the Hampton Court through Kent, ‘the Garden of England’, arriving at Dover for the end of day ferry crossing to Calais. There will be no bed of roses in this garden however as riders tackle the short sharp ascents of Capel le Surn and Goudhurst Hill, the latter being familiar to race fans as a King of the Mountains climb in this year’s Tour de France.
Day 2 provides a massive 230km route that will test the mettle of every rider as the event as it swings north east toward the famous cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, cycling’s ‘Hell of the North’. Wheel and tyre choice will be crucial on sections like Mont Casel, a 2.5km cobbled uphill and the challenging, rolling roads of the Collines l’Artois before arrival at Amiens.
Day 3 leaves Amiens and winds south to Paris covering 170km in the true spirit of the Tour de France, rolling into the capital past the Arc de Triomph and arriving at the Eiffel Tower, a fitting spot at which to end the challenge of the 2008 London-Paris Cycle Tour.
“We thought we’d throw a few new elements into the mix this year,” commented event planner Matt Taylor, “day 2 is without doubt not only the highlight of the 2008 Tour but the hardest single day we’ve ever planned. It’ll be fascinating to see what happens!”
The London-Paris Cycle Tour 2008 is open to individuals and teams and will take place from the 26-29th June 2008.
Anthony Burnett-Scott top fundraiser again
London, UK
10th October 2007
Team Ashurst’s star rider and charity money raiser Anthony Burnett-Scott has once again taken the coveted jersey of top fund raiser of the 2007 edition of the London Paris Cycle Tour.
Anthony added to the £3325 he raised in 2006 with a spectacular £9295 in 2007 for the charitable organisations supported by The London-Paris Cycle Tour; Christel House, Schools for Children of Cambodia and The Morning Star Children’s Centre. This year the ride from Hampton Court Palace to the Palace at Versailles raised a staggering £50,000 for underprivileged children.
“We are enormously grateful to the organizers and riders of L2P and especially to Anthony for including the children of Christel House among the beneficiaries of the ride.” said Christel de Haan, founder of the Christel House charity “Riding is a testament to physical conditioning, mental toughness and sheer determination. On behalf of over 2600 children and their families around the world, I salute you!”
Later this year Anthony will fly to South Africa along with event co-founder Moira Finneberg to present a donation at a star studded charity evening and the top two wheeled fund raiser is thrilled at the prospect of chasing another fundraisers jersey:
“It’s the only jersey I’m likely to win! It’s an absolute pleasure and a great thrill to raise so much and to be part of such a great event, you can bet that I’ll be in the hunt again next year!”
Anthony joins the 3 existing jersey winners in this, the ‘Professional Event for Amateurs”. Former GB triathlete Anthony Shippard gained the green COR-FS Sprinter’s Jersey title to add to his overall win in 2005, whilst former Elite rider Michael Blann became the first rider to take a hat-trick of jerseys when he took the red Bircham Dyson Bell Climber’s Jersey once again. The overall title and Egg Design Leader’s Jersey went, for a second year, to Australian, former Rabobank Espoir rider, Jerone Walters.
The London-Paris Cycle tour is 3 day, 600km event in the spirit of the Grand Tours. In 2008 the route will venture through northern France capturing some of the spirit of the single day classics before ending once again in the nation’s capital.
SIS Becomes sponsor for London-Paris on eve of Event!
London-Paris Cycle Tour is pleased to announce that Science in Sport has come on board as a last minute sponsor providingadditional GO isotonic and PSP22 carbohydrate drinks for the riders.
London-Paris Cycle Tour unveils teams for 2007
London, UK
17 May 2007
The 4th edition of the London-Paris Cycle Tour, which begins from Hampton Court on 28th June, has unveiled the first teams in its new team format. The ‘Professional Event for Amateurs’ will feature teams of 4 riders for the first time in its history, entered by corporate sponsors, and just like professional teams will ride in team kit with full L2P back-up.
“This is a totally new concept for the London-Paris,” commented event founder Sven Thiele, “we have worked really hard to give this ride the feel and quality of a professional stage race and teams are integral part of creating that feel.”
The team to watch will be Team IBC, led by overall event winner in 2006, Jerone Walters. The team, backed by independent travel experts IBC, will also include the winner of the 2006 mountains classification, Michael Blann, former Great Britain hockey star Chris Bloor and Anthony ‘The Locomotive’ Schroeder.
Team IBC won’t have it all their own way however as they will face stiff competition from Team Lend Lease fielding former GB triathlete Anthony Shippard and Elite Mountain Biker Richard Vail.
Investments giants The Tudor Group has 2 teams taking part in this years event and their two-fold presence in the London-Paris peloton throws up the fascinating prospect of rival teams facing a ‘double whammy’.
The sole mixed team in the event will be Team Trainsmart, led by fitness expert Mark Clarke and riders Mark Sinclair, Antonia de Barton Watson and Rachel Przybylski, all of whom will be riding their first London-Paris Cycle Tour.
Last year’s winner of the Fundraisers Jersey, Anthony Burnett-Scott will lead his fellow lawyers, and L2P rookie Team Ashurst squad of Simon Beddow, Alexander Cox and Paul Miller on the road to Paris.
But all teams will be watching the pedal strokes of Team Museeuw-Onimpex whose riders David Harmon, Richard Hallett and Ken Jones will be supporting multiple Classics winner and former World Road Champion, Johan Museeuw in his first appearance at this most friendly of endurance events
.
Full details of all teams, sponsors and riders can be found at:
www.londres-paris.com/L2P/modules/theteams
Johan Museeuw to ride London-Paris 2007
London, UK
9 March 2007
Multiple classics winner and former World Champion, Johan Museeuw will join over two hundred other riders on this year’s London-Paris Cycle Tour taking place in advance of the 2007 Tour de France.
Nicknamed the ‘Lion of Flanders’, Museeuw was a three times winner of both the Tour of Flanders and the Paris-Roubaix races during his career becoming the dominant spring classics rider of his generation. He was also a two times winner of the World Cup but his finest moment was out sprinting Italian Mauro Gianetti to take the World Road Race Championship in 1996 in Lugano, Italy.
Now running a blossoming bike manufacturing concern the Lion has been keeping himself in shape since his retirement 2 years ago and will join the King of the Classics, Irishman Sean Kelly and his Eurosport commentary colleague David Harmon on the road to Paris.
“We were bowled over when Johan expressed an interest in riding,” says Tour organizer Sven Thiele, “Johan and Sean are dream additions to the event and Johan’s understanding of the concept and his instant support of our chosen charities was quite overwhelming. I’m thrilled.”
Museeuw Bikes will also be donating specially prepared children’s bicycles to The London-Paris supported Charities; Christel House, Schools for Children of Cambodia and Morning Star Children’s Centre.
“Johan Museeuw is one of the all time greats in cycling and it will be a huge honour to ride alongside him and Sean into Paris, it’s certainly the nearest I’ll get to riding with the greats!” said David Harmon. “The whole concept of the Tour is terrific and it really shows when cycling legends want to come along for the ride.”
The 2007 London-Paris Cycle Tour starts with a 150km stage from Hampton Court to Portsmouth on 28th June, followed by an overnight transfer to St Malo. The following two days stages will cover 450km of undulating terrain into Paris, arriving at Versailles on June 30th. The tour is known for being sociable, where international riders can mix and ride the demanding 600km’s with full support and rolling road closures. It is the “professional event for amateurs”.
This year, for the first time, the organizers have incorporated the concept of teams and the battle will be on to secure the services of King Kelly and the Lion of Flanders!
More information on the London-Paris Cycle Tour 2007 is available at www.londres-paris.com and at www.museeuwbikes.be
'Ride the Volcano' Cyclosportif launched by London-Paris Cycle Tour and Nexus Inmobilarias
London, UK and Tenerife, Spain
31 January 2007
The London-Paris Cycle Tour (L2P) and Nexus Inmobilarias today announced a very special cyclosportif, “Ride the Volcano”, to take place in Tenerife on 11th February 2007.
The ride honours Sean Kelly, one of the greatest Classics riders ever, who will be in Tenerife courtesy of L2P’s exclusive 2007 training camp.
“Ride the Volcano” is named after the largest mountain in Spain, Mount Teide on Tenerife, some 3,700 meters in height, the perfect backdrop for some serious training.
The sportif forms an unique part of the training camp by creating a day where L2P shares with local cyclists the privilege of riding with a true cycling legend in return for a nominal donation to L2P’s charity of choice, Christel House.
Charitable aims notwithstanding, “Ride the Volcano” couples rolling road closures, provided by the Policia Local and Guardia Civil, with 2,400 metres of hard climbing over 111 km.
Also riding on the day will be David Harmon, Eurosport Commentator, Jerone Walters, “EGG Leaders Jersey” L2P 2006, Michael Blann “Bircham Dyson Bell Climbers Jersey”, L2P 2005/6 and Sven Thiele, Founder and Chairman of the London-Paris Cycle Tour.
Sean Kelly commented:
“I am deeply touched to be taking part in ‘Ride the Volcano’, which is being held in my honour - I have a long and pleasant association with Spain and I am particularly happy to have the opportunity to cycle the beautiful northern region of Tenerife. Providing such an event for Northern Europeans during our cold winter months as part of a training camp can only be motivating for the impending summer and London-Paris Cycle Tour in late June. I intend to make full use of the climbing miles and share a hard day in the saddle with local riders.”
Sven Thiele added:
“The cold winter months can prove quite demanding. The camp is a great way to build endurance and strength, meet fellow riders, as well as riding in a brilliant sportif with the local Spanish riders. The support we have received in providing rolling road closures, services and sponsors has been magnificent. ‘Ride the Volcano’ should make this camp a very memorable experience.”
Juan Marrero, President of the Federacion Insular De Ciclismo de Tenerife, said:
“It is a great honour that London – Paris Cycle Tour and Sean Kelly have chosen our island to host their winter training camp. As fans of cycling, it is a great pleasure for us to welcome a previous winner of the Vuelta a España, the most prestigious race in our event calendar. We extend every hospitality and look forward to sharing a day’s cycling with one of our sport’s elite riders’’.
A spokesperson for the Ayuntamiento del Puerto del Puerto de la Cruz added, “We are pleased to have been able to make available the facilities necessary to host Sean Kelly and the London-Paris cycle tour for a day that promises to be both enjoyable for all our cycling enthusiasts, as well as to highlight the ideal conditions that exist here for cycle training and preparation.’’
‘Ride the Volcano’ riders will set off from the premises of one of its corporate sponsors, Club Tarahal, Calle Aceviño, La Paz, Puerto de la Cruz, at 08h30 on 11th February.
Sean Kelly, David Harmon, the L2P riders and event sponsors Nexus Inmobilarias will be handing out T-shirts and signing autographs from 08h00. Serious riders who wish to take part are required to register at Club Tarahal from 07h30 on 11th February, and to produce a ‘cycling card’ to enter.
Jerry Graber of Club Tarahal said, “Club Tarahal is pleased to supply accommodation to L2P in return for a generous donation to our mutual charity of choice, Christel House; it is a great pleasure when two organisations’ commercial agendas coincide in such a beneficial way”.
Francisco Valero, Managing Director of corporate sponsor Nexus Inmobilarias, commented “We are pleased to have a hand in assisting the cycling community of Tenerife to enjoy a days riding with someone of the stature of Sean Kelly – that the day ultimately benefits charity as well can only be a plus for all concerned – and our hope is that sufficient interest will be shown to enable us to convince L2P to repeat this event in 2008!”
About the London-Paris Cycle Tour
The London-Paris Cycle Tour is a professional endurance event for amateurs. The cyclosportif is 600km in length over three days and takes place from the 28 June – 1 July 2007. It is styled on the Tour de France, has full support and rolling road closures, and is the closest most amateurs will get to riding like a pro. The event hosts riders from all over the world is known for its sociable nature, where Olympic athletes, ex-professionals and amateurs mix.
www.londres-paris.com
email: moira@londres-paris.com
Tel: +44 7710 236 140
About Christel House
The mission of Christel House is to help children around the world break the cycle of poverty and become self-sufficient, contributing members of society. Currently there are Christel House facilities in Mexico, India, Venezuela, South Africa, Serbia and the USA.
www.christelhouse.org
email: elizabeth.taylor6@btinternet.com
Tel :+44 1858 535 453
About Nexus Inmobilarias
One of Tenerife’s leading and innovative estate agencies with offices in the north and south of the island, and Corporate Sponsor of “Ride the Volcano”, will be handing out T-shirts and organising an autograph-signing session before the start of the ride at Club Tarahal from 08h00 to 08h30 on Sunday 11th February 2007.
www.nexusprop.eu
email: franciscov@nexusprop.eu
Tel: 636 650748
About Club Tarahal
An impressive 41-apartment holiday resort situated in La Paz, Puerto de la Cruz within walking distance of the Botanical Gardens. Club Tarahal is proud to be associated with “Ride the Volcano” and is providing accommodation for all invited riders and their back-up teams. As part of its commitment to the Christel House charity, Club Tarahal is donating all monies received from accommodation to Christel House.
www.nexusleisure.com
email: conchiv@nexusleisure.com
Tel: 922 37 62 35