Teenager taking on his own Tour de France

At 17 Jake Hill is too young to take part in the actual Tour de France so has decided to re-create the 2161 miles of the famous race as ’there is no other bike ride so long and so tough’. Money raised will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust chosen by Christ’s Hospital boarding school.

“I sent an email around my school asking what charity they wanted me to do this for and to justify their reason,” he said. “I wish I could do all the charities that were listed but the Teenage Cancer Trust was the majority vote by over 80 percent.”

Training has been going well and Jake says living in Warnham means he can head off into Surrey for a cycle.

To complete the trip, which is just under three and a half times the length of the UK, in the target time of just over three weeks Jake will have to cycle 108 miles a day.

For 1200 miles of the journey Jake will be joined by his friend Tim Gauntlett, whom he met in his first year at Christ’s Hospital.

In the future Jake would love to take part in the real Tour de France alongside ‘the likes or Mark Cavendish and Lance Armstrong’ but he knows that his trip is going to be just as tough.

“I am really looking forward to it, I think it is going to be painful but it is going to be a great experience,” Jake said. “No doubt there will be crashes, cramps and pain but it is all to look forward to.”

He has no doubt the best mile will be the last mile when he can look at the little computer on the bike and see there is only one left. “There will a great sense of achievement that is what I most look forward to,” he said.

Jake will be setting of in late June, early July depending on when they are ready.

Jake wanted to thank Tim, kit sponsors Velotex, Freeborn cycles, Vaughan Holme and Ben Vessey.

For more information or to support the event visit: www.facebook.com/JAKESTOURDEFRANCE