Your news: Cyclist to mark 50th year, in Provence

A cyclist from Slinfold has taken on a string of charity fundraising challenges, in England, France, and Germany.
John WillcoxJohn Willcox
John Willcox

John Willcox told the County Times that he decided to take on four major challenges to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

The first one - the Brighton Marathon - is already out of the way, while the Berlin Marathon and the London to Surrey 100mile bike ride are both some way off.

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In the meantime, challenge number two will see him take on Mont-Ventoux, by all three ascents, on his 50th birthday.

John WillcoxJohn Willcox
John Willcox

He explains: “Many years ago on holiday in France I was on top on Mont-Ventoux, ‘The Giant of Provence’, an iconic mountain often used as a summit finish stage of the Tour de France.

“We came across a memorial to Tom Simpson one of Great Britain’s most successful and entertaining pro tour cyclists who sadly died on Ventoux during the 13th stage of the 1967 Tour de France.

“I was moved to discover that he died the very day I was born, 13th July 1967.

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“From that day, and since becoming a keen cyclist, I have harboured a desire to ride Ventoux in his memory.

“But not just that, on my 50th birthday I will attempt to join the Club des Cingles du Mont-Ventoux and ride all three ascents in one day, 85 miles and 14,426 feet of ascending. I am, to put it mildly, a little nervous, it will be hot and the Mistral can be raging.

“So firstly, a big thank you to everyone who has so generously sponsored me so far, to everyone else, I’m up for this challenge and I hope you can dig deep and sponsor me whatever you can spare in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.”

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