Wakefield Hospice Twin Town Tour Cycle Challenge

Itinerary:

Friday 21st September 2018 – Yorkshire Day. Riders depart from Wakefield Hospice heading across West, North and East Yorkshire before arriving in Hull, and finishing the days cycling at the ferry docks. Riders will then board a ferry to sail overnight to Zeebrugge.

Saturday 22nd September 2018 – WWI Day. Departing Zeebrugge in the morning, riders will set off south travelling through Belgium’s iconic WWI sites including Passchendaele, Tyne Cot memorial, the town of Ypres (including cycling through Menin Gate) and Lijssenthoek. Lijssenthoek is a special stop on the day, as riders will visit the grave of Nellie Spindler. Nellie was a nurse from Wakefield who cared for the armed forces not far from the front line in a field station. Nellie is one of only two British women to be buried in a British military cemetery with servicemen. In addition, riders will link into cycling history by taking on the Kemmelberg, a 15% gradient climb used regularly in the Spring Classics. Finally you will finish around Wevelgem, another town synonymous with the Belgian Spring Classics season. Overnight stay near Wevelgem.

Sunday 23rd September 2018 – Tour de France Day. Travel from Wevelgem towards Roubaix, where riders will ride past the infamous outdoor velodrome before picking up the reverse of the Tour de France stage 9 route from just a few months earlier. Towards the end of the day, riding through Scarpe-Escaut Regional Natural Park, you will head to Henin-Beaumont (twin town of Wakefield) where you will finish in the town square. Following a celebratory dinner in Henin-Beaumont riders will stay overnight nearby.

Monday 24th September 2018 – Travel Day. On a high from a fantastic three days of cycling, you will have a relaxing morning before heading to Lille. Here you will board the Eurostar to London before traveling back to Wakefield via train. You will finally be welcomed back to Wakefield Hospice where you will be able to collect your bikes and luggage and head for home, knowing you have taken part in a truly epic and unique cycle challenge, making a huge difference to the lives of patients and their families here at the hospice.

Costs:

The total cost of the trip is £600. This is broken down as a non-refundable deposit of £200 followed by two further payments of £200. The deposit must be paid by the end of February, the second payment by 28th April and the final payment by 28th June. All riders are required to raise a minimum of £350 sponsorship.

We are promoting the event nine months ahead of the actual dates to ensure riders have plenty of time to make the payments and raise the sponsorship.

The event organiser, Jamie Strachan will be on hand to provide advice and support to help you with your fundraising in the build up to the event.

Included:

Overnight accommodation on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

All transport costs including ferry and Eurostar

Lunches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Evening meal on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Water and snacks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Transport of bike and main luggage back to Wakefield Hospice

Mechanical support during the ride from back up van

Designated ride leader

Full route mapping and signage of route

Free exclusive event cycle jersey

Full support in advance of the event from the hospice event organiser

The only expenditure you will be responsible for is any food and drinks purchased outside of the details above (no alcoholic drinks will be provided) and any souvenirs or additional items you choose to purchase.

Please note you will need to organise your own travel insurance for the challenge.