Portofino to Rome 2011
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September 15th - Day 4
99 miles from Porto Santo Stefano to ROMA
Well we've done it ! At some points quite literally by the skin of our teeth but yes we have done it, we have arrived in Rome!
Very scary traffic heading in to Rome but we pedalled on with the expletives and honking of the horns from the locals only encouraging us to pedal faster....
A total of 360 miles in 4 days isnt bad going at all.
We are just peeling off the lycra for the last time and applying the after sun before heading off to the Hotel Eden to celebrate with a Black Tie Celebration Dinner.
It has been the toughest and by far the hottest challenge to date but a great achievement for everyone.
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Mark and the rest of the Middle Aged Men in Lycra
September 14th - Day 3
84 miles from Marina Di Bibbona to Porta Santo Stefano
A sweltering, skin hugging 40degrees today but the MAMILS have pedalled on and in good spirits too!
It has been a pretty mixed bag today really what with the graceful tumbles of Mr Malley and Will Downing this morning and then Dean Draper had a puncture this afternoon - thankfully we have all now arrived safely at our hotel in Porto Santo Stefano and have managed to avoid any major motorways en route!
Everyone has really pulled their own today and we have covered nearly 100 miles from Marina Di Bibbono to Porto Santo Stefano and believe us when we say...... it has been scorchio!
Very hot and sporting a few aches and pains, a dip in the sea and a well deserved beer are on the menu!
Click here for pictures from today's ride
September 13th - Day 2
78 miles from Sarzana to Marina Di Bibbona
We've covered 78 miles today on the second day of this year's leg of the Tour of Europe. We started early this morning from Sarzana to Marina Di Bibbona on the Italian coast. Its been extremely hot today - 30 degrees - which has made it harder going but we've only had a couple of hills to climb and in the main we've had a moderately flat course for once!
Bit of a hairy moment this afternoon when some dodgy navigating resulted in us ending up on a motorway ! We thought the good natured Italian drivers were pipping their horns to wish us well along own journey - apparently not. A quick exit at the earliest opportunity got us back on to the much safer coast road.
Everyone has done really well and though the group got a little split up in a few places we've all finished today's ride in good time and good spirits. A cool down and an early night lined up before we get on the bikes for the 88 miles from here to Santa Liberato tomorrow. Click here to see pictures from today's ride.
September 12th 2011 - Day 1
55 miles from Portofino to Sarzana
The team have landed in Genoa, picked the bikes up in Portofino and after a quick photo opp outside the Hotel Continental where they stayed last year they're on the road. The pink cycling jerseys are a bit snug but they're all safely on the road at the start of this year's challenge.
A few riders got lost today and did well overe the expected 55 miles and we had one fall and a puncture - keep checking the website for further updates !
Team Dransfield - Portofino to Rome Charity Bike Ride Challenge
The 2020 Tour of Europe Challenge is part of an ongoing project to raise money for charity. The aim is to cover a route through Europe by bike with a leg every year and hopefully finishing up back in London in 2020 where the team set out from in 2007.
Last year the team finished their muscle aching journey in the Italian resort of Portofino and on September 12th they'll start off from there heading 516 km (340 miles) Italian capital on Friday September 16th.
This year we are supporting the NSPCC, The Childrens Hospital in Sheffield and Leukaemia Research.
To donate please CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR FUNDRAISING SITE
Keep and eye on this blog during the challenge for regular updates
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