Team set off from Lyon for Mountain Cycling Challenge!

11 June 2009

A team of charity cyclists from Barnsley and Hull have arrived in Lyon in France for the start of their 265 mile mountain cycling challenge taking them from Lyon to Marseilles.

The team from Dransfield Properties in Sheffield and PDR in Hull are tackling Mont Ventoux - which features in the Tour de France - during their four day journey.

Headed by brothers Mark and Paul Dransfield the team of cyclists are raising money for Leukaemia Research. The money raised will help to fund the research work the charity supports at The Children’s Hospital in Sheffield.  Last year the team raised more than £36,000.

Mark Dransfield, Managing Director of Dransfield Properties Limited said: "With Mont Ventoux to tackle this is undoubtedly going to be the toughest route yet, but we have been training on the hills around Sheffield to build up our stamina. We're determined to complete the course and raise as much money as possible.”

Friday is going to be the toughest day when the team tackle the 6,273 ft high mountain.

This is the third leg of the DPL and PDR tour. Starting in 2007 the team have already covered London to Paris followed by Paris to Lyon last year, they’re hoping to complete their Tour of Europe  in 2020!

  To sponsor our team visit Mark Dransfield or Andrew Malley's just giving pages http://www.justgiving.com/markdransfield1  http://www.justgiving.com/andrewmalley.

To arrange to speak to the team during the journey contact Amanda Holmes on 01226 360644 or 07824 444017.

Keep an eye on our website for updates www.dransfield.co.uk and watch the team’s tweets at https://twitter.com/TeamDransfield

Picture shows the team leaving Lyon Airport on Wednesday June 10th.

Day 1, Wednesday 10th June (48 miles)

• Flight: Manchester/Lyon 1035/1330
• After hopefully arriving on time at Lyon Airport the team will be riding 48 miles with the first overnight stop near St Vallier

Day 2, Thursday 11th June (88 miles)

• Cycling 88 miles, the longest day’s cycle but not the toughest!
• Overnight stop at Suze-la-Rousse

Day 3, Friday 12th June (57 miles)

• Climb up Mont Ventoux (yes, the one the Tour de France goes up). This is the pinnacle and focus of this years ride. By far the hardest day’s cycling the team has ever encountered. Check out www.montventouxwebcam.com.
• There will be a gentle 20 mile (mostly uphill) 'warm up' before the team start the serious climb at Malaucene and the rest of the day will be spent simply grunting up and flying down Mont Ventoux into Carpentras.

Day 4, Saturday 13th June (74 miles)

• Sprint finish into Marseilles

Notes to Editor

About Leukaemia Research

1. Leukaemia Research is the only national charity devoted exclusively to improving treatments, finding cures and learning how to prevent leukaemia, Hodgkin’s and other lymphomas, myeloma and the other related blood disorders, diagnosed in 24,500 people in the UK every year. Further information, including patient information booklets, is available from www.lrf.org.uk or call 020 7405 0101.

2. Over the next five years, Leukaemia Research urgently needs to raise over £100 million to commit to new research across the UK. From basic laboratory research to clinical trials with patients, Leukaemia Research is committed to saving lives by funding high quality, carefully selected research throughout the UK.

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk