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What you need to know about Cure Leukaemia’s London 2 Paris: Inspiring the Revolution’ ride

Whether you are cycling in Cure Leukaemia’s London 2 Paris: Inspiring the Revolution' ride, spectating or just wish to find out more about this epic challenge, here you will find Cycle SOS’ guide to this fantastic event that we are sponsoring.

What you need to know

Setting off from London and arriving in Paris three days later, cyclists taking part in Cure Leukaemia’s London 2 Paris: Inspiring the Revolution' ride will be riding 80 miles a day and making around 458,000 revolutions of their bike wheels, as they cover the 500 kilometres from the UK capital to the French capital.

The ride, in aid of the charity, Cure Leukaemia, is part of a wider challenge organised by former footballer and leukaemia survivor Geoff Thomas. The challenge will see him and many others, including the 300 people taking part in this ride, attempt to raise £2 million in two years to battle against this rare form of blood cancer.

When will it be taking place?

The ride will be departing London in the early hours of Thursday 18th June and will make its way to Paris by Sunday 21st June.

Where does it start?

As the name suggests, London! But more specifically besides the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park. Riders will register at Greenwich Tea Pavilions in the park between 6:30 and 7:30am, the peloton will then depart London at 8:00am.

What bikes will the participants be riding?

The bike each participant rides is largely up to them, but if we were to offer advice we advise that it is something fast, light and equipped for the road and the hill climbing challenges that the road to Paris will throw before them. It’s no place for rugged mountain bikes or leisurely roadsters.

How long will participants be riding for?

Each cyclist will be covering around 80 miles a day. On the Thursday, this will mean setting off at 8:00am. Whilst once in France, this means setting off each day at roughly 9:00am and arriving at base for for roughly 5:30pm.

There will be 2 stops on each day of the ride. The first will be for lunch, giving riders an opportunity to refuel. While the second will mid-afternoon for drinks and snacks.

Where will the ride pass through?

Starting in London, the ride will pass through the following places:

Calais

Abbeville

Beauvais

Paris

Where can you see the action?

While you won’t be able to join the ride throughout unless you are donning your lycra, there will be certain points where you will be able to see the riders. These include the Grand Départ from the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park, day 2’s depart from Calais, day 3 in Abbeville and the peloton into the final stretch into Paris on day 4. Should you wish to see the riders finish, you will be able to on the afternoon of the 21st as they make their way on to the cobbles to the Arc de Triomphe and onto the finish line besides the Eiffel Tower.

The arrival into Paris will be spectacular with 300 riders cycling down the Champs-Elysees under full road closures. For the most impactful spectating point, it is recommended that guests make their way to the Arc De Triomphe looking down Avenue de la Grande. While riders will begin to arrive in Paris at approximately 4pm, it is advised that spectators start gathering from 3pm so not to miss out on the action.

What kit should each rider have?

For a ride of this magnitude, each rider should definitely have with them suitable cycling shoes, comfortable performance cycle clothing (yes, that means Lycra!), water, energy bars, a basic multi tool, waterproofs, base layers and importantly for the interests of safety, a cycling helmet. On this ride however, all luggage and other kit essentials will be carried by the support team.

Who makes up the support team and how many people will there be?

The support team is made up of crew, physios, mechanics, filming crew, photographers and drivers, there will also be outriders on motorbikes with the cyclists. In total, the support team will be made up of around 40 people.

For more information about our services or to start your claim, call 0808 100 9995 and speak to one of our specialist solicitors. We’re here to help. You can email us or schedule a callback.

 

Written By:

Emily Pheysey

Litigation Executive

Emily has over 7 years of experience in the legal sector, handling road traffic accident claims to recover compensation and support her clients. Her focus is to ensure all clients feel comfortable and at ease with the claims process so that they can focus on their recovery.

Emily considers rapport to be an essential part of the role and strives to always provide excellent client care.

Away from work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends and travelling as much possible.

Diane Holderness

Litigation Executive

Diane is a Ministry of Justice (TOJ) Team Leader within our Cycle Department. She has 11 years’ experience managing road traffic accident claims, and 6 years’ experience managing MOJ claims.

Diane enjoys a challenge and always strives for the very best results for her customers; something that is clear in the way her team continually adapts its strategies in order to secure the most desired outcome. Diane has worked her way through the legal ranks here, and is proud to now have a strong, specialist team that is committed to customer satisfaction.

Diane believes that happy clients make a happy working environment, and it is this that ensures a productive and efficient workforce.

Nina Haddock

Chartered Legal Executive

Nina has over 30 years’ experience in the legal sector. She specialises in recovering compensation for injury claimants as a result of road traffic accidents. Her focus for each and every claim is to help her clients secure the funding that they need to pay for ongoing treatment and support.

Nina became a CILEX Fellow in 2006 and now helps her clients and their families at a time when they have been through a traumatic experience, and everything they hold dear to them appears to be changing.

One case Nina is particularly proud of is supporting a client who had successfully sought asylum in the UK, following a road traffic accident. The claim was successfully pursued through the MIB and the client was left with significant injuries. Her client was able to use the compensation to aid family members with their applications to seek asylum in the UK.

Julian Fox

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Julian qualified as a Solicitor in 2005 and has worked in all areas of personal injury since 2000. Julian has a well-rounded understanding of personal injury law, having represented both claimants and defendants.

Julian always aims for maximum damages to meet his clients’ needs for injury and rehabilitation expenses, and can often secure interim payments to help meet clients’ financial needs. Julian is highly proactive in ensuring cases are progressed, ensuring a timely conclusion.

When not at the office, Julian is a keen cyclist, both on roads and virtually -he will often do an hour of ‘Zwifting’ in the mornings before starting work.

Richard Atherton

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Richard has 12 years of legal experience and qualified as a Solicitor in February 2014. He has been a Team Manager with us since 2019. Throughout his career, Richard has specialised in personal injury, handling an array of Road Traffic Accident cases, in addition to employer and public liability.

Richard prides himself on his very strong strategic and planning skills, which come into their own in complex injury cases where more technical arguments are involved. On every case, he is committed to ensuring that his clients receive full compensation for their injuries.

Away from work, Richard enjoys sport; he is a season ticket holder at St Helens Rugby Club and a Liverpool FC fan. Not only a spectator, Richard also likes going to play golf as often as he can.

Dave Gardner

Litigation Executive

Dave has over 20 years of experience in the legal sector. His specialism is personal injury and he has dealt with hundreds of cycling injury claims during his career. Excellent client care and communication is paramount to Dave. He prides himself on being accessible and available, attending court hearings where damages are in dispute to ensure the best outcome for his clients. One case Dave is particularly proud of is when he supported an elderly client who suffered serious injuries following a road traffic incident. The police had not taken any action against the defendant, so Dave had to be proactive and act within a 24-hour window. The case proceeded and the client was in receipt of £30,000 in damages, which he would not have been entitled to had the client not approached Dave. He is also an avid supporter of Glasgow Rangers and travelled abroad on many occasions to see them play in European competitions.

Gerard Horton

Partner

Gerard is a Senior Solicitor at Cycle SOS. In his 13 years of experience, Gerard has built a national reputation in the catastrophic injury sector, dealing with high value and complex cases. Alongside his legal role, Gerard supports several charities including Headway Central Lancashire, Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre and spinal injury charity, Back Up.

Julia Eyton

Partner

Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Cycle SOS team.

Specialising in representing those who have had life changing injuries, Julia handles some of the most serious and complex personal injury cases both within Cycle SOS and nationally.

She often works on high value claims and is skilled in winning complex liability cases.

NADIA KERR

Partner

Nadia has over 30 years of legal expertise and has represented hundreds of vulnerable road users. With a focus on ensuring timely rehabilitation, speedy repair or replacement of bikes and kit, and securing fair compensation, Nadia is committed to advocating for justice and client rights. Alongside her legal career, Nadia actively participates in national campaigns to benefit vulnerable road users and acts as a Trustee/Director for the national cycling charity, Cycling UK. Nadia was named in Cycling UK’s ‘100 women’ and was a founding member, now running a women’s cycling group, TeamGlow in South Manchester. Among her many achievements, Nadia takes pride in her spot on BBC Breakfast, where she provided expert commentary on long term government funding for pothole repairs.

Caroline Morris

DIRECTOR OF SERIOUS INJURY

Caroline has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years, recovering more than £56 million in damages during that time, to help clients rebuild their lives after injury.

Caroline is committed to achieving rehabilitation options early, meaning her clients benefits from the best care and treatment at the earliest stage possible.