COMPLETING EPIC CHALLENGES
FOR INCREDIBLE CHARITIES
2023
ITALY > SPAIN IN 24H
580km / +5500m
27 April 2023 / Italy > Spain
The idea was born that I would ride from the Italian border to the Spanish border as quickly as possible. Once we started looking at the route map it gave an estimated time to cycle along the coast of 23h59 minutes!The challenge was born – Italy to France in under 24hrs on a bike.
The distance isn’t huge, its ‘only’ 680km but riding along the coast with potentially the Mistral and then the Tramontane blowing could make this challenge particularly difficult. We have also decided that I should head along the coast, so we can add over 5500m of climbing;
Below you will see the route that I take, and I will be sharing a live link of my progress when I begin the ride. Please come and find me along the route!
2023
GIRO D’ITALIA
QUEENS STAGE
Longarone to Tre Cime de Lavaredo
20 May 2023
The ‘Queen Stage’ of each Grand Tour is so called because it is the hardest, most demanding stage of the race; the stage that will have the biggest effect on the overall results. I am planning to ride each of this year’s Grand Tour Queen Stages shortly before the elite racers ride the course.
The ‘Queen stage’ in the 2023 Giro d’Italia is 182km with 5400m of climbing between the towns of Longarone and the national park of Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
I must admit I’m massively looking forward to this ride. The Giro d’Italia has always had the most challenging of mountain stages so I expect nothing different for 2023.
2023
DRAGON RIDE:
GRAN FONDO
213km / +3488m
18 June 2023
I absolutely loved this event last year, getting to spend a day riding in stunning scenery with one of best mates. It was a long day in the saddle, the weather was dry but cold and the feed stations were brilliant. So I’ll be back with Rich in 2023 and this year raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The ride in 2023 will once again be 213km but with 3488m of ascent. Myself and Rich have set an objective of 8 hours. This cyclo-sportif has the reputation of being fantastically well organised, one of the oldest cyclo’s on the calendar
and certainly one of the toughest.
The list of climbs on the ride are well known, both stunning and wild. I’m not built for steep climbs, anything over 5-6% I start suffering, I’m hoping with the amount of kms in my legs I’ll be able to roll over them.
2023
65 ROSES
178km group ride
Sunday 9 July 2023 / Fayence, France
The third edition of 65 Roses, riding 65 laps of my village in France for good causes within the community. I invite anyone to join me for one, some or all of the laps!
A sporting event in collaboration with the Antoine Lacassagne Center to raise public awareness of the fight against cancer and raise funds.
FREE ENTRY
Sunday July 9.
Departure at 9 a.m.
Chapel of Our Lady, Fayence, France
2023
TOUR DE FRANCE
QUEENS STAGE
Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc to Courchevel
15 July 2023
The ‘Queen Stage’ of each Grand Tour is so called because it is the hardest, most demanding stage of the race; the stage that will have the biggest effect on the overall results. I am planning to ride each of this year’s Grand Tour Queen Stages shortly before the elite racers ride the course.
The ‘Queen stage’ for the 2023 Tour de France is the 17th stage between Saint Gervais and Courcheval. It is 166km long with over 5000m of climbing, including the Col des Saisies, Cormet de Roselend and Cote de Longefroy ahead of the interminable slog up the Loze (28.4km at 6%) with a leg-sapping maximum gradient of 24%.
My second Queen stage challenge of the year will also be the one with the most media coverage; the Tour de France is watched by over 15million spectators on the road and over 1 billion TV viewers.
This stage will also go over the highest point of this year’s Tour de France via the the Prix Henri Desgrange at the Col de la Loze (2304m).
2023
VUELTA A ESPAÑA
QUEENS STAGE
Martos to Alto Hoya de la Mora.
(TBC) September 2023
The ‘Queen Stage’ of each Grand Tour is so called because it is the hardest, most demanding stage of the race; the stage that will have the biggest effect on the overall results. I am planning to ride each of this year’s Grand Tour Queen Stages shortly before the elite racers ride the course.
The ‘Queen stage’ of the 2022 Vuelta a Espana is the 15th stage between Martos and Alto Hoya de la Mora. 148km long with over 4000m of climbing and will finish in the Sierra Nevada mountains at an altitude of 2512m.
The third Queen stage challenge of the year is the shortest of the Grand Tours but usually has some incredibly steep climbs and comes at the end of a long season.
The exact route will be announced out this winter so there will be time to organise, train and getting the filming locations sorted.
2023
RAID PYRÉNÉEN
CROSSING THE PYRÉNÉES
IN RECORD TIME
Hendaye in the Basque Country to Cerbère in French Catalonia
I am planning on challenging the official record time to complete the ‘Raid Pyrénéen’ route in September 2023 (Date TBC).
The ride is a distance of 720km, summiting 18 cols and includes over 12,000m of climbing. The ‘standard’ time to complete this route is 100 hours, spread over 5 days.
Obviously pushing the limits once more I am aiming to complete the route in a single ride and a time of 45 hours.
PAST CHALLENGES
2022
DRAGON RIDE:
GRAN FONDO
213km / +3488m
Sunday 19th June 2022
Brecon Beacons, Wales
The Dragon Ride is one of the oldest and most iconic sportives in the UK, renowned as being the toughest and most legendary in the British Isles.
2022
CHALLENGE VENTOUX
Italy to summit of Mont Ventoux in 12h
305km / +5550m
Friday 10th June 2022 / Menton – Mont Ventoux
A very long and difficult day. But what satisfaction to have reached the summit of Mont Ventoux all the way from the Italian border in support of the teams at the Antoine Lacassagne center.
2022
COTSWOLD CYCLE CLASSIC SPORTIVE
164km / +2859m
Monday 18th April 2022 / Cirencester, England
The first event of 2022 saw me riding my old roads of Gloucestershire in England on a challenging route full of sharp, punchy climbs.
2021
65 ROSES
65 laps of Fayence, France (178km total)
I’n December 2021 I successfully completed 65 laps of the town of Fayence, France, to raise awareness of Cystic Fibrosis.
The name 65 Roses originates from the common mispronunciation of Cystic Fibrosis by children. I decided to highlight the number 65 in my own way, by attempting to complete the ride of 178km on one of the shortest days of the year.
In what is hopefully set to become an annual event within my adopted home town, I encouraged friends, family and any other cyclists to join me for one or more of the laps.
2016
RACE ACROSS FRANCE
WORLD RECORD:
1500KM IN 59h
Bray Dunes to Lamanere on a bike
In 2016, I successfully achieved a world record time to cycle from the most northerly point, to the most southerly point in France. The challenge, which is comparable to the Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) ride, covering some 1,500 km.
I arrived into Lamanère a shade before midnight on Friday 15th April 2016 in a time of 59h and averaging over 30km/h for the duration of the ride.
ALL TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR CHARITY
MY CHOSEN CHARITY FOR 2022
CENTRE ANTOINE LACASSAGNE
With a passion for adventure and the desire to support good causes, I decided to set myself challenges to see if I could be a voice for the charity. This little idea turned into an attempt at my first challenge in 2016, resulting in a successful ride and a new world record.
In 2022 my challenges are going to be in partnership with the Centre Antoine Lacassagne in Nice, who do incredible research and treatment for cancer patients in Nice, France. The reason for this choice is largely personal and that several people close to me have been treated at Antoine Lacassagne.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME
Hello. My name is Chris Ward. I’m a British former professional cyclist who has been living in the South of France for 13 years.
In my life (and on my bike) I have always tried to push my limits to see how far I can go.
To help support a cause that I hold close to my heart, I decided to use my passion for cycling for good by undertaking a series of endurance challenges, whilst physically and mentally pushing myself…
THANKS TO ALL OF MY SPONSORS
A huge thank you to all of the sponsors who are supporting me throughout my challenges and training. Without them this simply wouldn’t be possible.