TOUR DE FRANCE: CYCLING AND ADVENTURES WITH HEART
INTRODUCTION
Each year, the Tour de France captures our attention with its glamour, appeal and popularity,; and it also reminds us that some of our fondest early childhood memories are associated with our bicycles. We all remember what it was like the first time we tried to ride a bike. After some falls, a few bruises and lots of practice, we eventually succeeded – and it’s the feeling of accomplishment, freedom, and excitement that is indelibly etched in our memories.
There’s nothing quite like the relationship of a child to their bicycle. The exhilaration of self-propelled speed, the sense of freedom, and the endless adventures still live on with us.
And for many people, that early love for bikes stays with them through life. It seems that we humans have an endless love-affair with bikes. Perhaps that helps explain why there are over 1 billion bikes in the world. And 364,000 new ones are produced every day.
That’s 15,000 per hour, or 253 a minute, or 4 bikes every second. In fact, 47,670 bikes are sold every day. Yes, every two seconds someone will buy a bike. And an elite few of those bikes make it into the world’s most prestigious, biggest, and most difficult bicycle race – the Tour de France.
It attracts the world’s very best bikes and bike riders. The race is staged for three weeks each July, usually in some 20 day-long stages, and covers some 3,600kms or 2,235 miles, mainly in France.
The Tour is France’s premier annual sporting event and has deep cultural roots. It’s televised around the world and watched by over 3 billion viewers in 190 countries, as one of the supreme tests of human endurance.
The bike race is also watched live by huge crowds – over 12 million – along the course of the race. The largest and most excited crowds gather to watch the final stage of the Tour de France, as the winner of the coveted yellow jersey makes his way to the finishing line on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. This year we’re going to join them.
So, come along with us and recall and relive some of those childhood bicycle memories as we depart London and cycle through the rolling hills of the English countryside and quaint villages of France, on our way to Paris. It’s a journey of a lifetime between these two iconic capital cities, as we arrive in Paris to see the finale of the premier bike race in the world. And as we do so, we’ll discover ways to be a winner in the greatest race of all: the race of life!
WORLD OF BIKES
Can you imagine a world without bikes – when the only way to travel was by horse or walking? Well, in 1817, in Germany, Baron Karl von Drais, who was a prolific inventor, constructed the first bike.
This bike had no pedals, weighed a massive 22kg and was made primarily of wood. But the inspiration of transporting people on two wheels and a frame had begun, and the bicycle has continued to evolve over the last 2 centuries!
Sophisticated technology is used more and more to help create the best bike, from the most basic for children right up to the most competitive elite cycling races.
BIGGEST EVENT
Dubbed as the ‘the world’s biggest annual sporting event’, the Tour de France continues to grow in popularity and fame. Now, surprisingly, the race was first organised by a newspaper company, L’Auto, in order to increase sales. Well, they certainly succeeded, and many were enthralled with the race!
The initial plan for the tour was 6 stages. But the stages were long and the competitors had to ride through the night to complete each phase. The race was so daunting and unprecedented that only 15 people were game enough to enter it.
There have been many variations to the Tour de France over the years. For instance, due to cheating that occurred during the night sections of the 1904 Tour, from then on, stages were only ridden during daylight hours. This meant that more stages were added. For a few years the winners were calculated by points rather than their times.
It wasn’t until 1937 that riders could have some support teams to assist them on the tour. In 1947, for the first tour back after WW2, the race continued under government management and officially renamed, ‘Le Tour De France’.
TOUR de FRANCE TODAY
Today, the race has evolved to include 20-22 teams of 8 riders each, [who] cycle a new course developed each year involving the general clockwise or anticlockwise loop around the country of France. The race always includes some steep elevation of the Pyrenees and the French Alps. Only the most elite cyclists from around the world can ever hope to compete in this ultra-endurance race.
These days, the overall winner of the Tour De France is based on the total quickest accumulated time of the race. Each day of the race, the leader of each stage is calculated and wears the coveted yellow jersey for the next day.
Overall, this endurance bike race has brought millions of people to France and created world-wide fame.
25000 SPINS
But we’re on our way to see the finish of the Tour de France so we have joined a charity ride, called 25000spins, initiated by philanthropist, businessman and entrepreneur Craig Shipton.
While living in London in 2009, Craig dreamed of cycling all the way from London to Paris in time to watch the Tour De France. He soon realised people would join him on trips like this and would also be willing to raise money for charity while doing it.
Combining his two passions has been a successful endeavour, and more than a decade later Craig still runs trips consistently in Australia, New Zealand and occasionally in Europe. Over the past 14 years, 25000 Spins have cycled 4 million kilometres with over 1000 cyclists participating, and have raised more than 7 million dollars for charity.
After weeks of planning, the long-awaited London to Paris charity bike trip begins. So come pedal with me and the other 24 participants as we explore the journey together!
LONDON
We start the ride here in the centre of London. This is a 21st Century city with a history dating back to Roman times, and it’s packed full of iconic attractions. The city’s famous for Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London Eye, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul’s Cathedral, the River Thames and Trafalgar Square – just to name a few!
Big Ben, the world’s most famous clock, is located at the northern end of the Houses of Parliament in the Borough of Westminster. It’s almost 100 metres tall and each of the four nations in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales) are represented on the shields of the tower.
Then, before leaving London we ride past the beautiful Buckingham Palace. This is the residence of the royal monarchs of the United Kingdom and is a focal point where the country gathers in times of celebration, and in times of mourning.
This first day of real cycling is a big one. It’s a solid 108km and is not for the faint hearted! We are leaving from Sutton and will enjoy the exquisite English countryside, as the team makes its way down through the rolling hills and leafy roadways of Old England to Brighton, where we’ll cycle below the White Cliffs which stretch all the way to Dover.
BRIGHTON
It’s time to stretch our legs and get some sustenance before continuing on past country parks, nature reserves, cute villages, glorious English gardens and idyllic countryside. 55 kilometres further on brings us to Brighton and its iconic Royal Pavilion and the famous Palace Pier.
After lunch, we cycle along the base of the White Cliffs that stretch along the coastline towards Dover. But we only cycle as far as Newhaven where, nearing the end of our day 1, we join the other weary cyclists and catch the ferry across the English Channel to Dieppe in France, which is about 125km, or 78 miles, away across the channel.
With our leg muscles and energy batteries recharged by a good night’s sleep, here we are on our second day, which is full of beautiful sea-side villages and French countryside. We’re riding mainly on the Avenue Verte route through Normandy towards Paris, which has many ancient towns and half-timbered buildings scattered among the farm fields along the way.
The rolling landscape, with a field of wheat, the farm, and round bales of hay typify this region that we’re cycling through. After 40 km we stop at the beautiful village of Neufchatel-en-Bray for refreshments, and then on through more beautiful countryside to Cleres for lunch.
ROUEN
Finally, after a long 92 km day, the team has rolled into the beautiful historic town of Rouen for the night. Now, Rouen is a town rich with medieval architecture and historical significance.
It is the perfect town to explore the story of Joan of Arc, a national heroine of France. She was a peasant girl who led the French army to victory against the English during the siege of Orleans, and was later tried by the English and religious leaders in the great cathedral here, and then burned at the stake.
We’ve had a rest day and are feeling ready for another big day of cycling. We’re riding over 90 km through some magnificent countryside, including beautiful fields of sunflowers.
TEAMWORK AND PURPOSE
Though, there will be some testing times today with some steep, hilly sections which no doubt will be a true test of our physical endurance. I am reminded that at times when cyclists may be struggling, the camaraderie of a team and the purpose of cycling for a meaningful cause keeps us all pedalling and pushing forward.
And this feeling may be quite similar – although of course, not entirely – to the Tour De France competitors. Being able to ride with a team, no doubt pushes and encourages each rider to perform at their best.
In cycling, there are times when riders rely heavily on each other, such as when riding in a peloton. This is where the lead rider breaks the wind and others can benefit from riding in their slipstream, a pocket protected from the wind that can ‘pull’ riders along.
We stop for a break and to visit the famous impressionist artist, Claude Monet’s home and garden at Giverny. And then, after a hard day covering over a hundred kilometres, we arrive at our most unique accommodation of the trip so far. We stay next to the magnificent La Roche-Guyon chateau, nestled in the heart of the country.
Our arrival is marked with great celebration by all of the cyclists.
It is day five of the trip and today there is a sense of excitement in the air. Today we ride our final 109 km to the city of Paris! Then, after another beautiful morning of riding through French terrain, we arrive at the exquisite Palace of Versailles for lunch. Around 15 million people visit this palace each year, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in all the world.
THE END IN SIGHT
Continuing on after lunch, we have just started seeing the skyline of Paris opening up before us. We can even see glimpses of the Eiffel Tower in the distance as we arrive on the outskirts of Paris. And then it’s on to the very heart of Paris, and the 60m, or nearly 200 ft tall, Arc de Triomphe. Situated on the right side of the Seine River, it is the centre for 12 radiating avenues. The arch is a living record of important triumphs and commemorates French victories and the WWI Tomb of the Unknown soldier.
The Arc de Triumph flows into the Champs-Elysees to the place where the famous Tour De France finishes. This is the final stretch which decides, once and for all, the winner of this extreme feat of human endurance. As we ride down the Champs-Elysees, mirroring what each Tour De France competitor will do in only a few days’ time, we all feel this moment of accomplishment, awe and elation of our own achievement.
As a 25000 Spins team, we’ve also embarked on this tough journey of cycling across hundreds of kilometres of terrain to reach this climactic arrival into Paris. And how much more, for these elite athletes, having endured weeks on the road, circumnavigating the entire country of France, will that feeling of excitement set in for them!
In fact, this incredible achievement is so profound for the Tour De France competitors, that even in the midst of this intense race, the cyclists have made a truce. At the start of their last stage on the outskirts of Paris, the teams all agree to take an opportunity to have a moment of celebration.
A time where they can laugh, smile, hug and absorb the feeling that the end is near and that they have done it! They’ve almost achieved a feat that many could only ever dream of.
The second part of the final race day is when the riders are completing between 6-8 laps of the wide partly-cobblestoned circuit of Champs-Elysees. Riders at this point are trying to win by breaking away from the peloton and going solo. Most wins are from the final sprint, where specialist sprint riders often take the victory.
PARIS AT LAST!
Here today in our team, no one seems interested in doing multiple laps of the Champs-Elysees circuit, but we’re excited to embrace the experience of riding through it once. Knowing the special and unique history of the place will hopefully make those cobblestones more bearable. And finally, here we are!
Now, you can’t talk about riding to Paris, without some mention of the Eiffel Tower. This iconic 330m, or about 1000-foot-high structure towers over the city with impressive and intricate architecture, identifiable world-wide. At its construction in 1887, it became the tallest man-made structure in all the world.
For those eager enough, you can climb the 600 stairs up to the top of the second level. Or you can take the lift from the ground all the way up the observation deck at 276m or 900 ft. After what we’ve been through in the past 5 days, I’ll be taking the lift!
But first, some team photos! And maybe a few hugs, tears and high-fives too! This has been such an incredible journey and a beautiful way to celebrate all the terrain that we’ve cycled through and the money we’ve raised for worthy causes.
The Tour De France is one of the most physically demanding of any major sporting events in the world. It takes endurance, resilience and commitment to keep riding day after day, week after week. And in many ways, this ongoing and relentless ride can bear many similarities to our own race of life.
THE RACE OF LIFE
It requires the same endurance, resilience and commitment to live it well. Just like the elevation of riding through the French alps, there can be many days where everything feels like an uphill battle. Then there are days where we are cruising with ease, wind in our hair and we are flowing freely and comfortably down life’s path.
You know, there’s an ancient book, full of wisdom and stories that can help us understand more about ourselves, others and how to live well. This book is the Bible, written over a period of about 1600 years by 40 different people, who captured their own experiences of life with others and with God. Now, within this book, there is some wisdom on this idea of endurance and the race of life.
There’s a section called Ecclesiastes, which was most likely written by Solomon, a wealthy and wise Jewish king. In this book, Solomon is reflecting in his old age back over his life. And he writes insightfully,
“The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favour to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11 NIV).
Time and chance. We are all subject to these things. No one can live a life completely avoiding all of its troubles. With enough time and life experience, chances are we will all experience moments of deep [and] heart-wrenching loss, confusion and destruction. And in these times, how do we endure, how do we cope?
RESILIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE
Just like in the Tour De France, when the lactic acid is building and the riders feel like they cannot go on. Or even worse, they experience a fall from the bike due to an unforeseen obstacle or unexpected accident. It is in these moments that we can see the beautiful colours of human resilience and perseverance rise from the ashes. But how do they endure? How do they keep going?
Well, some suggest that having a connection with something or someone higher than ourselves can be an inspiring factor to help change the motivations and purposes in our lives. There are numerous testimonies of people who were on their last inch of hope. People who felt as though maybe life wasn’t worth all the effort and heartache. And that when they encountered and experienced Jesus, or God or the supernatural, then all of that changed.
You see, the Bible recounts numerous stories of people who met Jesus of Nazareth and their own lives were changed. Paul was a powerful character in the New Testament of the Bible, who experienced Jesus personally, and flipped his life around. And I mean, literally flipped!
He went from killing Christians, to becoming one of the biggest advocates of Christianity. Towards the end of Paul’s life, he also reflects and encourages other followers of Jesus in a letter that is now titled Hebrews.
And this is what Paul shares,
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes of Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross… Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Paul shares here that Jesus went through the crucifixion experience with ‘joy’ – a terrible, stressful experience, with ‘joy’! Why was He joyful? Well friends, Jesus was joyful because he knew that his sacrifice would reconnect himself with humanity, with you and me, for all of eternity.
Now, this thought can inspire us to “not grow weary or lose heart” along the journey of life. It can help us to dig deep in life’s trials, knowing that God understands and that he has endured the depths of despair too, in order to redeem us from ultimate suffering.
At times we can feel discouraged in our walk with life. But perhaps drawing on this ancient wisdom can give us the motivation and encouragement we need to dig deep, stand back up after falling and keep persevering in the race of life? Maybe we don’t have to just tolerate or endure these situations, but we can thrive and even find joy within them.
So it’s important to remember when we face the trials and challenges of life, that even the prestige and honour of winning the Tour De France, and even the sense of achievement of completing the 25000 spins ride from London to Paris, doesn’t really in any way compare with the reward that awaits those who endure the trials of life for Christ’s sake.
And that is a reward worth focusing on and aiming for; the reward of eternal life.
Our journey through the mountaintops and the valleys and each unique experience is what shapes our lives. How is your pedalling going? Have you found something worthwhile to keep pedalling for?
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If you’ve enjoyed finding out more about the greatest bike ride of all, and our reflections on the strength, commitment and perseverance it takes to succeed in the race of life, then be sure to join us again next week when we will share another of life’s journeys together. Until then, let’s pray to the One who gives us strength, peace and happiness every day.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of cycling and exercise, that helps to keep us strong and fit. Thank you, more importantly, for your example of perseverance through hardships. May we also dig deep and show the same resilience and perseverance in our own lives, too. And we ask all this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
