Last day: from Berga to Barcelona

Finally, the arrival in Barcelona after 2,100km of cycling! source @MobileWorldCapital

They made it! Riders of the mHealth Grand Tour are arriving in Barcelona as we write these words!

We would like to congratulate all of the riders who took part in this extraordinary challenge, and all the people who have worked on the tour for more than a year to make it happen.

Special congratulations to TeamBG riders, who have shown that anyone with diabetes can take over a great sporting challenge! We’d also like to congratulate our very own IDF Europe riders, Sophie and Katie.

We will be posting more photos of the arrival shortly. You can follow live updates via our Facebook page and Twitter @IDFEuropeBxl

Day 12: From Castres to Berga

Yesterday was the penultimate day of the mHealth Grand Tour – and what a day! By far the toughest leg of the whole tour, the team took on the Pyrenees and won!

The very first climb was over Col de Pailhères – a non-stop climb of 1000m! Riders dug deep and climbed their way above the clouds to views that very few of us will ever have the privilege of seeing. Here you can see Katie Gallagher, IDF Europe & TeamBG rider battle her way with admirable determination reach the top of the Col!  At 2001m it is the second highest peak of the Pyrenees.

Beyond that, the team then made their way across the Spanish border, to tackle yet another two climbs before reaching their destination in Berga.

As the riders set off for the last day of the tour, we need to remember you that Team Blood Glucose is made up entirely of keen amateur cyclists, with varying abilities. The tour is made up of many riders however, so throughout the ride, team-mates have been able to ride with others of similar ability so that they can ride at a pace that suits them.

Anybody who has taken on even a stage of the mHealth tour should feel enormously proud of their achievement!

That brings us to the last leg of the tour – the final ride into Barcelona! Thankfully the final ride will be much easier on the legs, so the team should arrive feeling relatively fresh, and able to celebrate their success in grand style! Here’s to the last ride – enjoy!

Day 11: From Castres to Ax-Les-Thermes

Yesterday the mHealth Grand Tour riders cycled along part of the route of Stage 8 of this year’s Tour de France.

After living Castres, riders headed into Carcassonne to pass the medieval city, which allowed for some sightseeing. The day ended in Ax-Les-Thermes after a total of 175km and 2371m of climb cycled.

The team is now getting closer and closer to the arrival in Barcelona with today the penultimate day of the mHealth Grand Tour! It will be one of the hardest though, with several tricky climbs as soon as riders leave Ax-Les-Thermes to finally enter Spain towards the end of the Day in Berga. Enthusiastic riders even drew a outline on the Tour van (here on the right). Statitics of the day: 182km and an impressive 3974m of climbing! Go IDF Europe & TeamBG riders!

 

Day 9 & 10: From Bourg Saint Andreal to Castres – update

Temperatures and excitement began to rise this Saturday as the mHealth Grand Tour riders are getting closer to their final destination: Barcelona!

Day 9 included 144km and more than 2000m of climb from Bourg Saint Andreal to Florac. Breathtaking scenery was once again on the menu as riders cycled their way through the Gorges de l’Ardèche

Word has spread out about the tour and the ride is getting good local news covergae. Here you can see some local tour fans who gathered to support riders.

On Sunday – Day 10 – the rain was back again for the last ride of stage 3 from Florac to Castres. The riders pedalled their way through several tricky climbs, including the Col de Perjuret, and got a reminder when arriving in Castres of their extraordinary achievement: another very famous bike ride – none other than the Tour de France – also passed through Castres in 2013.

Today the team will bike their way to Ax-Les-Thermes, following more of this year’s Tour de France route for the last stage of the ride. mHealth Grand Tour riders are only 500km away from Barcelona now!

Day 8: Voreppe to Bourg Saint Andreal

Back on the road again after their rest day, the team rode 182km and climbed a total of 2340m through the Alps and down to the Rhône valley from Voreppe to Bourg Saint Andreal.

The route took the riders through some small villages, most notably the small town of ‘Crest’ – a place notable for having one of the highest medieval keeps in France. The tour took on a Provancale feel as it neared Pierrelatte – a stone’s throw from Bourg Saint Andeal.

The team continued to raise awareness of diabetes powering through mountain roads and small villages.

After the ride the team enjoyed a good massage to release any knots and ease tense muscles. You can tell how much they enjoyed it by Paul’s face here on the right!

Day 8 was also time from celebration as TeamBG riders Simon Picking and Pierre-Louis Verot celebrated their birthday on the tour – certainly one they’re going to remember for years!You can find out more about the riders’ adventures on TeamBG’s website.

Pierre-Louis & Simon’s birthday celebration

 

Day 7: Annecy to Voreppe

Breathtaking scenery, a hard climb, cold weather and warm support were on the menu of Day 7 of the mHealth Grand Tour as riders where cycling their way across the French Alps to Voreppe.

As they arrived for their lunch stop in Chambéry, riders received a warm welcome from a crowd of more than 200 supporters including representatives from the local French diabetes association, the mayor’s office and French national TV. Here on the left you can see a photo taken at the lunch stop with team riders and representatives from the local French diabetes associations.

Kyle Jacques Rose, former professional cyclist for Team Type 1, also joined the riders for the afternoon. One of the hardest climbs of the tour was waiting for our dear riders, the “Cold du Semnoz”, which was climbed earlier this year by cyclists taking part in the Tour de France.

Once again, TeamBG riders powered through, showing that people with diabetes can take over any climb, be it from the Tour de France or not!

After this great physical effort, tour riders will enjoy a well deserved rest day today in Voreppe.

Katie cycling her way across the French Alps

The famous Col du Semnoz at the end of Day 7

Day 6: from Pontarlier to Annecy

Day 6 started under hard rain, strong wind and cold weather for mHealth Grand Tour riders. Bad weather conditions did not stop the amazing cyslists’ teams powering through the 172km and 1895m of climbing they had to face yesterday.

Once again, the route did not dissappoint, with wonderful landscapes and a bit of fun passing through an ski resort. You can check more photos of the riders’ adventures on TeamBG’s website.

Today the team is up for a short ride, but not necessarily an easy one: the route will end with one of the Tour de France’s most famoust passes, the “Col du Semnoz”! Send your support to TeamBG, IDF Europe and all mHealth Grand Tour riders!

Day 5: From Mulhouse to Pontarlier

The sun was back on Day 5 of the mHealth Grand Tour. This time riders cycled a total 185km from Mulhouse to Pontarlier, with a route following the border with Switzerland.

There was a challenging climb at the halfway point – the ground rises steeply from a starting elevation of 350m and climbs non-stop to 850m without any respite.

You can check some photos of Day 5 – right here on the left is Mary Shi, Young Leader in diabetes who came all to way from China to part in the tour to raise awareness of diabetes!

Today the riders will be taken along the Swiss border through the Jura mountains for Day 6 of the tour, which will end in Annecy, for a total of 172km and 1895m of climing!

Day 3 & 4: Biking through Germany and France

After two very demanding first days of the mHealth Grand Tour, the team rode through Germany from Saarbrucken to Baden-Baden on Saturday (for a total of 150km) and from Baden-Baden to Mulhouse on Sunday (for a total of 187km and 2247m of climbing).

The ride took the Grand Tour cyclists through forest and farmland and then to several beautiful villages and towns across Germany and France.

Saturday marked the end of Stage 1 of the tour, and it was already hard for the team as a whole to see some of the stage riders leave. You can check a few pictures of the past 2 days here in this post. You can also go to TeamBG’s website for the wrap-up of day 3 & 4.

Today the riders will continue their long haul to Barcelona for Day 5 of the tour, cycling from Mulhouse all the way to Pontarlier for a total of 185km and 1937m of climbing, proving once again anything is possible when you live with diabetes!

Day 2: La Roche en Ardenne to Saarbrucken

Particularly long day for riders yesterday – Friday 6 September – as the team cycled a total of 192 km and 1368m of climb from La Roche en Ardenne to Saarbrucken.

Here’s a photo of Katie Gallagher of team IDF Europe and TeamBG all smiles as she’s cycling to Saarbrucken. A wrap-up of Day 2 of the tour is available here on TeamBG’s website.