About the London to Paris Cycle Challenge Day 1 - London to Calais After registration we set off early to avoid the main hustle and bustle of the London traffic. It’s not too long before we’re past the outskirts of London and hitting the countryside of Kent. It’s a long cycling day today but upon reaching the port of Dover and seeing the famous white cliffs, there’ll be a great sense of achievement. We then board the ferry to Calais and have dinner whilst on board. Upon reaching Calais, it’s just a very short push onto our hotel where we have a well-deserved rest and get our heads down for the night. Cycling distance – approx. 86 miles Day 2 - Calais to Arras Following breakfast at our hotel we leave Calais behind us, remembering to stay on the right! We begin cycling on smooth, flat roads for approximately 10 miles, before we start to pull up towards our first water stop. The route then becomes more undulating as we cycle through the French countryside up to our lunch stop. Some small climbs after lunch bring us to a gentle descent into the beautiful medieval town of Arras, one of the prettiest towns in northern France, where we check into our hotel. Cycling distance – approx. 82 miles Day 3 - Arras to Compiègne After breakfast, we continue with our cycle and head south through the Region of the Somme and its WWI battlefields – rolling, green meadows studded with the many war memorials and cemeteries of the First World War. Following traditionally French, tree-lined avenues, we approach our next overnight stop in Compiègne. Since 1968, Compiègne has been the starting place of the “Paris-Roubaix”, the most famous French cycling race after the Tour de France. Cycling distance – approx. 76 miles Day 4 - Compiègne to Paris The final day of our European cycling adventure! Our last day in the saddle sees us leaving Compiègne riding through the beautiful forest surrounding the town – it was in this forest that the 1918 Armistice was signed. Our route then continues through pretty towns and villages towards the outskirts of Paris. Cycling is the national sport of France and it’s not uncommon to see locals cheering and waving us on. We cycle through the hustle and bustle of the Parisian streets until we reach the Louvre where we stop to re-assemble. We then ride as a group up the majestic Champs Elysées to our finish line at the Champ de Mars, looking back at the Eiffel Tower! This evening we toast our achievements at a celebratory dinner. Cycling distance – approx. 67 miles Day 5 - Paris to UK After breakfast at our hotel,we are free to enjoy the sights and sounds of Paris. Take a trip up the Tower, visit the renowned Arc de Triomphe or famous Notre Dame Cathedral, or simply soak up the atmosphere in one of the many cafés – the choices are endless! In the early afternoon, each participant will be responsible for getting themselves to Gare du Nord in order to catch the Eurostar back to England. Bicycles will be transported back to London by our crew in the support vehicles and will be waiting for you on arrival at the starting point, ready for you to continue your homeward journey. Please note, this is a complex itinerary and subject to change. What's included Before your challenge Your own personalised account hub that houses all your challenge support information to ensure you are fully prepared for your challenge Support documents to aid your preparation including but not limited to further information about your challenge, detailed challenge itinerary, kit lists, training plan/schedule, fundraising advice Discount vouchers with affiliate partners such as Nomad Travel A dedicated Customer Care team supports each participant from registration and is always on hand to answer queries Financial Protection Risk Management including but not limited to challenge specific risk assessments, emergency management plans and medical screening. On your challenge One way ferry crossing from Dover to Calais One way Eurostar ticket from Paris to London 4 nights hotel accommodation, all hotels will be on a twin share, private bathroom basis. Please note hotels in Europe are different to hotels we may be used to in the UK, they will have a local rating of 3 – 4 stars. All meals including celebratory dinner, starting with lunch on day 1 through to breakfast on day 5, with the exception of dinner on day 1 Refreshment stops including water, fruit and a variety of snacks/energy bars/cereal bars every 15-20 miles cycled approx. Back up and support vehicles Route markers or cycle guides Other professional Global Adventure Challenges Event Crew including experienced Event Manager responsible for the delivery of the challenge. Mechanic vehicle support. Basic spare bike parts will be taken. Comprehensive first aid / medical kits Challenge Medal A route guide for each participant GAC 24 hour emergency on call team What's not included Personal travel insurance Alcoholic drinks Tips and gratuities Breakfast and dinner on day 1, lunch and dinner on day 5 Bicycle hire – each participant must bring their own recently serviced bicycle Frequently asked questions Is this trip for me? ▶ ABSOLUTELY! This cycle is suitable for all ages with the correct training. The minimum age for this cycle is 18 years old (14-17 years must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian). The one thing everyone will have in common is a great sense of adventure and a desire to help a charity. Whether you are taking part as an individual or as a team with friends, team spirit will be flying high on the challenge. How fit do I need to be? ▶ This cycle ride has been graded as Challenging (1) on our challenge grading scheme, and is designed to be challenging but achievable by anyone – as long as you fitness train beforehand. Remember, you are cycling for 4 consecutive days, covering approximately 311 miles so expect to be in the saddle for about 7-8 hrs per day – the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy this challenge. Cycling training tips can be found on the Global Adventure Challenges website to put you in the right direction. Our policy is to encourage and support as many people as possible to take part in our challenges. But they may not be suitable for all people due to restriction posed by limitation in mobility, physical or cognitive disability, pregnancy or other various medical conditions. If you have any doubts regarding your suitability for your challenge please contact our office to speak to one of the team. What is the challenge grading scheme? ▶ All our challenges are graded on a scale from 1 to 3 to indicate the level of difficulty, 1 being the lowest challenge grade and 3 being the most challenging. (1 = Challenging, 2 = Tough and 3 = Extreme). Do I need specialist kit? ▶ We will supply you with a kit list of what to take once you register to take part. Each participant will need to bring their own bicycle for this challenge. Other items of kit will be required, such as cycling shorts, cycling helmet and cycling gloves – other than this, you do not need any specialist kit. Do I have to carry my own luggage? ▶ No. All luggage will be transported from accommodation to accommodation by our support vehicles. You will need a small day pack/bum bag/‘camel bak’ while cycling to carry items such as camera, sun-screen, energy snacks, etc. Food Matters... ▶ All meals will be provided with the exception of breakfast on day 1, the evening meal on the Ferry crossing from Dover to Calais and lunch and dinner on day 5. Whilst cycling, we will either stop at local cafes/restaurants or eat at open air buffets – this depends on the size of our group. We cater for most dietary requirements as long as we know in advance – just fill in the appropriate section on your enclosed registration form. What support is there on the challenge? ▶ There will be a strong support team with professional Global Adventure Challenges Leaders from the UK. Full comprehensive medical kits will be taken and we are never too far away from hospitals if needed. A vehicle will travel with the group providing medical and mechanical support if needed. Can I stay in France after the challenge? ▶ Unfortunately, we are unable to arrange for you to stay in Paris after this challenge. You can of course make your own arrangements to return at your convenience and stay in Paris as long as you wish, but remember you will need to keep your bicycle with you too. If you do decide to make your own return to the UK please notify Global Adventure Challenges as soon as possible, as your challenge balance may be adjusted accordingly. What happens if I get tired? ▶ There will be regular rest stops for drinks and snacks after approximately every 20 miles of cycling – there is no problem if you need to take more rest stops. Remember, this is not a race! How do I go about raising the sponsorship? ▶ Once you have signed up you will receive a fundraising pack from your charity in order to make your fundraising as easy as possible. You will also receive a few tips and ideas from Global Adventure Challenges to help you on your way. 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