Update from Tour HQ

Just a quick update from Control Tower as CVG is now bombing full pelt down a French mountain and may not have a chance to update for few days.. here's why..

Today is Day 1 of Piste to Plage (www.piste2plage.co.uk) the ride from the French Alps to the coast for Help for Heroes that Charlie signed up for last year that then triggered the idea for Charlie's epic bike adventure in memory of our father.

''The Piste to Plage Challenge is a four day bike ride over the French Alps, starting in the picturesque ski resort of Sainte Foy Tarentaise, high in the Haute Savoie region and finally ending up on the sandy beaches of the Cap d'Antibes on the Cote d'Azur. 

Over the four days the 160 strong team will cycle over 440kms and gain over 27,500 vertical feet. We will climb and descend seven of the infamous mountain cols often seen on the Tour de France, including Col de l'Iseran, Col du Galibier and the intimidating Cime de la Bonnette, the highest road in Europe! And by the time we reach the Med we will have ridden a combined total of 70,000kms, nearly twice the circumference of the earth!''

What they dont realise is that Charlie has already ridden 1500km to get to the start line..

Charlie has swapped his bike temporarily for a sleek road bike and has been joined by chum Rick Pape for this adventure - lets just hope Rick took out extra supplies of warm cycling kit as snow is forecast for the peaks and Charlie isnt carrying anything other than 2 pairs of shorts...

The riders will arrive into Antibes on Saturday following a 111km final day's ride from Auron.

For updates check out the Piste to Plage Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/piste2plage