Alex's DCS Blog

Day 1 Mandeliu - Pertuis 175km Pit Stops and Punctures
A number of false starts due to general 'faffing' meant my team, 'Team Pipe', missed our rightful start spot and set off last. A few pit stops (Henry Witford) and punctures (yours truly) later and we were finally working away at the first 175kms. Spirits are high as we travel west along the coast, 'La Corniche d'Or' (The Golden Bay) before starting to head North West at Saint Raphael as the weather clears for a long, first afternoon in the saddle. I hit what is commonly known as 'the wall' by lunchtime, obviously due to the severe flu I had suffered the previous week…

Thankfully the RFU Head of Medicine, Simon Kemp, is on hand to help get me through the final 60k. I finish the day with Stage 1 legend, Les Causton. Given he has 30 years on me and this was his 6th day cycling, clocking circa 700ks, my performance is in question and a good night's sleep required. A special mention must go to another senior RFU stalwart, Terry Burwell for completing day 1 with no pedals. Remarkable.

Day 2 Pertuis - Grigan 135km 'Le Mistral'
Waking to the sound of heavy rain is a heart sinking feeling on a cycling trip. Thankfully, we are unaware of the 50kph wind waiting for us as we set off from Pertuis. It is hard going in the wind, known locally as 'Le Mistral', a strong, cold wind from the north. The driving rain is generally unpleasant, and the engine of our team, Henry, sets a fierce pace, ignoring any pot hole or concrete island that might disrupt our near perfect peloton. There is concern over our team leader and navigation expert, Bonzo. He mapped the route and has a very expensive GPS device on his bike and yet we appear to have taken a detour to a quaint French town. It is unclear if the State has repaired these roads since the Second World War, or if this town was used in the recent filming of the excellent war series 'Band of Brothers', but we had to carry our bikes across the terrain.

Who needs a 'Garmin' or GPS when you have French Fred lining the route with pink balloons on his scooter? Ignoring Bonzo in favour of Fred's balloons, we cycle through the Rhone wine region. I would like to say my mind wandered to the rustic red wines of Chateauneuf du Pape, and Gigondas as we knock off the kilometres, passing through vineyards and other familiar regions of Cote du Rhone and Vacqueyras, but it didn't. The relentless 'Le Mistral' is taking its toll. The message reaches the team: it's too dangerous, the girls had been blown off their bikes and we are stopping at lunch. We dig deep, thinking of all our friends and family who have kindly sponsored us and of course, of the many people for whom we are putting ourselves through this. This thought alone is enough to see us through to lunch.

Imagine the feeling of relief and mild euphoria when we see the DCS branded black Range Rovers, warm soup, dried bread and a selection of cold hams. And before Jo Gowing's morale-boosting soup has passed my lips, we are told we were going to finish after all: 40kms to go in the driving wind and rain. There was some momentary sense of humour failures; but Team Pipe rallied round and we arrive in Grigan after nearly 6 hours in the saddle. Pierre-Yves girls team, headed by Stage 2's very own iron women Emma English, are left frustrated as he pulls the plug at lunchtime for them due to concerns for his own safety. At the finish, the local economy is boosted by 40 shivering, soaked cyclists and support staff who seek refuge in the nearest café and drink them out of hot chocolate and coffee. Warm, changed, and refreshed, we hop on the bus to St. Etienne for the night and enjoy a few well-earned beers.

Day 3 Lapalisse - Nevers 112km Where is everyone…?
A brief coach journey to the start line is a welcome bonus opportunity to rest legs and eyes on this trip. Team Pipe suffers its first major casualty. Paul 'Pipe' Surridge is struck down with a stomach bug. Former London Wasps Center, Mark Denney and Henry question his resolve. This is until Henry's suffers the same thing the following morning and the bug continues to sweep through the stages. We set off from Lapalisse (last, again due to general faffing) in more rain, snow and cold. The rain eases as we travel through the heart of 'La Campagne de France', down long winding roads through beautiful French farm land; interspersed by tiny, empty country villages. Seriously, where is everyone?!

It's very peaceful and we set a good pace, until we spot the lead team of core riders, the Chairman, Andrew Croker's team. 'Wheel them in', and two by two we do at approx 40kph when near disaster strikes. Adam Bidwell clips the wheel of new recruit Phil Tait. All 6ft 3in and 17st of Adam's once toned physique is ejected from his bike and the travelling peloton in to the middle of the road. As we all brake, wise words instruct us to "carry on, or you will takes us all down!" Adam lived to tell the tale, and was overheard in the bar later claiming the road came off worse on impact.

More country lanes, then quiet, open, flat roads await us in the afternoon as the sun breaks out. After one final climb at the end of the day we cycle into Nevers at approximately 3.30pm over the Loire River, a beautiful setting to remember.

It's physio Richard's last night, so the wine flowed a little more freely. Bonzo and my roomy for the night, Richie Elliott treats those still listening to renditions of 'You're the Voice' by John Farnham and Barry Manilow's 'Mandy'. Motivating stuff and spirits are high going into fancy dress day. Onwards to Chablis.

Day 4 Nevers - Chablis 140km Fancy dress and Grand Cru
At breakfast I was awarded the giant baby-grow which I am told is now the custom for RPA members of staff. Thank you, Damian. The first 40kms is undulating and slow rolling. The baby-grow is wet, heavy and the aroma is too much to bear. We flagged the DCS Range Rover down. The boys need pain killers. Rugby's arthritic conditions are beginning to make pedaling difficult for Adam, Conor Davis and Richie. I swap the baby-grow for some angel wings. The roads are great and the views picturesque.

A cry of 'stop' is heard from the front. A photo opportunity is spotted ahead. As we draw closer, I see a village sign announcing we have arrived at the village; wait for it, 'Bona'. One for the mantelpiece, or not! We stop for lunch after about 90kms, but we are too late to see the 5 man pile-up between Jonny Nye's group and Lawrence's. There is much debate over who actually caused the pile up, but London Wasps CEO, Mark Rigby, is cleared of any responsibility as he was busy controlling his heart rate at a safe distance behind the peloton.

The sun glistened on our shiny white DCS cycling jerseys as we set off along the river in search of the days final climb at 125kms. What I have discovered on this trip is that cycling is more of a team sport than I imagined when I first set out. I have been pleasantly surprised with how social it is when you are out on the road. But the climbs are not so social. Some are more painful than others depending on the gradient of course, but they are all pretty lonely as everyone sets about it at their own pace. This was a long, gradual and fairly lonely climb for me. But a regroup at the top and we manage one last sprint on flat open roads 8kms from Chablis, with a team ahead in our sights.

We don't catch them, but Team Pipe is present and correct for the first of our two wine tastings. The first, a grower called Domaine Soire kindly organized by Mentzendorff MD, Andrew Hawes. The second is with the Mayor of Chablis. A very formal ceremony is conducted by men in robes in front of us all. Lawrence is made to drink, or rather down Chablis from a drinking cup and we think he has been inducted into a local Wine Society, but no one is totally sure although it is the most wonderful welcome appreciated by all. Not to be out done by ceremony, the 'yellow jerseys' are awarded by the team leaders after dinner. Adam is the rightful winner in our group, and a few other awards were presented. Henry was most disappointed not to be nominated in any category and retired to bed early. With the finish line in sight the rest of us stayed up to enjoy one final drop of the Mayor's Grand Cru, negotiated by our team lawyer, Paul Christopher of Guernsey.

Day 5 Nangis - Paris 96km This is it…
The day starts with another welcome bus ride to catch up on sleep and a stop for protein loading, McDonalds in Nangis. A few Big Mac's later and we set off on busy roads with a strong cross wind. Team Pipe is again last to start, and Lawrence, who has joined us for the day quickly renames us Team 'Faff'. It's a fairly clinical morning's cycle, with LD and Henry leading the peloton. The finish line is in our reach and a sense that we all want to get this done now, sets the tone for the day. Adam is really struggling with the stomach bug and sore knees. The newly appointed people's favorite, Bonzo, sticks with him and guides him through to lunch in the selfless manor he and star cyclist, Charlie Lewis, helped me through day 2. We pick up the river Seine and follow it through the City's surrounding areas with busy traffic and on into Paris. We cycle past Notre Dame, on to the cobbled Parisian streets and to the Eiffel Tower.

This is it. The months of training, frosty early December and January mornings, Surrey Hills training rides, the evenings and money spent in event cycle shop, Pro Logue, chammy cream and lycra has paid off. We have cycled approximately 660kms, with an average of 6-7hrs in the saddle for 5 days. Group hugs all round; what an experience and an amazing sense of achievement. That is until I remember Lawrence and his core riders have another 1500+ kms to go!! Having now experienced just 5 days of this, 2800k in 24 days is a herculean effort. I am very fortunate to have been part of this great event.

I would like to congratulate in advance and thank all at Green Room Sports, Welly, Nicky and Nicky for their excellent organisation. Jo and all the support staff, medics, drivers, stage riders, core riders and, of course, Lawrence for making this a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience. I would like to thank all my friends, family and colleagues for supporting me, and I to urge everyone to keep supporting this great cause.

The final evening was a more sober affair than expected, but it reflects the effort we have all put in. It was a relief to be providing the reassurance to the next stage riders, rather than seeking it! It was also nice to have a chance to catch up with friends and former members who now ply their trade in France who popped out to lend their support to Lawrence; Dan Scarbrough, Epi Taione, (Racing Metro) and Ollie Phillips (Stade Francais).

One final job for me in the morning is a photo for the RPA Benevolent Fund with Lawrence and stage 3 recruit Will Greenwood, outside the Stade de France. I also use the opportunity for a photo wearing a t-shirt designed to raise money for Cancer Research following the death of my close friend Marc Burrows. Marc died last year of cancer at just 30yrs old. A non-league footballer, Marc was a star with the round ball, and holds an FA record for the fastest goal scored in a game at 2.5 seconds.

A rugby player cycling around six nations, with so many different sporting personalities involved, the DCS proves that sport unites us all and what better way to use the qualities of sport than to raise money for charity. Well done to all fellow stage 2 riders. Everyone made it through safely and appeared to be enjoying it at all times, despite some challenging weather and thank you for the memories.