A CYCLIST from Frome is five days into a mammoth challenge that sees him cycle all three stages of the renowned amateur Haute Route – the ‘highest and toughest cyclo-sportives in the world’.
54-year-old Rupert Waterhouse is cycling over 2,500 kilometres from the Atlantic coast of France and through the Pyrenees, the French Alps, the Swiss Alps and the Dolomites.
The challenge which is timed and takes 21 days, involves 62,000 metres of climbing – the equivalent of 6.6 ascents of Everest – up 60 mountain summits, the highest at 2,715 metres above sea level, until reaching Venice on 11th September.
As well as a personal challenge, Rupert is hoping to raise £4,000 for Cancer Research UK.
Rupert said, “I usually try to raise money for a charity when I am doing a big ride, often the official charity of the ride. This time though, I was inspired by meeting James Golding on the Alps ride last year -he rode all three legs then, and is doing so again this year – and indeed four years ago on the London-Paris ride. He is a two-time cancer survivor, an ambassador for Cancer Research UK, and has raised over £2million for cancer charities. I thought that I should join him and help him out.
“The Haute Routes are among the hardest amateur cycling challenges out there. I have done shorter mountain rides before, some one-day such as the Etape du Tour and the Marmotte, both in France, as well as the Marathona dles Dolomites in Italy. Some have been a bit longer such as a three day London to Paris, and a three day Alpine Challenge, both with timed stages, and more relaxed week long rides with friends, but nothing like these.
“I took on the Alps leg last year and felt that I could do a bit more but somehow decided that I should do all three rather than two – more of a challenge. I like cycling up mountains!
“I cycle just about every day, have done for the past three or four years, something like 9,000 miles a year. With the Haute Route in mind, I spent a week in the Pyrenees in April and a long weekend in the Italian Alps, taking on the one-day Gran Fondo Stelvio with some fellow Frome cyclists in June.
Then by chance because I had to be there for work, but had a period when I was just waiting, I had an unexpected opportunity to spend three weeks cycling in the mountains of south Taiwan in July. So the legs should be as good as they can be!
“I am indeed looking forward to it. Excited and indeed a bit nervous, especially because the weather can be a very major factor in the mountains, but the latter usually goes once I get started.”
“Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research. CRUK fight cancer on all fronts, funding and pioneering research, scientists, doctors and nurses to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. With no government funding, their work depends entirely on public donations.
“Cancer is a disease that touches so many people’s lives. Almost everyone has a family member who has been affected. Two aunts of mine died of cancer; my brother fortunately survived multiple cancers. Anything I can do to help the fight has to be good.
“Local Frome businesses Your Storage Space, McAllisters estate agents and Cycology Bikes have made generous contributions to my £4,000 target already. Any further donations anyone would be able to make in recognition of my efforts (or madness) to a very good cause, will be gratefully received.”
