The domestiques
For those who don't follow cycling much, a domestique is a member of a professional cycling team who, basically, rides for his or her team leader. So they often do most of the leg work along the stage (by say closing down breaks by other teams or winding up the pace to break clear themselves) whilst the leader tends to shelter behind ready to take the glory near the end of the race.
That's not an entirely accurate description of either the domestique or the team leader. Nor does it describe the marvellous people below at all; but I enjoyed using the cycling terminology. Listed below are the people who have agreed to join me somewhere en route. If you would like to join in too (particularly if you're interested in the final day), please drop me a line by e-mail. I need all the help I can get.
The first help along the road will be from John Sharkey. John is a colleague and friend from work. John would have you believe he is a weaker cyclist than me but I think not. When we went for a ride together last August, it is true that I had the stronger legs that day but I'd been doing some regular weekend rides whereas his cycling had been restricted as his bike had been out of action. (I'm sure Armstrong and Landis suffer similar problems.) The truth is, John has conquered some big routes in Scotland, Wales, Coast to Coast and, perhaps most memorably, has ascended L'Alpe D'Huez. Anyway, John joins me in the South West to help me travel up from Cornwall to Bristol. |  |
John Welsford is the Managing Director of Mercia and therefore instrumental in first instigating the idea of the 3 month sabbatical. (John has built up the company over 25 years so has himself enjoyed two such breaks.) John is, by any reckoning, a very good cyclist having completed the route of the hardest stage of last year's Tour De France. The plan is he will meet me as I get off the ferry from Orkney and will accompany me from Thurso all the way down to Dundee. He will then hop on a train back home before setting off for France where he will be taking part in the official Etape du Tour. |  |
I don't know Jimmy's surname; and that's the kind of guy he is really. Totally unassuming and a really nice guy. He's the long-term partner of Belinda Auchimowicz, another friend and colleague of mine at Mercia. He's also an excellent cyclist. He must weigh about 4 stone when wet through and he scales mountains for fun. Apart from hopefully helping me on the 100 miler on the penultimate day (from Bridlington to Boston), he's joined me on a couple of rides and has given me invaluable advice. Spot Jimmy in this great photo! |  |
Come and be a final day domestique!
On the final day, I'm hoping for something of a celebration. The distance is shorter and the pace much slower so that I'm hoping that people will join me on some or all of the last stage from Boston to Leicester via Grantham. If you would like to register for this last day, please see further details here.
Among the people cycling all the way from Boston for the full 72 miles to Leicester include the following people [to be confirmed]:
Joining us in Grantham are the following people[to be confirmed]:
Joining us at Scraptoft are the following people[to be confirmed]: