Day 3, the big one – the day everyone has been anticipating – 90 miles from Crawley to Dover for the final UK leg of the challenge.
After a warm night at the Premier Inn Crawley due to a lack of air conditioning in the hotel, everyone enjoyed a fuel-filled breakfast before repacking their bags and loading up the support vehicles for the day. This process is becoming slicker. Matt is particularly pleased with the quality of bag stacking in his van!!
As 9am approached, the team assembled and on hearing the now familiar sound fo the horn, departed on the next leg of the journey heading towards Dover and the final overnight stop before the ferry crossing into France and their last cycle journey into Belgium on Sunday.
The first segment of today’s route took the team through Crawley and then out to Lingfield, to the first checkpoint at ‘Hever Camping’, three miles outside Edenbridge.
Incidents and Accidents
Today’s first stage was a little more incident-packed than yesterdays. First, Will suffered a second puncture, but his teammates sprang into action and swiftly replaced the inner tube, so they were back on the road again in no time. Second, disaster struck at the next set of traffic lights where poor Bill misjudged the movement of the car in front and crashed into the back, ending up on the floor with a grazed arm and a sore hand. Within a few minutes, he was back on the bike and on to the first stop, where a well-earned cold drink was ready from the ‘Wheelers Wagon’.
Route Gradient
The route today was split into three main segments – the first quarter was reasonably flat until having to ride up a large hill before the checkpoint. The second quarter before lunch was a gradual climb, traversing Tunbridge Wells before a big descent into the lunch stop. The riders felt this was easier than yesterday, with some time to rest between hills.
Planes and Visitors
Today’s lunch stop was at the pub, the Kings Head in Staplehurt, where not only a fine selection of sandwiches and beers were available, but also an air display was provided by some historic war planes!
After the first two groups had passed through the lunch stop, Duncan Sutcliffe arrived with his ‘wag’s wagon’, bringing Jo, Kelly and Debbie along to cheer the team over the line.
Hills, Hills and More Hills
The last group left the pub and then the challenges began, by now the temperature had really shot up to over 28C, with little breeze to cool the riders down, a couple of miles short of Ashford, Martin was starting to struggle, and was picked up and taken to the third checkpoint, the remainder of the team navigated through Ashford and arrived at the final checkpoint at 4:45 pm, meanwhile up ahead, Kyle, Andy, Leo and Andy had already arrived at the final hotel stop in Dover – they really are super speedy!
That final leg to our night stop at the Premier Inn Dover was probably the most punishing segment of the entire ride, with two of the steepest climbs of the entire route at miles 79 and 82. After the final climb, the view was spectacular before a rapid descent and arrival in Dover.
Due to their late arrival at checkpoint 3, the final team of riders made the difficult decision to miss the final hills and utilised the assistance of the support crew, who took them to the top of the final descent to ride down the hill into Dover – this was much more fun!
The final team arrived at Dover at 8 pm, with much celebration! The evening was spent in the Premier Inn restaurant, where food and many drinks were enjoyed, before turning in for a 6:30 am start the next morning to catch the ferry to France
Our riders are taking on this challenge for three charities, today on Armed Forces Day, we focus on our final charity, the Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire):
The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire) serves as a vibrant educational resource that honours local soldiers, preserving regimental memory, and fostering ongoing engagement through exhibitions, archives, and community-centered events.
To pledge your donation and encourage the team on this epic journey, please head to our Give Wheel fundraising page.