The final day of our challenge gave us a 55-mile push to Ypres, the Menin Gate and on to Ghulevelt Chateau and Worcester Memorial.
An early morning start to catch our ferry to Dunkirk meant that our usual horn blow at 9 am was brought forward to 6:30 am! The trip to the port was less than a mile, and we were joined on the quayside by Duncan Pittock and his WW1 army truck.
Thankfully, the weather in the channel was perfect once the early morning mist had lifted. Our self-declared landlubber, Graham, was incredibly pleased with the smooth crossing!
Challenges of the day!
Our first challenge once off the ferry was to assemble all the cyclists together. An Esso station was chosen as the assembly point and where the cyclists were released onto the first segment of the day, which was a 16-mile ride to the picturesque town of Beurge.
Less than a mile in, we encountered our second challenge – Martin had suffered a puncture, and whilst Colin and Paul had stopped with him to assist, Gary and Mike turned back in one of the support vans to assist. After some challenges with a pump, the three riders were back on the road.
Meanwhile, the first group of four riders was travelling at an incredible pace, arriving at the canal at the first checkpoint after 1hr 15mins. They chose to challenge themselves further to arrive in Ypres in less than 3 hrs. The remaining riders flowed through the checkpoint as the heat of the day began to take hold.
The second half of the route took the team out into the French countryside, on flat, smooth roads, before quickly crossing the border into Belgium. A few things were observed – The cleanliness of the environment, the smooth road, and the quieter roads
Mistaking Beer for Water
The ‘wag wagon’ arrived in Ypres just after 14:30, and on walking towards the stunning Menin Gate, Kelly noticed a cyclist in a blue top arriving and sneaking into the bar at the top of the road, they’d done it and arrived in 2hr45 an amazing achievement! A celebratory cold beer was enjoyed whilst the remaining riders were still making their way to the Menin Gate. One surprise was in store, as Leo’s mum had secretly travelled to meet him at the finish!
Whilst Martin decided to take the opportunity to hop in the van to catch up with groups further ahead, one group appeared to have stopped moving on the tracker with less than five miles to go. On further investigation, it was discovered they had decided to stop for some ‘water’ in a local bar.
All the riders eventually arrived safely in Ypres, to rapturous applause. After a brief stop for refreshments, the riders assembled under the Menin Gate for a team photograph. The entire team was then led by the WW1 truck for a ceremonial group ride under the gate and out to Ghulevelt Chateau.
The Last Leg
The final segment of the ride to the Chateau was only five miles but featured the only hill for miles around. With weary legs amongst the group, and the heat of the day becoming increasingly challenging, a few riders were starting to struggle. Poor Martin then got a bit lost and needed rescuing after a four-mile detour.
An emotional finish at the Chateau as the cyclists were met by several members of the local community and the chair of the local cycling club. There was also a huge surprise for Will, as his parents had arrived to cheer him over the finish line.
The riders were each presented with a glass of champagne, a commemorative top and medals in the colours of the ‘Worcester’s’.
The Last Post
The day continued with a trip to the Worcester Memorial, where three of the team had been invited to lay a wreath as part of the daily Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate. At 8 pm each night, the Last Post is played, and after a minute’s silence, the laying of the wreaths begins, which this evening was accompanied by Abide With Me sung by students from Sale Grammar School. It was incredibly moving to share a moment of reflection on the sacrifices made by those who went before.
We then all crossed the road to the local community centre, where a commemorative beer that had been brewed locally on behalf of Craig, from the TripelB Beer café. It was a fantastic beer, and we all enjoyed a pint before a swift return to the Ariane Hotel to get ready for the evening’s activities.
Thank You
We couldn’t have achieved this momentous journey without the help and support of numerous people, and a special thanks must go out to our sponsors who have kindly donated.
To pledge your donation and help the team exceed their target, please head to our Give Wheel fundraising page.