Irish cyclists follow Tour de France route for NCBI
Release Date: Aug 18th, 2006
This Sunday 50 Blazing Saddles cyclists set off for the fourth annual Tour du Tour challenge to raise funds for the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI). The group will complete six stages of the 2006 Tour de France, cycling up to 140 miles per day over six days.
Led by Irish cycling hero Sean Kelly, the NCBI Blazing Saddles team will cycle from Valence to Alpe d’Huez, the most famous of the mountain climbs on the Tour de France, spending up to 12 hours a day in the saddle.
According to Des Kenny, Chief Executive of NCBI, the 2006 Tour du Tour is of great significance to the organisation. “NCBI celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2006 and we value greatly the contribution made over the years by our fundraisers and volunteers. This event is a real challenge for all those taking part and we wish everyone well.”
Training for this event has been as arduous as the event itself, according to team leader Sean Kelly. “You have to train hard for this challenge and the group have been cycling between 350 and 400 miles per week on demanding hilly terrain, with a few early starts thrown in. It is a very tough cycle but we always enjoy ourselves. The team spirit is very high and we will keep eachother going.”
For more information on NCBI’s fundraising events contact 1850 33 43 53, visit www.ncbi.ie
For further information on the Tour du Tour or to catch up on the team’s progress in France contact Eamon Duffy on +353 (0) 86 2593573. Follow daily reports on www.irishcycling.com or www.westcoastwheelers.com
Notes to editors:
1. National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) is a not for profit charitable organisation which offers support and services nationwide to those experiencing difficulties with their eyesight.
2. 2006 is NCBI's 75th anniversary year, having been established in 1931 to promote the physical, economic and social independence of people living with vision impairments.
3. NCBI provides a range of services to 10,000 people experiencing difficulty with their eyesight in Ireland.
4. Eamon Duffy, NCBI’s special events manager, established the charity cycling team, the Blazing Saddles, 20 years ago. Since then the team has travelled the world many times over, raising funds for NCBI.