Simon Richardson and James Lowsley-Williams are heading to Nepal to tackle the Annapurna Circuit; a 230 km trail that circumnavigates the mountain. Known as the best long distance hike in the world, an experienced hiker will take around 20 days to complete the route on foot; Si and James are attempting to ride it in just 5. Joined by local Nepalese mountain bike legend, Mangal Lama, they’ll battle extreme weather conditions, treacherous single track, and perilous high altitude as they try to complete the iconic Annapurna Circuit.
1969. July the 15th. Stage 17 of the Tour de France. A brutal stage from Luchon to Mourenx covering four of the toughest mountains in the Pyrenees. On this fateful day, Eddy Merckx catapulted himself into the history books with one of the greatest solo breakaways the sport has ever seen. Fast forward over half a century, and GCN’s Simon Richardson is in the Pyrenees to pay tribute to The Cannibal by recreating his ride. To make the 220km epic even more challenging, Si will do it aboard his 1969 spec Faema team bike and wearing their iconic red and white jersey. Eddy Merckx made this ride look easy, but will Si even make it to the finish line?
A mythical mountain, and one of the Tour de France’s favourite battle grounds, the Col du Tourmalet is the jewel in the crown of the Pyrenees. Its slopes have seen champions crowned and dreams shattered by its brutal gradients, earning it the nickname ‘The Terrible Mountain’. Si Richardson heads to the Col du Tourmalet in search of the stories that have been written upon this most historic of climbs, to find out its importance to the local area, and the communities that call the mountain their home. Joined by ex-pro Dan Martin, he shares his own memories of success and heartbreak on the road to the summit of this iconic Pyrenean giant.
Zwift Academy Finals is a reality competition series where top amateur cyclists battle for a professional contract. Through intense challenges, training sessions, and real-world tests, finalists push their limits for a chance to turn their virtual racing dreams into a pro cycling career.
In his 10 years as a pro, five were as a member of the Great Britain Cycling Team as a mountain biker, representing his country at six World Championships and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. A move onto the road followed, riding for British-based professional teams and racing against some of the best riders in the world.
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