Team Sky’s Ben Swift has described feeling daunted by the Queen Stage of last year’s Tour de France.
The Yorkshireman, who rode the Tour for the first time last year, said the crowds lining the roads of stage nineteen helped him to the summit of Alpe D’huez.
“I was a little scared of stage 19 as I knew it was going to be hard. It was a nice feeling when we got to Alpe D’huez after attempting Col du Télégraphe and Col du Galibier,” said Swift.
“I was aware it wasn’t going to be easy but the amount of fans was incredible and it drove me up the climb.
“Reaching the finish line was absolutely thrilling! With a hard day behind us we knew we had just climbed our last mountain of the day!”
Swift is backing the Ride L’Etape, a challenge ride organised by the charity, Action Medical Research, which funds vital medical research into conditions affecting babies and children, including meningitis, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and premature birth.
The ride’s main route will include the 1,566 metre Col du Télégraphe, the 2,556 metre Galibier, and the 21 bends of Alpe d’Huez, replicating the Tour stage of which Swift had spoken.
Action Medical Research’s Oly Watts, described the Ride L’Etape as the charity’s toughtest challenge yet. “It’s a chance to experience the Tour de France from the saddle and conquer some of the most famous climbs in cycling,” he said.
