MT2 #EDG2PARIS Blog - Sept’23 (The Ride)!
Day 1 - 111 Miles, 6,308 ft. Day Sponsor: Imperial Bricks
Maul Together are back! Cycling over 300 miles from the Bridgnorth RFC Edgar Davies Ground (EDG) to Paris in 3 days. The team is raising much needed money for their selected charities “My Name’5 Doddie Foundation” and “Matt Hampson Foundation”.
When the team set off, over £16,000 had already been raised but they knew the hard work was yet to come on the bikes and a big push required to raise their target of at least £20,000 for the charities.
Maul Together seems to keep on organising their charity cycle rides in the middle of heat waves!!! Blistering heat of approx 35-38 degrees really took it out of the team on day 1!
It was a tough first day with loads of rolling hills straight from the start after leaving Bridgnorth and a couple never ending climbs near Stow-On-The-Wold that nearly broke a few of the riders.
Just as the sun was setting, the riders pulled into Casa Bishop in Dorchester on Thames. The team managed to cool off with a dip in the river followed by some brilliant hospitality from the Bishops!!
Day 2 - 100 Miles, 5,703 ft. Day Sponsor: Grey Wolfe
It was the crocodile day as the team had to be snappy to complete the 100 miles before 3:30pm due to the ferry departing!!! Could they do it!?
It was not an easy day, as the heat was back and lots of sore bodies after day 1. The Anchor in the group was tiring but after some big long climbs along Saddlescombe, the team made it into Brighton and onto The Pier.
Quick photo and then a sprint finish was required to get to the ferry at Newhaven - 1hr to go!
The team was really against the clock to get to Newhaven and they just managed to get there with only 5 minutes to spare!
Once on the ferry, they managed to grab a shower, food and a few beers before arriving into Dieppe and having a short cycle to the hotel - ready for the final leg.
Day 3 - 108 Miles, 3,541 ft. Day Sponsor: Holdens Bottling Company Ltd.
The first stretch from Dieppe was along a nice cycle path / old railway line but whilst it wasn’t hilly, it was hard work with a constant gradient coupled with the riders tired legs.
Then the heat really came!!! +40 degrees and the team really felt it whilst wearing their black kit! The suns rays were bouncing off the tarmac and heating the water bottles up within minutes and it really took it out of the riders.
Fortunately Maul Together has an excellent support crew who got the iced towels out to cool the riders down and keep them peddling.
Paris wasn’t easy to navigate with all the traffic, cycle lanes / pavements etc, which ended in Teckers falling off his bike.
The group got split up for a few miles towards the end with only 4 riders getting themselves to the famous Arc De Triomphe for a quick photo!
We do not recommend cycling around the Place Chales De Gaulle at the Arc De Triomphe - Carnage!!!
The Maul Together team managed to bring themselves back together for the home straight into the Eiffel Tower!
It was great to be cheers in by our support crew along with family and friends to celebrate all together.
What a hard day in the heat but it was all worth it to complete this challenge and raise so much money for two great charities.
Day 3 Highlight Video - Click Here!
The team then went out to celebrate with some cabaret in Paris on the Thursday night following by the start of the Rugby World Cup in the fan zone on the Friday.
Some of the team then flew back the following day to play / support the Bridgnorth RFC 1XV!
Maul Together in the end raised OVER £22,000 which was split between our fantastic charities “My Name’5 Doddie Foundation” and “Matt Hampson Foundation” - We know that every penny will make a difference.
Thank you so much to everyone who followed our journey and supported us and our charities!
We’ll be back for more soon!