Pedal Home from Barcelona

2016

This year, with ever-growing experience in the One Mile Closer peloton, we wanted to challenge ourselves against some of the big mountain climbs of the Tour de France. We started in northern Spain and went immediately up and over the Pyrenees next to the small principality of Andorra, every extra meter of altitude rewarding us in spectacular mountain scenery, ever-improving as we climbed higher. 

The highlight of the trip was the long climb up the Col du Tourmalet, the iconic climb that has featured in so many famous Tour de France tales. Inspired by the names of cycling heroes written on the road and the encouragement of our support team, we made it to the top in time to enjoy the spectacular views, before we rode out of the mountains chased by the incoming weather. On the way home, another poignant moment and we stopped in Perigueux, home to the family of Vaughn Holmes, an inspirational One Mile Closer rider who tragically died in a climbing accident in 2013.

One Mile Closer was set up in memory Rob Gauntlett and James Atkinson. The boys wished that all young people would be able to have the same opportunities that they had benefited from themselves - OMC raises money to that end.