(click on the Day to see a
map of that day’s route)
These routes are approximate
and are now probably the best routes that we are likely to get before we begin.
Day
1 (Tuesday 22nd July) – Medstead/Bentworth to Croydon – 65 miles
The
ride for most people will now officially start at the Star Inn in Bentworth at
approx 13:15 although some of us intend to ride the extra distance from the
Broadlands RDA Centre in Medstead in the morning. We will go through Shaldon,
Holybourne, Binstead, Frensham, Tilford, Milford, Cranleigh, Ockley, Reigate,
Coulsdon and eventually reach the Airport Hotel near Croydon for our first
night’s rest.
Day 2
(Wednesday 23rd July) - Croydon to Calais – 90 miles
Day
2 is the longest day. We will set off bright and early and ride through, or
pass close to, Limpsfield, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Frittenden, Willesborough
and Hawkinge to arrive in Dover to catch the ferry to Calais.
Day
3 (Thursday 24th July) - Calais to Arras – 70 miles
Day
4 (Friday 25th July) - Arras to Compiegne – 85 miles
The
route will pass through beautiful forested areas near to WW1 memorial sites. We
will go through Boyelles, Miraumont, Maricourt, Omiecourt and Lachelle to reach
Compiegne on the banks of the R Olse.
Day
5-1 (Saturday 26th July) - Compiegne to Paris – 55 miles
The
route will go through Verberie, Montepilloy, Survillers, Ecouen and St Denis
before we enter Paris, cycle down the Champs-Elysees and finish under the
Eiffel Tower.
(Most
of the team will stop in Paris and return the following day by Eurostar, but
for three intrepid riders the journey is not over – they will turn round in
Paris and continue cycling:
Day
5-2 (Saturday 26th
July) – Paris to Conches-en-Ouche – 77 miles
The
route will leave Paris traveling west to Conches-en-Ouche on the way to Caen.
Day
6-1 (Sunday 27th July) - Conches-en-Ouche to Caen – 93 miles
Riders
will leave Conches-en-Ouche bright and early in order to catch the
Caen-Portsmouth channel ferry.
Day
6-2/1 and Day
6-2/2 (Sunday 27th July) - Portsmouth to Bentworth – 32 miles
The
final leg should take about two hours and will go through Denmead, East Meon,
Privett and Four Marks finishing back at the Star Inn in Bentworth.