Cycle tour – 5-12 June
Trail races 13-14 June
With only just over five weeks before this year’s ride training is in full swing for both cyclists and runners.
As well as riding from Tonbridge’s German twin town of Heusenstamm to our French twin of Le Puy, we are once again linking our ride to the UTMB trail races Le Grand Trail du St Jacques. This year we again have a dozen runners compete over four distances from 12 km up to 78 km.
World events allowing our start is just south of Frankfurt and we will cross the Rhine into France running through the Alsace vineyards before climbing the Vosges and onto the Burgundy vineyards! We may have to visit a winery or two.
After following the river Saône we will climb up into the Massif Central and onto our final destination at Le Puy.
As always our trip is wonderously supported by Broomey the camper crewed by Nigel & Monica who ensure that we are fully provided for along the route.
This year will see a slight change in cycling personnel as Richard is joining Dom ( making this his third NBJ Tour) and myself. Sadly Nick is unable to make this years adventure but has promised to be on hand next year for a Spanish odyssey ( more of that another time). Richard like Dom will also be running one of the trail races the day after we arrive.
There is a possibility that we may be joined en route by guest cyclists but we won’t know that until nearer the event.
We are expecting some honest German hospitality in Heusenstamm and have been promised our usual generous welcome in France. Both the Burgermeister in Heusenstamm and Maire of Le Puy have asked to meet us. It may well be the last official visit to our twins as Tonbridge & Malling BC looks as though it will cease to exist after 2027 so the official twinning may die.
Our runners ( other than Dom & Richard) are driving and flying down to arrive in Le Puy on the Friday before the races so we are all hoping for no flight cancellations and plenty of fuel to make the trip.
Let’s hope the weather stays fine and encourages us to get out a be fit to run and cycle in June.
nbjtours 