Crazy but is it do-able in ten hours?

Mellow Yellow team at 7am this morning in Casino Gardens Monaco

It may not sound like a huge challenge, but given that five of them had to buy bicycles to take part that gives you some idea of their inexperience in the saddle! Add to that a 187 kilometre route that will take them up hill (total climbs 2,747 m) and down dale, and the picture changes.

Kim and Suzannah Doyle, Paul Cundy, Gareth Jones, Charlie Kennedy-Scott, Jon Swarbrick and Paul Cloudsdale (pictured left at 7am in front of the Casino gardens) have lost 34 kilos between them since they started training in February. “The pros did it in four hours 30 minutes and we hope to make it in ten hours,” says an optimistic Suzannah, clearly hoping that London’s Muswell, Hampstead and Highgate hills have given them just about enough training to cope with the rigours of the Alpes-Maritimes.

Do they really know what they are in for? “Absolutely! I know the area well as we have been coming to Le Rouret for holidays ever since my grandma bought that bergerie and my parents now live here most of the time,” Suzannah told The Riviera Times. “We are raising money mainly for the Anna Appeal Fund - a colleague who is 29 and has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. There is a drug which could prolong her life but it is not available on the British National Health Service. Also, as some members of the group have lost parents to cancer part of the proceeds will go to Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong campaign”.

The group set off on their personal Tour from the ceremonial second stage start in front of Monaco’s Casino at 7.15am. The route takes them up to the Col d’Eze via La Turbie, then descends to Nice along the Promenade des Anglais to St Laurent-du-Var, Cagnes-sur-Mer, then up hill again to Grasse, Callian, Fayence, Draguignan, Col de l’Ange, Lorgues, Carcès and Brignoles.

If anyone would like to support them, mark your donation "MYR tour" when you go online at: http://annaappealfund.weebly.com