Aldwick yclists stage own 'Tour de France'

Along the way they cycled up the Col d'Aspen, a 12km mountain ascent used by the Tour de France through the Pyrenees.

The markings from the world's greatest cycle race were still on the roads as Nick, Paul, Graham Duguid and Keith Massett completed the twists and turns and climbs conquered so effortlessly by the professionals. Nick said: "We spent an extra day in the Pyrenees because we had made such good progress and we decided to tackle one of the climbs of the Tour de France.

"It turned out to be one of our toughest rides and it gave us some idea of what those guys go through in the race."

Company director Nick, 49, of Willowhale Avenue, added: "It was the biggest challenge of my life. The cycling went very well. We all arrived fit and well. We only had about five punctures and one broken spoke.

"The scenery was superb, especially over the Pyrenees, where it was breath-taking."

It is a race of four-wheelers which will benefit from the cyclists' exertions. They have raised about 1,500 for the Pagham Pram Race committee to add to their fundraising from the annual Boxing Day fun. The idea for the bike ride arose at a barbecue which Nick, Paul, of Ruislip Gardens, Graham from Cambridge and Leeds man Keith shared at their houses in Spain last summer.

Twelve months of training later and they were on the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry to start their adventures in their saddles, heading towards Torrevieja.

They cycled 1,095 miles in 84 hours and a minute between July 18 and August 1. Their average speed was about 13mph.

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