Event Organisation



The Team

We have chosen Classic Tours to be the team responsible for the smooth running of the event both before and during the Tour. Their expertise will ensure that the riders are free to concentrate on enjoying the challenge. Classic Tours are a small company that prides itself on the quality of service it provides. In 1992 they operated the first charity challenge event from which all others have blossomed. Since then over 30,000 people have participated in their challenges all over the world.

The Cycling

Classic Tours, led by Phil Deeker, will provide mechanical and medical support, with vehicles supporting  the riders’ daily progress. They will transfer luggage from one destination to the next.  All staff members will be qualified in First Aid and bike mechanics, plus the convoy will include a Doctor or Nurse too.

Phils’s team will give the riders daily briefings, laminated directions with emergency numbers, coordinates of pre-arranged pit stops for lunch, energy refuelling snacks, replenish water bottles, and give moral support on route. They will provide the refreshments for the snack breaks and lunch.

They will also conduct a recce and source the most suitable, inexpensive and conveniently located accommodation for each Stage.

Outline of a day’s cycling

0700 hrs Breakfast.

0800 hrs Load luggage into vehicle and be ready to cycle by 0800 hrs. (Luggage should be clearly labelled). Check bike tyre pressures, chain oil etc –bike mechanics will be on hand to help fix and adjust, with a reliable track pump and various oils.

Depart between 0815 – 0830 hrs.

The back-up vehicle will be visible approximately every 10 miles, and take opportunities to photograph the riders. The motorbike will be seen more often.

After about 35 miles, the vehicles will stop in an obvious place marked on your directions to give out quickly digested snacks such as bananas and refill water bottles.  If at anytime you want something from a back-up vehicle, flag it down.

The vehicles will slow down when passing you to check everyone is okay.

Lunch will be the next stop after the 50-60 mile mark at an obvious location marked on riders’ directions.  Sandwiches, fruit, chocolate and drinks will handed out from the van, with water to replenish water bottles including a high-energy sports additive.

Lunch will last around 30-45 minutes.

The second half of the day will be similar to the morning. The van will be parked prominently outside the hotel for riders to see. The back-up team will direct riders to secure overnight storage for bikes, help unload luggage, and be on hand to sort out any bike or sports injury problems. The menu for the evening meal will have been arranged with the team’s nutritionist.

The back-up vehicle will carry a full set of spare parts based on a survey of the bikes being used by the team, the types of gears, brakes and wheel sizes.

Event Management (Pre-Tour)

The team at Classic Tours will also be dealing with all your registration requirements, rider communications, booking accommodation and meals and will be able to advise on your travel arrangements. Our contact will be Bex Selleck.

Bex will be providing a dedicated accommodation telephone number so Riders just have to call and state which stages they’re riding and their room requirements.  Classic Tours will make all the reservations, and Riders will pay them direct. Accommodation will be insured under ATOL.

Event Management (during the Tour)

In addition to the Cycling team nn the Tour itself, Sarah Perry of Classic Tours will be our dedicated Logistics Manager. Sarah’s role will be entirely focussed on delivering a fantastic experience for our riders. She will go ahead of the cyclists and ensure that all the hotel rooms are ready, greet the riders when they arrive, make sure that all our meal requirements are understood and troubleshoot anything that needs troubleshooting. Sarah has been working with Classic Tours as a Tour Manager for 5 years, speaks fluent French and has been there and done it. Sarah will be the principle point of contact for our riders during the event.

Forever Young Fitness

Steve Young of Forever Young Fitness has been a professional fitness trainer for 10 years. He competes in cycling and endurance events, and completed the Tour de Force in 2006.

Steve will be retained by the William Wates Memorial Trust to run Sunday training rides in the UK and weekend training abroad prior to the Tour de Force. His expertise in the cycling arena will also ensure that those who take him on as a personal trainer will be in top shape to tackle the Tour!

Steve will accompany us throughout the Tour offering his expertise, motivation and technical support. He will also be providing physio at the end of long days.