As the majority of the UK real estate industry switched off their computers on Friday evening and relaxed into the weekend, this year’s riders on the Cycle to MIPIM kept grinding away on their pedals as they pushed through tough headwinds and torrential rains to nudge closer and closer to Cannes.
Friday may have been bright but a testing headwind springs up during the morning and begins to take its toll as the riders make their way further south from Soissons towards Auxerre, eating up the kilometres, the traybakes, the hearty soup at lunchtime, the baguettes in the afternoon, and everything else put in front of them.
Legs get more tired, aches set in, but the peloton continues its progress in fine form. Some 219km later, they arrive in Auxerre – day three complete.
It was a tough day out there for day four of Knight Frank Cycle to MIPIM. Not just “hump day” for the seven-day route riders, but also the return of the relentless headwind for everyone.
The peloton was buoyed by the arrival of the four-day riders, but everyone’s energy was sapped by the effort required to keep pedalling into the headwind as they headed further south, which got more brutal as the day wore on. But, focused on the task at hand – raising vital funds for charity – the riders keep on and arrived safely in Chalon. Another day complete.
Sunday was the longest day of the ride at 267km and was bookended by rain, with wet and chilling first and last stages. Despite the inclement weather, the peloton is riding incredibly well together, keeping to time on each stage throughout the morning and post-lunch, when the sun even makes some sporadic appearances.
At Hauterives – the pizza stop – the sky darkens and as the riders turn their bikes towards Valence, the heavens open. Another gruelling day but one that has been handled with aplomb by all.
Just two days of riding remain before the peloton arrives in Cannes for MIPIM.
The Knight Frank Cycle to MIPIM riders are cycling to raise funds for charitable projects transforming young lives – you can support them here: justgiving.com/campaign/cycle-to-mipim-2024
All photos © Club Peloton / Matt Alexander
Share your feedback
