It wasn’t just Chris Froome who was riding quickly across France this summer, twenty pupils with teachers and parents from Wellington School had their own mini Tour de France. The Year 9, 10 and 11 pupils pedalled from Bordeaux to Caen in seven days, covering around 100 km each day.
High temperatures and the occasional hill meant that water bottles were filled regularly en route.The group avoided the larger towns and took to the quieter smaller roads, which made for much more pleasant cycling.
Pupils tested the full range of gears on their road bikes throughout the journey up France and made good time, arriving each evening at a campsite to rest up.
No finish on the Champs Elysees for these cyclists though, on the final day all the pupils jumped in to the English Channel at Ouistreham to cool off after the last leg of the tour.
Will Osborne, a Year 11 pupil at Wellington School said, ‘One of our teachers, Mr Carson’s, jokes really helped to keep me going.’ Another Year 11 pupil, Christian Fieldhouse said’ A brilliant achievement to see so much of France. Bring on next year!’
The aim for next year’s trip is to cycle in the other direction from Bordeaux to Barcelona so that the pupils can jump in the Med this time to cool off.
Photo: Wellington School Pupils with teachers and parents take a break on their mini Tour de France, cycling through France from Bordeaux to Caen.