The ORM Dublin to Paris Cycle Challenge 2012

cycle challenge • • • • • • • •

guided Dublin to Paris Cycle Challenge June 17th – 22nd 2012 5 Days Cycling 600km Quiet Roads Meals and snack stations included cycle mechanics & guides accommodation and flights transport of bikes & bags

Challenge Yourself & Raise Funds for Charity Guided tour From UCD to Eiffel Tower • Fully supported with experienced guides • Luggage Transport • Bikes Transported back to Dublin • Meals & Feed Stations • Beautiful Quiet Road & Stunning scenery • 2 Days in Ireland • 3 Days in France

Sponsorship required for participation: €2500 per person or €4 per Km (Approx)

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Accommodation on per person sharing basis,

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4 nights in hotels & 1 night in en suite cabin on ferry

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Meals, 4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners, snack

stops/ feed stations on route •

Luggage transfers between hotels, ferry, back up van

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Service of an experienced guide on the bike on

approximately 1:10 basis •

Service of an experienced bike mechanic

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Transport of your bike back to Dublin

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Training programme and tips from qualified coach

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Flight home from Paris

Day 1 Sunday 17th June Dublin to Arklow - 93km Our adventure begins at the UCD campus in sight of the RTE transmitter which resembles our final destination, the Eiffel Tower.

An early morning start takes us out of the city without the worry of traffic. Soon we are in the beautiful Co Wicklow country side where the roads are never flat. The route avoids the busy main roads turning inland on hedge lined small roads where we face the most demanding section of the trip in the Wicklow Mountains with the option of a diversion over Sally Gap to bag Ireland’s highest road. Descending back to the coast we pass the beautiful beaches of Brittas Bay where you can stop for a swim. Continuing on a wonderful road right by the coast we reach our hotel in Arklow where we stay tonight.

Day 2 Monday 18th June Arklow to Rosslare - 85km This is the shortest day as we leave Arklow and follow the coast to Wexford town passing Curracloe whose beaches were used as the set for the filming the D Day landing scenes in Saving Private Ryan. Tomorrow we cycle past the actual beaches. After lunch we cycle to the Ferry Port at Rosslare.

Here we board the ferry with our bikes. We have time to relax in our cabins before dinner. We wake up in French territorial waters next morning and disembark at Cherbourg.

Day 3 Tuesday 19th June Cherbourg to Bayeux - 108km We have a long but gentle climb away from the port after we leave the boat. However you will notice the improvement in the road surfaces here in France making for more pleasant as well as easier cycling.

Our route takes us on small low traffic roads through dairy farms of spotted cows to the famous Normandy beaches. The lunch stop today is at Utah Beach where you will have time to view the museum to the D Day landings. Cycling southwest inland on mainly flat back roads through farmlands we reach our destination for the night, the mediaeval town of Bayeux.

The town is well known for its tapestry which is 70m long and depicts the events of the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066. There is also an impressive Romanesque cathedral dating back to 1077 in the town.

Day 4 Wednesday 20th June Bayeux to Evreux - 168km This is our longest day as we ride on quiet farm roads through wide open wheat fields, passing through half timbered villages in the home of Calvados, skirting around the city of Caen avoiding the busy roads. Continuing into the Eure region we cross the farmlands which produce Camembert cheese to arrive at the regions capital Evreux where we stay tonight.

Day 5 Thursday 21st June Evreux to Paris - 105km Today there is a celebratory feeling that the job is almost done, just a mere 105km to the Eiffel tower.

The route takes us initially through quiet valleys and wooded areas before arriving in Versailles on the outskirts of Paris. We pass the gilded wonder that is the Palace of Versailles before leaving the traffic to ride on traffic free roads through forests and parks to get our first view of the Eiffel tower.

Cycling through the Bois de Boulogne past the Longchamps Race course to the Trocadero we have protected cycle lanes most of the way to the Eiffel Tower where we finish our ride with a celebratory drink. Our hotel is located centrally just minutes from the finish. Here we have a final celebratory dinner tonight before heading out to sample the night life of this iconic city.

Day 6 Friday 22nd June Paris to Home After a relaxing breakfast we will be making our way home. Your bike has already been carefully packed into one of our vans for the ferry journey home where it will meet you there.

For more information please contact us at: Tel: +353 – 1 – 219 0268 e-mail: moldova@ireland.com web: www.outreachmoldova.org Registered office: Suite 104, DMG House, Deansgrange Business Park, Co. Dublin, Ireland Charity Number: CHY 14229 Company Number: 336502

cycle challenge