AN OLYMPIC gold medallist is to swap the Champs-Elysées for Ystrad Road at the end of the month.
Welshman Geraint Thomas is a member of Team Sky currently competing in the Tour de France, but at the end of July, he will cycle his way to Denbigh Cricket Club.
On Saturday, July 30, Thomas will undertake a gruelling charity cycle ride beginning in Cardiff and finishing at Denbigh Cricket Club’s Ystrad Road ground - a distance of some 170 miles in one day!
He will travel through Corwen during the epic journey and the Olympic gold medallist should reach his destination by 9pm.
The ride is part of a tribute to Denbigh Cricket Club’s long-serving president Glyn Thomas, who passed away earlier this year and who was involved with the club for many years.
Glyn was a player for the club for many years and his two sons Eifion and Emyr (Slotter), plus grandson Rhys all continued this fine tradition and will be looking to join in the ride in some capacity.
This will most likely involve Eifion and his son Rhys actually cycling as much of the distance as possible.
One of the main drivers behind the ride is Geraint’s girlfriend Sara, Glyn’s granddaughter, who will be ‘assisting’ Geraint on the back seat of the tandem that will be their transport through their very own Tour de Cymru!
Twenty five year-old Thomas will conclude his Tour de France campaign this year with the closing 95km-long Creteil to Paris (Champs-Élysées) stage on Sunday, July 24.
Six days later and the Welsh ride will culminate at Denbigh’s Ystrad Road ground, where there will be a hog roast supplied by Rhug Estate, a licensed bar and other refreshments.
Back in 2008, Thomas won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in the team pursuit, breaking the world record twice on the way in a time of 3.53:314.
As a result of these achievements, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 New Year’s Honours List.
The ride is in aid of two charities close to the Thomas family - Alzheimers Research UK and The Stroke Association.
All donations are welcome and to donate, visit the website: www.justgiving.com/teams/Taid
Geraint is appealing to interested cyclists who would like to take part in the ride, and cycle any distance they can manage to join the ride along the route, to contact Gayle Howells via e-mailing gayle@seren-pr.co.uk
There will be a grand arrival at Denbigh Cricket Club and the club are appealing to as many people as possible to make the effort to come and welcome one of Wales’ finest athletes to the town and make it an occasion to remember.
Details can be found on the Denbigh Cricket Club website www.denbighcricketclub.co.uk and also at www.geraintthomas.com
ROUTE:
6.30am: Pontypridd
7.30am: Merthyr (A4054)
9-10am: Brecon (A470)
11.30am-12.30pm: Builth Wells (A470)
3.30-4.30pm: Welshpool (A483)
7-7.30pm: Corwen (A483-A5)
9pm: Denbigh (A494-A525)