Get ready to ride

Cornwall Hospice Care’s charity cycle ride, the Coast and Clay Sportive, is back for 2021.

A very popular activity, since it was first introduced by St Columb Rotary Club, this multi-distance, one-day cycling sportive will be the charity’s first real event since last March. The healthcare charity took it over in 2019 but had to cancel last year due to the pandemic. Scheduled to take place this July, with the support of title sponsor Clive Mitchell Cycles, it is proving a hit with cyclists desperate to get out and face a real-life challenge. There are routes for everybody, from the complete beginner to the hardened cyclist, with distances from 17 to 104 miles.  One of those already signed up is Henry Lewis from Truro. A keen hockey player, he took up road cycling in the last year: “When Covid took over, team sports were put on hold and I wanted something more interesting than running to keep me busy. I’m still really enjoying it and decided to buy a bike that’s far more advanced than my actual ability. I work in the NHS mental health service and the last year has been an absolute rollercoaster. It sounds hideously cliché but cycling gives me a bit of headspace after a difficult day.”

Henry says he was talked in to the Sportive by friends Ryan and Alex who will compete with him: “I was keeping fit for my wedding to Jess in April and we wanted to set ourselves a bit of a challenge but were under no illusion that over 100 miles would probably end in some long-term injuries and embarrassment. 71 is a stretch but we’ve got a few months to train!”

Henry says he has close hockey friends who’ve received support from Cornwall Hospice Care in the past. “It’s a fantastic charity and a large part of justifying the pain of over 70 miles and 6,000ft of climbs. I will be absolutely delighted if I can finish without breaking the bike or my own legs. 71 miles in itself would be fine in most other parts of the country, but Cornwall has a unique ability to throw hill after hill at you and I think they’ve fully utilised that on the planned route.” 

Discover More

The Coast and Clay Sportive is on Sunday 18th July. To find out more details and to sign up visit www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk/events/coastclaysportive-2021

Cornwall Hospice Care

01726 66868 (option 3)

www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk