Cycling team embark on 800km ride
A Shropshire cycling team will embark on a 800km ride tomorrow, climbing more than 20,000 metres in seven days through the French Alps.
Rhino Velo Race Team, made up of former professional cyclist Liam Holohan, 30, of Shrewsbury, Matthew Davies, 35, of Minsterley, and Shrewsbury brothers Chris Pook, 35, and Tom Pook, 30, will take on the original event of the Haute Route multi-day series, from Megeve to Nice.
They will compete against hundreds of cyclists from across the globe to try and record the shortest overall time over seven stages.
The event, which is the eighth edition of the Haute Route Alps, will take place from August 26 to September 1 and involves climbing multiple mountain passes each day.
It features some of the world’s most renowned cycling routes and climbs, often finishing in some of France’s most famous ski resorts.
The team, run by Shropshire based businessmen Chris Pook, of estate agents Cooper Green Pooks, and Ben Lawrence, of Beaumont Lawrence Chartered Insurance Brokers, spent a week training at altitude in France to prepare them for the demands of the event.
Mr Pook said: “The whole team is feeling very strong right now and we are looking forward to realising the events of many months of training.
“This is a major multi-day cycling event for amateurs and I’m excited to take on this challenge. Matt, Tom and I are experienced in this format having last year competed in the Haute Route Rockies and the Haute Route Pyrenees in 2015. However, this will be Liam’s first experience of the event and we hope he can show his class over seven days and ultimately finish atop the podium.’’
Mr Lawrence, who also sponsors the team with Cooper Green Pooks, Doppio Protection and Holohan Coaching, said the Rhino Velo Race Team has been going from strength to strength.
He said: “The team performed brilliantly during the Etape du Tour and I expect to see great success from them in the Haute Route.
“Last year Matt Davies finished second overall and Chris Pook seventh overall in the Haute Route Rockies, but we think we can go one better this year.’’
Mr Pook added: “It will certainly be nice to get to Nice and jump in the sea.
“This really is an event to test and challenge us. It is extremely arduous and tough on the body and we have prepared as well as we can, largely by climbing just about every hill that south Shropshire and Mid Wales has to offer."
