Every summer since 1999 I undertake a trans-European bicycling tour. In the first year I biked from Brussels to Santiago de Compostela in the north-west of Spain (2.349 km); in 2000 to Rome and Athens (2.934 km); in 2001 to Gibraltar and Seville (3.073 km); in 2002 to Vienna, Budapest via Ljubljana, Strasbourg and Luxemburg back to Brussels ( 3.870 km) and in 2003 the Hundred Cols Tour in France (4.599 km).

This year it will be the sixth time that I am leaving Brussels for a long biking tour. I intend to undertake for the second time the Hundred Cols Tour in France . This biking tour is known as the most exciting challenge a cyclist can undertake. The 4.029 km of the Hundred Cols Tour comprise 106 cols and 67 “côtes” (other steep ascents), and are all situated in France . All the grand cols of the Tour de France are among the Hundred Cols, notably the Puy Marie, Marie Blanque, Aubisque, Tourmalet, Mont Ventoux, Couillole, la Bonnette, Iséran and the Grand Colombier to name but a few. The majority of the cols are between 7% and 12% on average, but some slopes are going up to 18%. Bearing in mind that the degree of difficulty of this tour, you will understand that I like to keep the option open to interrupt my biking tour at two specific places, namely St-Jean-Pied-le-Port and Avignon.

As already indicated in the letter to my sponsors (see below), I like biking because apart from the physical exertion it allows to relax the spirit and to get away from the daily stress. It gives also a great opportunity to absorb the beauty of the landscape, to smell the flowers, to admire the trees and plants in the field and to listen to the many birds. It also allows meeting interesting people, specifically when you bike solo as I am doing.

However, there is another reason why I like biking. It gives me the chance to raise funds by way of a sponsor action for the social projects I like to support. The proceeds of this year’s sponsor action will be used to support Close the Gap (CTG) in realising two of its social projects. Firstly, CTG would like to create a computer classroom for blind and visually handicapped children in the Mwereni School in Moshi ( Tanzania ). CTG wants to be able to guarantee the complete organization of the installation of the computer room with high quality refurbished computers comprising also an internet connection, special software for the visually impaired, a Braille printer and scanner, as well as specially adapted keyboards. Secondly, it is the intention to construct a computer room and installation of computers for the Tibetan Children’s Village School at Leh in Ladakh , India where the children of Tibetan refugees can receive education. For more information on the concept and the main objectives of CTG see www.close-the-gap.org as well as the sponsor letters below. 

Visitors of my website are kindly requested not to forget to sponsor my trip.