Photo: One of the highlights of 2023. Full story: https://colincanride.com/2023/09/05/paris-brest-paris-2-which-way-to-go/

A glance over the shoulder

For 2023 I set just 3 objectives. So how did it go?

1. Continue the L’Italia del Grand Tour (IGT) challenge, which means finishing the 6+6 Ajò Sardegna in April (1,200km) and the Transalp Rando in May (1,200km). ✅

On the 6+6 Ajò Sardegna I learnt that I was a better climber than I thought I was. This got me round in good time and has helped me ever since. On the Transalp Rando I rode with an Audax UK Champion and shared a bed with someone I barely knew.

This leaves me with just one more to do to complete the Italian Grand Tour, the 999 Miglia in 2025.

2. Paris Brest Paris in August (1,200km) ✅ 

I decided to try and beat my 2019 time of 69 hours and 5 minutes. I finished in 66 hours and 16 minutes, nearly 24 hours under the 90 hour limit. I also had an amazing experience just outside Brest on the way back.

3. Stay married ✅

I set this as an objective for 2023 as I was away cycling for 7 weeks in 2022 so a little less cycling and more time at home this year. We made it. We had a great time celebrating our 30th anniversary in London in November so I guess that’s the most important success.

My year and All time on Strava looks like this:

Eyes on the road

2024 looks very different. A longer list of very different challenges, but the staying married bit is still an objective.

1. London (Tower Bridge) to Paris (The Eiffel Tower) in under 24 hours with my ICC mates (April)
2. My second Sicilia No Stop, but this time with my mates Gino and Mike (May)
3. Chase the Sun Italia, 280km Coast to Coast from the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian Sea between sunrise and sunset with my mates Andy, Gino, and Jyde. (June)
4. My first Maratona dles Dolomites (July) with Pete and other mates. My objective is simply to complete the long course without being caught by the broom wagon.
5. International Super Randonneur 1,200 Award. To achieve this I need to complete an LRM recognised 1,200km+ event but not in France, Italy or the UK as I’ve already done those. I’ve signed up for the Slagelse Sløjfe 1300 in Denmark in August.
6. The brotherhood of the Cinglés du Mont Ventoux by climbing Mont Ventoux in Provence by all three ascents within 24 hours with my mate Andy (Sep)
7. 12,000km over the year