Photo: One of the highlights of 2024. Full story: Flèche National La Florence

A glance over the shoulder

I’m not sure why I did it but I set quite a long list of objectives for 2024. In fact 7. On reflection, perhaps too long a list. That doesn’t matter now as 2024 is over.

So how did it go?

1. London (Tower Bridge) to Paris (Arc de Triomphe) in 24 hours with my ICC mates (April) ✅ Sort of! Only 24 hours from Paris
2. My second Sicilia No Stop, but this time with my mates Gino and Mike (May) ✅ I did but sadly Gino and Mike didn’t make it for different reasons: Decisions Decisions
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) ✅ I did but sadly Gino and Jyde didn’t make it for different reasons: Chasing the Sun
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. ✅ No Boy Racer
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. ✅ I received my recognition from Les Randonneurs Mondiaux: ISR 1200 to earn my second etry on their website.
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) ❌ Unfortunately Andy couldn’t make it. I planned to do it alone but a chest infection and a trip to the UK meant the opportunity passed. However I did make up for it with an achievement not in the plan*
7. 12,000km over the year ✅ 12,024 to be precise.

*✅ Under the guidance of our Captain Giuseppe Boffi we (Pino Leone, Stefano Sertori and Jana Mazacova) completed the first Flèche National in Italy. We had 24 hours to ride as a long a distance as possible (minimum 360 km) finishing in Florence on Saturday morning: Flèche National La Florence

My year and All-Time on Strava:

A big thank you to all those who have helped me along the way. So many other riders; Stefano Mancini who maintains my bikes; my clubs La Centinarolese, ARI, Islington and AUK; all the volunteers who’ve contributed so much to make these events possible. Above all, my wife Jan for her constant and unquestionaing support for my madness on a bike.

Eyes on the road

Learning my lesson from 2024 I’ve returned to a shorter list of objectives for 2025:

1. Complete the Italian Grand Tour. I’ve just one of the 6 big rides left to complete the challenge. The 999 Tuscany Grand Rando in June. 1,210km / 15,300m climbing in under 94 hours.
2. Complete my second London Edinburgh London. 1,540 km in August.
3. Join the brotherhood of the Cinglés du Mont Ventoux by climbing Mont Ventoux in Provence by all three ascents within 24 hours either in April or September, to be decided. This one is a hang over from 2024.
4. 10,000 km for the year