This summer I will take on a challenge of a lifetime and cycle three times the height of Snowdon every day for seven days! I will be taking part in the Haute Route cycling challenge, and I'm aiming to raise £5,000.00 for the Gola Rainforest project  which is jointly managed by the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (BirdLife in Sierra Leone), the Government of Sierra Leone and the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK). The money will be match funded by Size of Wales.

Me with THE bike!

The Haute Route is a prestigious seven-day road race, across Europe’s iconic cols such as Col d’Izoard,  Col du Galibier and Col du Telegraphe . I cycle in my spare time but I’ve never done anything  as challenging as this before. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and although I’m nervous at the scale of the adventure, I’m also excited at the same time. Cycling 781km and climbing 21,900 metres in seven days, the Haute Route is the equivalent to riding Newport to Kidwelly in distance and climbing three times the height of Snowdon daily, and is regarded as one of the highest and toughest cyclosportives in the world.

This is a massive challenge, but I’m going to try and enjoy it. I’ve been in training since the start of the year and with the support of my family and friends I’m sure I’ll make it across the finish line in Geneva, and I might even get to see some great alpine wildlife too!

Me out training!

You can follow my training diary on these pages or if you’d like to sponsor me please go to www.justgiving.com/Cellan-Michael1