2015 campaign: keep on with my fight
| On the last January 14th the ALS foundation in Holland launched the 2015 campaign around the whole country. With the moto “keep on with my fight” the campaign is bringing attention to both the fight against the disease and asking participants to the Tour du ALS. The news this year is the way longer distance, which is going to be extra hard and a even harder challenge to us. Take a look into the details after the link, including the new kit. | No último dia 14 de Janeiro a Fundação do ALS da Holanda lançou a campanha de 2015 em todo o país. Com o slogan de Siga com minha Luta, a campanha quer atrair atenção para a luta contra a doença e para a arrecadação de fundos que os participantes do Tour du ALS irão fazer. Para os participantes, a novidade é a distância que vai ser ainda maior e um desafio ainda maior. Dá uma olhada nos detalhes depois do link, incluindo o novo kit. |
The idea of the Tour du ALS is to bring attention to the ALS disease (or lou gehrig's) and to raise funds for the research against it. This is a muscle degenerating disease with a very aggressive outlook and gives a life expectation of max 3 years. The idea of the “keep on with my fight” is that there is no cure currently and anybody diagnosed, won’t have any chance of survival or to fight it themselves.
But unfortunately research for a prevention, cure or just slow down its effects is still very small and any help the ALS foundation can get is very welcome. Hopefully, the attention brought to the cause by the Ice Bucket challenge last year will help the fundraising we are starting in a couple of weeks for the foundation.
THE RACE
In the second year of the event, which I participate for the first time, the total distance was around 135 kms going the traditional 3 times over the famous Mont Ventoux in France. Last year we went thru around 150 kms but next year things escalated a bit. Due to some permissions to host races in cities in France, the organization had to go around the mountain and the route was extended to 184 kms and 4.571 vertical meters.
profile from Mazan to Maulacene that will start at 5:00 in the morning
FIRST CLIMB | The day will start on the village of Mazan and it will ride for 18 kms of rolling hills before starting the first climb of Mont Ventoux proper, from the village of Maulacene. Most of the road is with gentle gradients of 3% but there are some ramps of 8% on it. All this even before we reach the mountain and it will be around 5 am and probably cold.
After that we start the first climb of Ventoux from Maulacene. Most people say the official Tour de France climb, from Bedoin is harder. I think that actually this side is harder. It is full of long straight ramps and there is is 5 kms of 10% inclination, followed by those 3 kilometers around 13%. A real killer.
SECOND CLIMB | From the top we will go down to the village of Sault and climb it back. It is a very nice descend with fast turns and easy ramps. The way back is actually the longest way to climb Ventoux with 25kms but it is also the easiest. In this way, it will be kind of a “break” on the middle of the day. Most of the climb goes around 5 to 6%. Nice and easy and from there we will go down to Mazan again to start the last climb of the day
THIRD CLIMB | the third climb of the day will be very long. We won’t start from the official place where the riders do during the Tour de France. We will get to the same road right when it gets really steep. The moment when the road turns left and enters the forest and hits the 10% inclination for the next 10 kilometers. And even better, if will be late in the day and probably very hot with no wind among the trees.
It is going to hard. But it will be great in the memory of Jos. And to finish, below it is this year kit. I like it. To know more about the Tour du ALS and to donate, please visit the website: www.tourduals.nl
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