Sportive: The Haute Route Ventoux (October 1-3) to close out the Haute Route series

The 2021 Haute Route circuit will conclude from October 1st to 3rd on the slopes of Mont Ventoux, a playground so popular with cyclists worldwide. Among the 250 riders competing, we will find 6 ambassadors from the French Cycling Federation’s “Vivre vélo au féminin” (Women’s Cycling Life) program, as well as a rider waging a merciless battle against cancer and completing a crazy challenge “before his condition worsens.”

Photos: Haute Route

After Crans-Montana, the Pyrenees, the Alps, and the Dolomites, it’s Mont Ventoux that awaits Haute Route participants. 3 stages on the 3 sides of the famous “Bald Mountain” are on the program, with a total of 288.5 km and 8100 meters of elevation gain.

While Mont Ventoux is accustomed to hosting numerous events, the Haute Route Ventoux aims to stand out with its stage race format and professional-level assistance. These ingredients guarantee an ultimate experience and have contributed to the success of the Haute Route circuit for 10 years.

THE STAGES

STAGE 1: Bédoin – Mont Ventoux: 114 km, 3000 meters of elevation gain

STAGE 2: Bédoin – Mont Ventoux: 153 km, 3500 m elevation gain

STAGE 3: Bédoin – Mont Ventoux (time trial): 21.5 km, 1500 m elevation gain

THEY WILL BE AT THE START

Richard Butterfield, a life against cancer

Richard Butterfield, a 53-year-old Englishman and father of 3 children, has dedicated his life to cancer research. As a child, he went “door-to-door” with his mother to collect donations. He then worked for 10 years for a cancer charity. The tragic irony of fate meant that in 2019, Richard was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Despite 3 operations and 30 radiotherapy sessions, his cancer unfortunately spread to his lungs.

As soon as Covid-19 allowed, at the end of 2020, Richard had to undergo 6 cycles of chemotherapy. The treatment offered him some respite, and he, who has been cycling since adolescence, embarked on a crazy challenge to raise money for the NOMAN association “before his condition worsens”: to take part in the 5 European races of the Haute Route circuit, renowned as the most difficult races in the world for amateur cyclists.

After taking part in the Haute Route Crans-Montana in mid-June, he had to undergo another operation, preventing him from participating in the Haute Route Pyrenees in July. 7 weeks later, he was back on his bike to tackle the 7 stages and 21,000 meters of elevation gain of the Haute Route Alps, the longest and most difficult on the circuit, followed immediately by the Haute Route Dolomites.

At Mont Ventoux, he will complete his journey, which he hopes to repeat in 2022. His operation scheduled for the end of the year has only a 20% chance of success, but that’s not enough to deter Richard Butterfield’s courage and selflessness.

His attitude is admired and respected by the entire Haute Route community, who give him a standing ovation at the end of each event.

More information at https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/richards-ride-over-cancer

6 ambassadors from the FFC’s Vivre Vélo au Féminin program

In 2020, the French Cycling Federation launched the Vivre Vélo au Féminin program, aimed at promoting women’s cycling throughout the country. It relies notably on 20 ambassadors, 6 of whom will be present at the Haute Route Ventoux, representing the FFC Team. Their names are Jennifer, Alizée, Clémence, Magalie, Justine, and Sandrine, they are aged 21 to 51, are mountain biking or road cycling enthusiasts, and will take on the challenge together to promote diversity in cycling.

Among them, Alizée, a 21-year-old sports educator who lives in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, will be the local rider of the stage.