Published by Andrew on 8 August 2016
We wrote in February about Mikey Bartley, who had come up with a bonkers idea to climb Alpe d'Huez eight times for charity. Here's how he got on.
I first heard about Mikey Bartley and his Alpe d'Huez challenge via Tim Moss, who via the Next Challenge helps to fund interesting adventure ideas (we are helping to sponsor the 2016 fund – watch this space for the winning 2016 ideas).
Anyway, to recap: Michael Bartley, 21, is a student from Calderdale in the UK who lost both grandparents to cancer. To raise money for Cancer Research UK, he decided to cycle the height of Mount Everest. To reach the height of Everest, he calculated that he'd need to climb the famous Tour de France col EIGHT times. (You can read our interview back in February with him here).
So he set the target: more than 10,226 metres of climbing in four days.
Mikey, who was supported on the trip by his dad David, who rode some sections with him, said the ride was an intensely personal experience.
"I have lost two grandparents to cancer and have an aunty who is currently going through treatment for cancer," he said.
"This cause and charity are very close to my heart. The whole week was just amazing, from the scenery to the people I met on the way up it was just incredible.
"The weather also held off for most of the week, apart from the one ascent where I got caught in a thunderstorm for around an hour.
"Finishing all eight ascents was an incredibly proud moment for me, to be able to say that I had achieved what I had set out to do and to be able to repay all the people who supported me was a great feeling.
"A big thanks to my dad who helped keep me motivated all week and to everyone else who sent me nice messages during the week."
Mikey with his dad, David (left).
The guys stayed at Chalet Ribot on bend 12.
"It was a great place to stay and Letty and Harun were fantastic hosts," says David.
"The chalet is perfect for people who want to bike the region and the facilities are second to none. You are made to feel welcome and treated as friends while staying there. Harun is a great chef and his banter certainly kept Mikey motivated throughout. Letty was always interested in what Mikey had done and we were pleased that could at least share a good time together in England's only victory in the Euros while in the lounge one night."
By the end of the week, Mikey had surpassed his initial £500 charity target and in the end raised £750 for Cancer Research UK (you can still donate here).