Member Article

Jump into the saddle for Coventry Tour de France style challenge

Coventry’s largest sports and leisure provider is urging people to jump into the saddle to take on a Tour de France style fitness challenge.

Coventry Sports Foundation, which manages three sports and leisure centres across the city, is taking its fitness programme up a gear and launching a “Tour de Lifestyles” cycle challenge.

The competition will see Coventry Sports Foundation’s Lifestyle Health Clubs’ members attempt to cycle a gruelling 210km journey on a recumbent or upright bike located in fitness suites across the city including at Centre AT7 on Bell Green Road, the Alan Higgs Centre on Allard Way and Xcel Leisure Centre on Mitchell Avenue.

Participants will be able to split the journey into 21 stages travelling up to 10km per stage and the rider that travels the furthest distance in the fasted time at each centre will then be crowned ‘Tour de Lifestyles’ champion 2014 and presented with a ‘Tour de Lifestyles’ yellow jersey. Runners-up prizes will include medals and water bottles.

The event will co-inside with this year’s Tour De France competition which will see around 200 professional cyclists set off from Leeds on Saturday, July 5 before travelling 3,660km to arrive in Paris on Sunday, July 27.

Emma Harrison, from Coventry Sports Foundation, said: “This is a really fun challenge that people of all ages and abilities can take part in.

“Cycling has soared in popularity over the last couple of years and the Tour de France is one of the biggest sporting competitions in the world.

“We really wanted to host our own cycle challenge to encourage more people to get involved in the sport and spark-up a bit of friendly competition among members as well as being an incentive to get fit at the same time.

“The competition is split into 21 stages of 10km and once you have completed each stage your time and distance will be signed off by a fitness suite instructor.

“A large map of the Tour de France course will also be on display at each site and will give people the chance to track their location and even see how close they are to cycling stars Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish.”

To take part, ask an instructor at any centre for a challenge card and to find out more about membership packages visit www.covsf.com or enquire in centre for details.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .