Worthing cycle club members to take on epic challenge this weekend

A member of Worthing Excelsior cycling club will be tackling the Prudential 100 mile ride on Sunday, in aid of Chestnut Tree House children's hospice near Arundel.
Rocco Seppe and other members of the Worthing Excelsior cycling club are taking on the Prudential RideLondon event in aid of Chestnut Tree House children's hospiceRocco Seppe and other members of the Worthing Excelsior cycling club are taking on the Prudential RideLondon event in aid of Chestnut Tree House children's hospice
Rocco Seppe and other members of the Worthing Excelsior cycling club are taking on the Prudential RideLondon event in aid of Chestnut Tree House children's hospice

Rocco Seppe, 54, a business consultant, of Downview Road, Worthing, will be joining Worthing Excelsior team members, Peter Logan, 60, Rob Downham, 48, John Baldwin, 56, and Jamie Newton, 23, on the Prudential RideLondon, which starts at 6am in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

More than 26,000 cyclists are expected to be on the start line and the 100-mile route will go through closed roads in the capital into Surrey’s glorious countryside, finishing on The Mall, in central London.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There will be leg-testing climbs on a route made famous by the world’s best cyclists at the London 2012 Olympics.

Mr Seppe, who is tackling the ride for the fourth time, said: “I have raised £600 so far and aim to complete the ride in four hours and thirty minutes.

“Prudential RideLondon is a real success story and is the best sort of cycling sportive event there is, with closed roads – which is rare in the UK.

“To be able to ride through central London, through to Surrey is amazing - and is one of the fastest routes I know - people are always surprised about how quick they can go.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I am challenging myself to go as fast as possible – to show that age is just a number!”

After the ride, the world’s best male professional cyclists, including triple Tour de France winner, Chris Froome, will take to the roads of London and Surrey for a 200km race – part of the UCI’s official race calendar.

Worthing Excelsior is a group of cycling enthusiasts based in and around Worthing, who provide a wide range of cycling activities to suit all abilities and their spectrum of group rides cover everything from relaxed through to chain-gang training sessions.

The club also promotes a large number of events throughout the season and riders often compete in open events throughout the region.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Participants involvements will benefit good causes and since the first Prudential RideLondon in 2013, the amount raised for charity has gone up each year.

In 2013, £7million was raised, going up to £10million in 2014 and £12million last year.

Over time, the Prudential RideLondon has become the largest charity fundraising cycle event in the world, with thousands of cyclists supporting hundreds of charities.