Channel 5 today announces a thrilling new four part series, Tour De Celeb, where eight celebrities have just three months to prepare for the toughest physical and mental challenge on TV and in the amateur cycling world, L'Etape du Tour in France. A brutal 146km of endurance cycling through the French Alps, from Megeve to Morzine, L'Etape is the ultimate racing cycling challenge and the third largest participatory event in world sport.
Sporting legends, Austin Healey, Darren Gough and Amy Williams will be joined by stars from the world of entertainment and reality, Louie Spence, Lucy Mecklenburgh, Hugo Taylor, Jodie Kidd and Angellica Bell, as they embark on an arduous training s regime to prepare them physically and mentally for the strenuous task ahead.
Throughout the series, training will be monitored by top-level coaches who will ensure the riders reach L'Etape start line in the best possible shape. These include Dame Sarah Storey OBE, Britain's most decorated female Paralympian in cycling and swimming and Rob Hayles, the three-time Olympic medallist and double Track World Champion. Joining them is Asker Jeukendrup, an internationally renowned exercise physiologist, sports nutritionist and Ironman tri-athlete.
It won't all be hard graft in the saddle. Along the way, there'll be ‘team-bonding' events, including the notorious Tough Mudder challenge, aerial yoga and aqua cycling, as well as innumerable pampering sessions to ease the saddle sores. This will help forge the key relationships and esprit de corps required to take on this challenge of a lifetime. They'll also participate in a number of warm-up events, including the Bostin Peaks cycling sportive and the White Rose Classic, so coaches can assess their progress for when the 8 riders are divided into two teams of 4, for the main event.
