May 2010 will see the 6th annual Tesco bike ride in aid of Action Medical Research heading for the Tuscan hills just days after the Giro passes through. Each year a different cycling destination is chosen in order to follow in the tyre tread of the cycling greats and in 2010 Tuscany beckons.

As per usual every day there are 3 choices of routes to cater for those that want to bust a gut and rack up the elevation and the kilometeres as well as those that want to enjoy the occasional cappucino and Chianti on their route. Each group is led by a Tall Stories guide who include in their number Barrie Clarke (British Cyclo-Cross Champion 1995 1997, Seven times British National Trophy Cyclo-Cross Series Winner), and James Ouchterloney, counting among his many titles participating in the 2006 Commonwealth Games team in Melbourne and winning the 2007 Gold medal for British National Marathon MTB Champion.

In previous years Sir David Brailsford, Performance Director to the GB Cyling team, and Shane Sutton, head coach for the GB Cycling team, have accompanied us, sharing their expertise with the group along the way.  This year the demands of the day job mean that we will be following the GB team’s progress carefully on the TV each night after we have been on the same hills as them!

This Tesco group have been raising funds for research into conditions that affect babies and children and last year raised £130,000 on this trip bringing the total amount raised for Action Medical Research to a staggering £750,000.