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One word: 'Animal'.
That’s how many have described Sean Yates. An Olympian, multiple stage winner on the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, Lead Directeur Sportif and coach.
Sean has seen and done it all in the world of cycling.
And now, he’ll be joining riders supporting Action Medical Research on the children’s charity’s 21st annual London to Paris challenge!
“I first became aware of Action around two years ago” says the 1994 Yellow Jersey winner. “It’s a little known charity that does some fantastic work across the UK, funding research to help better understand why babies and little children can get so ill.
“Cycling is very much the backbone of its fundraising activity - has been for decades - and I’m delighted to be a part of this annual challenge to Paris.”
London to Paris
Action was one of the first charities to launch this fundraiser back in 2000.
Since that time, around 5,175 riders have helped the charity raise more than £8.4 million for vital medical research.
Felicity Louden is the Events Manager for Action: “This will be our 21st London to Paris bike ride and we are absolutely delighted that Sean Yates will be joining us!
“The event is a real key date in our fundraising calendar, attracting both novice and experienced riders keen to take on the iconic challenge.
“The opportunity for our riders to not only meet Sean but ride with him on the final stretch into the French capital is fantastic. We’re very proud to have his support.”
This year, cyclists will start in London on 15 July before crossing the Channel to Dieppe from Newhaven and then before making their way to Paris via Lisieux and Vernon .
That’s a total of 307 miles.
Once in the French capital, riders will be able to explore all that Paris has to offer before settling down to watch the final day of the Tour de France, live from the Champs-Elysées!
Cycling with a Legend
And of course, as an added incentive, Sean Yates will be joining the Action riders for dinner in Vernon before cycling with them the following day on the final stretch to the Eiffel Tower.
“I can’t wait” says Sean. “It’s always a fantastic experience when you start getting into Paris and seeing some of its world famous landmarks.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone and sharing a few stories about my Tour de France experiences!”
Action Medical Research has been funding medical breakthroughs since it began in 1952 including helping to introduce the first polio vaccines in the UK, developing the use of ultrasound in pregnancy and testing the rubella vaccine.
The charity is currently funding research into conditions including prematurity, epilepsy, meningitis, cerebral palsy, brain cancer and some rare and distressing conditions.