If there's one cycling race that goes fast and goes long, it's the Tour de France. If there's one cyclist who decided to take the Tour to the next level, it's Lachlan Morton. As the Tour began, Lachlan set off to complete the entire Tour de France (including cycling all transfers) completely unsupported. That's no mechanic at hand and no slipstream.
The Alt Tour, Lachlan's incredible undertaking, is a fundraising initiative to raise money for World Bicycle Relief, an NPO to get people on bikes for transport in developing countries. His aim was to cycle the entire Tour route and beat the peloton heading into Paris. It's not only a massive distance, but it's in the mountain with climbs for days (literally). We're talking 5,510 kilometres and 65,500 metres of elevation gained in total.
And it gets even more ridiculous.
Early on in the Alt Tour, he experienced knee pain that made him discard his cycling shoes and clipless pedals and opt for flatties and Birkenstocks (yep, the man went for sandals) and he's faced rain, sun, sleeplessness and roadside meals.
Bikepacking at its finest.
And on 13th July, before the earliest light hit the Parisian cobblestones, he rolled in. Five days ahead of the peloton, he pedalled his last rotation of the Tour, making this man's accomplishment that of legends.
It's a fascinating story and it makes you marvel at what the human body can achieve when the mind is put to it. Well done, Lachlan, you deserve all the kudos!
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