Le Grande Finale: London To Monaco Ride Stage 10

There isn't a better single image to illustrate just how meaningful this ride has been than this shot of the three key people (from left to right Jimmy Carroll Head of Marketing for Winch Designs, Sara-Jane Skinner of the Blue Marine Foundation, and Henry Peacock of Team Tifosi who made it all happen!

I know I’m not the only one that doesn’t want to let go of the utterly transformative London Monaco experience that we have all just shared. And this lead shot what may be single best image to illustrate just how meaningful this ride has been. It shows the three key people (from left to right Jimmy Carroll of Winch Designs, Sara-Jane Skinner of the Blue Marine Foundation, and Henry Peacock of Team Tifosi who made it all happen) crossing the finish line at the Palace of Monaco! It’s because of them that this amazing ride took place and that the Blue Marine Foundation has raised close to £200,000 towards the ultimate goal of £500,000. Please click here to add to that!

And I know I’m not the only one that misses the new friends and the zen-like simplicity of the routine that goes like this: Ride 100 miles, check-in to new hotel, get painful 10-minute-long massage, eat dinner, laugh, sleep, wake, apply googe cream, drink 7 cups of coffee, roll out, watch sun rise over left shoulder, ride 100 miles…repeat.

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On second thought, this photo may be the best illustration of just how meaningful this ride has been. Here’s Jan from Germany giving SJ from England a gentle push up a hill. In fact, this may be the best metaphor for what this ride and the Blue Marine Foundation is trying to achieve. This ride was made up of men and women from different countries and different backgrounds, helping each other achieve a big goal. And that’s exactly what the Blue Marine Foundation is working to achieve in protecting fisheries. And in a different way, that’s what Winch Design is doing too.

But, as a wise man (or woman I’m not sure but I do think women are smarter than men) once said, “All good things eventually come to a close so other good things can begin.” And could there be a better way to end a 10-day, almost 1,000 mile ride for charity that’s working to save the oceans than to speed down smooth ribbons of road to the sparkling Mediterranean Sea while the majestic megayacht Madame Gu (designed Winch Design of course) slowly steams into Monaco in the background?

Um…I think not. So, after our last, epic decent. We regrouped to ride enmasse up to Prince Albert’s palace in Monaco.

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So we could cross Le Finish Line!

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And take lots of selfies

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And be welcomed by the Prince himself. And as you can see, super hard ride guide Craig knows how to have his photo taken with famous people.

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He inspired me in fact. Thanks to Craig, I’ll always ask for a fist bump when its time for a famous selfie!

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But then it was time to leave. img_7636

We followed Forbes one last time down to the end of ride party at Icon.

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And I shot one last #sockoftheday

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And then it was time hug goodbye to everyone and to shift gears from badass pseudo-cycling-pro mode (staying in French Best Westerns and washing our kit in the bathroom sink).

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To the full-on-luxury of Le Metropole of Monte Carlo and the Monaco Yacht Show.

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And I got to be honest. The “Hot Stone Massage” and the “Heat Experience” I experienced at the Metropole was more way moreluxurious than the mid-ride massages we all had on the ride. But I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

The ride may be over but the Monaco reports (tuxedos, galas, superyachts, 5-star hotels and Michelin star dining) are just beginning.

Stay tuned.

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