A TEAM of bakers from Chatwins are rising to one of the biggest challenges of their lives!

The three colleagues from Nantwich, Cheshire, are tackling the Etape – one of cycling's toughest challenges covering some 109 lung-bursting miles of the Tour De France.

In the scorching heat of the Pyrenees, they will climb over 13,500 feet – three times the height of Ben Nevis, and they will scale ascents as long as 13 miles.

As few as two-thirds of the 10,000 entrants will actually make it, but Edward Chatwin, Tim Reeves and Rob Valentine have been training hard for the extreme mountain ranges.

Two of their Etape team-mates, Paul Mooney and Rob Taylor, have already had to pull out of the gruelling challenge due to injuries. But instead they are hoping to complete a stage of the British tour in September.

Edward is the only one amongst the group who has actually conquered the Etape three times before. It is a stage of the Tour de France that the organisers open up each year to “mere mortals”.

But this year he has a little extra pressure on his shoulders, having decided to fundraise for Railway Children, a charity based in Sandbach, Cheshire that works with children and young people living on the streets.

Edward said: “I am excited about my Etape attempt on July 18 and focused on helping a very worthy charity. “When I’m sat in my saddle, pedaling for 10 hours at a time, I will be thinking about my three small children at home and how lucky I am. But I’m also aware of the poverty and conditions of children living in the slums of India and Africa. That’s why I feel it’s so important to help by fundraising.

Edward – and his Tour De France cycling team-mates from Chatwins – have a very special training regime which usually involves a visit to the bakery to stock up on carbohydrates before training. “I love a pork and apple pasty on my long rides, and a piece of fruit cake when I get back,” revealed Edward. “But, unfortunately we’ll have to make do with a few croissants in France before we make our way to the start line in Pau to tackle the same course on which the professionals will do battle only four days later!”

To sponsor Edward Chatwin, please phone Chatwins on 01270 625127.