Rider pack

London-Paris Rider Information (Gravel)

Jun 2022

WELCOME TO THE OFF-ROAD LONDON-PARIS 2022!

After an enforced break due to the Global Pandemic the LONDON PARIS is back with a bang. In fact, we think that it’s bigger and better than ever before and are very excited to be hosting our first gravel edition alongside the road event. This is our 17th year riding into Paris, and it never gets any less exciting! We have a fantastic new partnership with ASO (official organisers of the Tour de France) and a unique opportunity to lead out the women on the inaugural Tour de Femmes. In here, you’ll find all the information you need about the event and what you need to do to ensure you are event ready.

If you still have any questions, then please feel free to contact us on the Hotchillee app! If you haven’t downloaded it yet any updates about the event can be found on the Hotchillee Companion app, where the Hotchillee team will be at your fingertips! Login will be via the same email address and password you use for www.hotchillee.com. Any key announcements will always be found here first.

THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE

Unlike the road event there are no formal groups on the gravel edition, you are free to ride independently. We do however strongly urge riders to at least ride in pairs. You will have four Hotchillee ride captains with you and natural groups will form around them for those who want some extra support and some company. You can ride at your own pace but for Day 1 we will have some cut off times to ensure everyone reaches the ferry port on time. We suggest that all riders download the What3Words app on their phones. This will enable the ride captains and crew to locate you quickly if they need to. We have mechanics and a medic who will be available at the various water stops throughout the day.

Stage 1 (London to Newhaven): 122km / 400m

Stage 2 (Dieppe to Vernon): 140km / 1350m

Stage 3 (Vernon to Paris): 107km / 800m

The route and profiles for each Stage are available on the website. You will be emailed the gpx files for each stage the week before the event. Although the route is mainly off road there will be the occasional road section, please remember these parts of the route are open to traffic, and you are warned to keep to the left of the road in the UK and on the right in France. The route profiles will be published on Ride Cards that you receive at Sign On. Please keep your Ride Cards with you for the duration of the ride. All stages have a lunch stop, these will be highlighted for you on your Ride Cards. There will also be regular water/feed stops with fruit cake, haribos, etc, again these will be marked on your Ride Cards.

WEDNESDAY 20 JULY 2022

Sign On

All riders need to sign on and collect their rider number on Wednesday 20 July, between 14:00 and 17:00 at Imber Court Sports Club, Ember Lane, East Molesey KT8 0BT. You will not be able to Sign On the morning of the event. Note the event address is actually the back playing fields of Imber Court, not the main building (what3words: form.cubes.fire).

Rider briefing – 16:30 at Imber Court

What you get at sign on

Ride Cards (showing itinerary and timings), these you should carry with you during the ride
Eurostar ticket (if purchased)
Rider number
Luggage label
Bike box label (if bike box transportation selected)
Bike frame number
Name frame stickers x 2
Hub stickers x 2 with rider number
Musette (day bag) and label
DHL water bottles x 2
LONDON-PARIS 2022 event t-shirt
Tour de France limited edition jersey (if TdF experience purchased)
LONDON-PARIS 2022 / Little Princess Trust event jersey (if purchased) Parking at Imber Court is available all day.

THURSDAY 21 JULY 2022

Stage 1, London to Newhaven

Location

Imber Court Sports Club, Ember Lane, East Moseley, KT8 0BT (entrance via back gate / playing fields)

Parking

Parking is available at Imber Court free of charge for the duration of the event. All vehicles must be collected no later than 15:00 on Monday 25 July.

Breakfast

There is tea/coffee and basic breakfast provisions available at the Start.

Start time

Gravel riders will leave immediately after the 6 road groups, at 06:30. You are best advised to arrive early to deal with any mechanical issues or last minute “@%*$ I forgot something!”. Riders must arrive 45 minutes before your departure time.

If you are not local and need to source local accommodation, we suggest booking.com searching the Esher area or postcode KT8.

The ride

This is a 3 out of 5 relatively flat stage. With 110kms offroad, we need to be at the ferry ready for check in by 15:30 latest, so we will need to keep a steady pace to have plenty of time for any delays. The road follows the Wey navigation canal system and links post Guildford in Surrey to the South Downs to the coast before a run along the seafront through Brighton and finishing in Newhaven.

Channel crossing

All riders must check in and board the ferry together. On arrival at the port the Hotchillee crew will be waiting for you. The crossing is at 17:00 and all passengers must check in at least 1.5 hours before. We have a cut off point on the route, so that if any riders have not met the cut off time we will transport you to the ferry port in one of the crew vehicles so you do not miss the crossing.

The crossing takes 4 hours and you will have dinner onboard. We will arrive in Dieppe at 22:00 local time. Then a short cycle from the ferry to the hotel led by the ride captains, please bring lights.

FRIDAY 22 JULY 2022

Stage 2, Dieppe to Vernon

Breakfast

Breakfast will be at the event hotel.

Start time

Rolling by 08:00 (you can leave earlier if you wish).

The ride

This is a 5 out of 5. A long day with plenty of off-road sections following farm roads/fields, forest trails, river paths and some steep short climbs and a few tricky short descents thrown in. It is a great route and ride, with the key to success being “just keep movin”. Check points for water and snacks and a lunch break will be essential as we will burn some calories on this Queens Stage.

Finish

We finish the day in Vernon. There are bike washing facilities on arrival at the event hotel.

SATURDAY 23 JULY 2022

Stage 3, Vernon to Paris

Breakfast

Once again breakfast will be at the event hotel.

Start times

Rolling by 08:00 (you can leave earlier if you wish).

The ride

A 3 out of 5. A ride of two parts, Part 1 off-road to the lunch stop at Menucourt, although only 57kms it’s a solid ride and on tired legs with some great views as we travel through some very special villages, expanding river views and woodland/farms and French countryside. At Mencourt the gravel event meets up with the LONDON PARIS road event who have made their way from London via Folkestone, Calais and Amiens. Together we will ride the final 45km on the road to the centre of Paris and finish in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower.

ETA to the finish is currently 16:30 but timings may change and we will provide final details nearer the time, along with the exact location for you to share with any friends or family who wish to cheer you in.

For those not taking part in the Tour de France Experience on Sunday, it’s time to say goodbye to your bike. At the finish your bike will be packed onto the DHL trucks. Pedals will be removed and given to you for safe keeping, any bike computers and water bottles must also be removed. The trucks then start their journey back to the UK and will see you again at the start venue, Imber Court. For those taking part in the Tour de France Experience on Sunday – you will ride back to the hotel, escorted by the Hotchillee ride captains. What’s another 3.5km anyway?! Once at the hotel we have secure bike storage.

For anyone whose bike is not returning to the UK and requires a bike box for their onward travel please make sure they add this to your rider information questionnaire. For those of you with bike boxes, these will be waiting for you at the event hotel where you will be able to pack your bike and store it until your departure.

Accommodation

All riders are staying at Le Meridien Etoile, 81 Boulevard Gouvion Saint-Cyr, 75848 Cedex 17, 75017 Paris.

Luggage

Will be waiting for all riders at the hotel and can be collected at check in.

Celebrations

A drinks reception with canapes will take place at Le Meridien Etoile from 19:00 until 20:00. Here there will be the jersey presentation, rider ‘spirit’ awards and more.

Dinner

Dinner is at leisure and folk normally meet up again later at the Canadian Embassy pub, across the road from the hotel, for drinks and more celebrations!

SUNDAY 24 JULY 2022

Eurostar

For those who have purchased a 11:13 Eurostar ticket via Hotchillee. You will need to make your own way to Gare de Nord and should allow at least 1hr from checking in to departure. On arrival at St Pancras there will be a coach waiting for you to take you and your luggage to the start location (Imber Court) where your bike and car (if you have parked) will be waiting for you. Bikes/cars are available for collection from 12:00 to 15:00 only.

The Tour de France experience

We will provide separate and more detailed information regarding the ride on Sunday morning and grandstand seating. Along with the ASO timing and schedule for both the start of the Femme competition and finish of the Men’s Tour de France.

Tour de France VIP Hospitality

If you have purchased the Rive Gauche VIP hospitality package, we will provide you with all the information nearer the time.

MONDAY 25 JULY 2022

Eurostar

All vehicles must be collected no later than 15:00 on Monday 25 July. After this time vehicles will be removed and any cost or damage associated with this will be the responsibility of the owner.

Any bikes not collected on Monday will be stored at Imber Court temporarily at the owner’s own risk. Storage will be charged at £25 per day and can only be collected by appointment and after payment.

If you wish to organise bike storage in advance then the charge will be £15 per day. However all bikes must be collected no later than 14:00 on Saturday 30 July.

OTHER FAQs …

What insurance do I need?

All participants must have adequate travel insurance, which covers cycling and multi geography riding. You will be asked to provide your policy provider and number.

For UK residence, if you have an UK European Health Card (EHIG) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it.

The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. To apply for a GHIC, click here.

However, please note that the GHIC or EHIG do not replace travel insurance.

British Cycling’s Ride Membership or equivalent is recommended for riders who are UK residents. For international visitors we recommend adequate travel insurance.

Tell me more about the British Cycling packages?

British Cycling memberships run for 12 months and in our view provide the best cover that you can get to protect yourself against unforeseen circumstances related to your cycling activities around the world. Race membership (Silver and Gold level) provides the member with liability cover for training, commuting, and racing. Ride membership is exclusively for non-competitive events, training, and commuting. All the membership packages offer the same high level of customer service and support, as well as a range of exclusive money saving member benefits. Full details of all the British Cycling Legal & Insurance Benefits can be found here.

Who manages the ride?

The ride is managed by the Event Director. Any decision made by the Event Director is final.

What do I wear?

Helmets complying with international safety standards are compulsory for the duration of the ride. Closed cycling shoes (no fancy sandals), shorts and jerseys are also recommended for your safety. It is recommended that you take three sets of cycling kit and a plastic bag for the dirty clothes. At this time of the year in France the daytime temperature is 15-27 Deg Celsius. Be sure to include a lightweight rain jacket – with global warming you never know. Post riding, (and evening wear) dress is casual, including celebrations in Paris.

Personal stereos and headsets

There has been an increasing prevalence of riding with stereo headsets and ipods. For safety reasons they are not permitted whilst riding.

Luggage service

We operate a luggage service. The luggage will “ride ahead” of you and you will only see your luggage again in the evening for the overnight stop. If you require items during the day, please use the musettes (day bag) as provided at Sign On. You will be able to access your musette at the lunch stop and the finish of each day. Each rider will be given a luggage label at Sign On, please ensure that this is attached securely to your bag. Every care will be taken to ensure that the bags are safeguarded. However, cyclists are advised not to leave expensive, valuable items in their bags, as the organisers cannot take responsibility for any losses. Only one luggage bag/case per rider is permitted. We also request no ‘valuable items’ are given to crew members to safe keep. These should be packed within your one luggage allowance and is your responsibility.

Lost property

We will have a lost property box. Please place or retrieve lost property from here. Lost property will be kept for one week after the event, and thereafter donated to charity. Any postal or couriered returns will be charged for.

Do I need a bike bag or box?

No, please do not bring bags or boxes (unless you are travelling onwards from Paris). These take up valuable space. The support crew will pack the bikes with protection (however you are responsible for insuring your bike against any damage for the duration of the event, including transit). If you are leaving us in Paris and need your bike box for your onward journey, then you will need to select (on your rider information questionnaire) that your bike bag/box (hard or soft) goes onto the DHL trucks at the start.

Do we have mechanics?

Yes, we have full mechanics support for each group. This service is provided by Service Corps and led by Richard Childs as the Head Mechanic. The service runs from fully fitted vans and thus most repairs will be able to be facilitated. The service is available to deal with bike repairs/failures and problems. We strongly recommend that your bike is fully serviced prior to the event with fresh tyres and tubes.

What equipment do I need to bring?

You will need to be self sufficient on the road as far as tubes/pump/keys/patches/tyreplugs etc The reason for this is we are offroad for large sections between checkpoints and we may well need to do some running repairs and keep on rolling. On the recce we had a few flat tyres which required tyre plugs and tubes, some come prepared.

Tubes/inflator/pump/plugs/patches
Allen keys, with chain breaker and spare link
Spare derailleur hanger

How do I pay for tubes, spares etc used?

Your first tube is on us, however after this and for any other mechanical parts we use a “chit” system. All you need to do is sign for the items and the Service Corps will contact you after the event to sort out payment.

Where do I keep my sun cream, wallet, and other small items?

At Sign On you will be given a musette (day bag). You can keep items that you may wish to access during the day in this bag, and it will be kept in the support van. Be aware that your luggage bags will be well ahead of the ride, so you will not be able to access this before arrival at the hotel. It might be useful to keep a dry top, arm and leg warmers and long sleeves in the musette.

What about lunch and nutrition on route?

Each day we have a lunch stop.. Lunch is included and consists of endurance related foods. The support vehicle will be well stocked daily with water, bananas, fruit cake and cereal bars. You need to provide your own specific sports nutrition if required. You will be asked to let us know about any dietary requirements on the rider questionnaire.

Massages

We have a team of sports therapist. They will be available at the start, lunch and hotels in the evenings. You can book these at the beginning of each day with the team. These are complimentary but are very popular so please book.

Where can I stay locally the night before?

If you are travelling from afar and need overnight accommodation the night before the start then we recommend you book some accommodation locally. If you search on booking.com using postcode KT8 or Esher.

Travel Documents

You will require a valid passport and if applicable, visa for travel. You are also required to take out personal travel insurance.

Checklist of what is useful to pack

– Passport (Visa)

– European Health Insurance Card or Global Health Insurance Card

– British Cycling Membership (Gold/Silver) or Ride Cycling Membership

– Cell phone (be sure to enable roaming well before you leave. If you are coming from the USA or Asia, make sure that you have a GSM enabled phone.) Carry your phone on you for text alerts.

– Telephone charger

– Travel adapter

– Battery pack (long days you may need to charge your navigation device mid ride)

– Cash – Euros for France, Sterling for the UK

– Credit card

– Small camera

– Sun cream

– Sun block / sun stick to carry in your pocket

– Chamois cream

– Lip balm

– Pain killers

– Anti diarrhoea

– Anti inflammatory

– Salt tablets

– Warm up and cool down creams

– Baby wipes

– Towel

– Telephone charger

– Travel adapter

– Lights

– HRM and strap

– Helmet

– Sunglasses

– Plastic bag for dirty cycle kit

– Water bottles (you’ll be given 2 x DHL water bottles at Sign On)

– Gels, drink powders and energy bars

– Fresh legs!

Any questions? Ask us on the Hotchillee App

You can now feel the Hotchillee love 365 days a year on the community companion app.

Think of it like Hotchillee in your pocket, where you can chat with the Ride Captains, our team, the boss, industry experts, shaven legged roadie racing snakes, gnarly gravel grinders and complete newbies … all have a place in the Hotchillee family.