The latest episode in the Rapha Gone Racing series follows EF Education-NIPPO rider Lachlan Morton in his attempt to beat the peloton to Paris and ride the entire route of the Tour in aid of World Bicycle Relief.
It’s late October, and Lachlan Morton has just finished the 2020 Giro d’Italia when his team principal Jonathon Vaughters calls. “What do you think about riding another Grand Tour next season?” he asks. Lachlan’s not sure. “Don’t worry,” comes the reply. “This isn’t going to be like anything you’ve done before. We’ve got something else planned. You in?”
La Grande Boucle is cycling’s ultimate challenge, with the biggest audience, the toughest parcours, and the most prestigious prize. From the outside, the race is a constantly moving feast of sound, color, effort, and emotion, but for the racers inside the bubble, life on Tour traveling from one hotel to the next can be somewhat sterile, particularly in the midst of a pandemic.
What you wear when the accumulated daily distance takes its abuse
The Alt Tour.
This year, for a fresh perspective on what it takes to compete at the world’s greatest bike race, Lachlan Morton took on his own Alt Tour. In a challenge inspired by the inaugural edition of 1903, he rode every stage and every transfer of the 2021 Tour. 5,550km/3,450miles from Brest to Paris with over 65,000 meters/213,300 feet of climbing and just 18 days to cover the distance. No teammates to shelter behind, no mechanics, and no rest days. This was a challenge made for Lachlan Morton. Of course, he was in but could he last out?
Starting just after the first stage, he rode nearly double the distance but still beat the peloton to Paris by four days.
If you followed Lachlan’s dot in July, then this is the film you’ve been waiting for. The latest episode of Rapha Gone Racing takes you inside Lachlan’s ambitious attempt to complete the Alt Tour, beat the peloton back to Paris, and raise funds for World Bicycle Relief.
Supporting World Bicycle Relief
As well as riding for a fresh perspective on-road racing, Lachlan rode the Alt Tour with a powerful new purpose. Swapping points and prizes for a more meaningful purpose, Lachlan is riding in support of World Bicycle Relief. By donating bicycles, WBR enables young people around the world to access education. To make every kilometer really count, Rapha and EF Education First combined to donate 1,000 bikes to World Bicycle Relief before inviting those following Lachlan to support the cause. With help from fans around the world, Lachlan managed to raise over £500,000 and counting. If Lachlan’s challenge inspires you, you can still donate to WBR and help provide even more people with the bikes they need to access education, healthcare, or employment.
Donate To World Bicycle Relief Via The Fundraising Page Here
About Rapha
Rapha was established in 2004 to address a need for stylish, high-performance cycling clothing. It now provides products for every cyclist and continues to push the boundaries of innovation in cyclewear. Alongside this, Rapha has cultivated a global community of passionate riders who come together as members of the Rapha Cycling Club (RCC), the world’s largest club of its kind. Rapha’s retail model and unique brand values come to life in its many rides and events and global network of Clubhouses that combine retail, cafés, and cycling culture all under the same roof.
About EF Education First
EF Education First is an international education company that focuses on language, academics, and cultural experience. Founded in 1965, EF has more than 580 offices and schools in over 50 countries. Moved by the powerful way cycling unites people of diverse backgrounds in a peaceful, fun, and friendly way to achieve extraordinary athletic feats, EF entered professional cycling in 2018 to help spread its mission of “opening the world through education.”
About Lachlan Morton
Since his return to WorldTour racing, Lachlan has continued to go against the grain and create his own path. With support from his EF Education-Nippo team and Rapha, Lachlan has combined WorldTour racing with a calendar of alternative events, including an ultra-endurance race across the British Isles, a 100-mile mountain bike race in an abandoned mining town, and a non-stop bikepacking odyssey through the deserts of southern Spain.
About World Bicycle Relief
World Bicycle Relief mobilizes people through The Power of Bicycles. We are committed to helping people conquer the challenge of distance, achieve independence, and thrive. In developing countries, millions of people walk for miles each day just to survive. On foot, individuals race against the sun to complete everyday tasks. Distance is a barrier to attending school, receiving healthcare, and delivering goods to market. World Bicycle Relief delivers specially designed, locally assembled, rugged bicycles for people in need. We’ve developed an efficient, innovative, and scalable model to empower life-changing mobility students, health workers, and entrepreneurs in rural developing regions.
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