France – South to North Cycle Ride 2025

Our ride starts on 20th May,. We will give updates on this page on each stage of out journey! Please make a donation to our Ukrainian causes:

Ukrainian Hearts are based in Lewes in Sussex, they are raising funds to provide cancer treatment for 14-year-old Andrii from Ukraine’s frontline battle zone as well as for Lviv Regional Children’s hospital Okhmatdyt . The hospital are treating patients with injuries from the bomb shelling as well as providing specialist medical aid which cannot be provided on the front line. Click HERE to donate to Ukrainian Hearts

Convoy4Ukraine are a UK charity (reg number: 1211075) supporting the civilian population affected by the invasion. The funds go towards the purchase of ambulances and 4×4 vehicles plus humanitarian aid. The vehicles are used for civilian evacuation, medical transfers, delivery of aid. The next convoy of vehicle across Europe to Ukraine in in September 2025. Click HERE to donate to donate to Convoy4Ukraine

For more information about the cycle route click HERE

Latest Updates

1000-mile cycle ride from the South of France to Dieppe!

Cycling25

On 20th May I started out to attempt to cycle over 900 miles from the South of France to Dieppe and then back to Lewes via the ferry. Whilst I was on my 900+ mile ride I raised funds (and still continues back in England) for medical and other civilian aid to be sent to […]

Orléans to Dieppe – the final stage!

Cycling25

Day 18 to 22 Stage 4 – the final section from Orléans to Dieppe! Day 18 – From Orléans to Chartres. 90 km Day 19 – Rest day Day 20 – Chartres to Vernon on the River Seine near Rouen. 102 km Day 21 – Vernon to Forges-les-Eaux. 90 km Day 22 – Forges-les-Eaux […]

Ancient Chateau and vineyard country

Cycling25

Day 14 to 17 – Stage 3 completed! This is the final section before I leave the Loire valley Day 14 – 2nd June, takes me from Bourbon-Lancy to Nevers. 82 km Day 15 – Rest day Day 16 – 4th June, is from Nevers to Sancerre. 78km Day 17 – 5th June, is to […]

Day 12/13- Aurec-sur-Loire to Roanne and on to Bourbon-Lancy

Cycling25

Day 12 and 13: 31st May and 1st June 2025 Today, the 31st of May, I continue on the road above the Gorge Loire at first, then dow, away from Gorges de Loire to a much flatter landscape. Howeve, the ascent was still 677m. I covered 92km to my evening stopover. The towns in this […]

Day 10/11- From the source of the River Loire to Le Puy-en-Velay and the Gorges de Loire

Cycling25

Stage 3 Begins! From the source of the River Loire to Orléans – about 500 km (over 300 miles) Day 10 and 11: 29th and 30th of May. We leave the source of the River Loire and Mont-Jean-de-Guerbière behind head down, bar a few significant hills!! – 937m (over 3000ft) of ascent to le Puy-en-Velay. […]

Day 8/9 – From Valence into the Ardèche hills to the source of the River Loire

Cycling25

27th and 28th May 2025 This section, completed over 2 days (Day 8 and 9), sees us finish Stage 2 of our journey to the source of the Loire. We now crossover into the Ardèche hills from the Rhône Valley. The hills are like mountains when you are cycling uphill! The first day from Valence […]

Stage 2 – south to north 900+ mile journey through France

Cycling25

Today, 26th May we start Stage 2 of our south to north 900+ mile journey through France. Day 7 saw us start out from Grenoble and travel along the cycle path south alongside the River Isère. A superbly well marked cycle path with many good views of the river and steep hills beyond. For most […]

Our final day on the Route Napoléon

Cycling25

Day 6 (25th May) of our fundraising cycle ride This completes Stage 1 of our 5 stage cycle journey through France. Last night, we stayed at the Hotel de la Poste in Corps. A wonderfully traditional old hotel. The doors to the rooms even had original paintings on them of graceful scenes from the 18th […]

Our fundraising cycle ride continues in the Alps de Haute Provence

Cycling25

Day 4, 23rd May: Digne-les-Bains to Gap Our journey today was by far the biggest challenge I’ve ever had on a cycle trip. 100 km journey and an ascent of nearly 1,300m, about 4,300 ft. Although tough, we continued our journey in stunning scenery. We were travelling in the river Durance valley. Luckily there were […]

Cycle ride continues in the Provence-Alpes-Côte region

Cycling25

Day 3 Castellane to Digne-les-Bains: Our ride today continues in the Provence-Alpes-Côte region. I was reluctant to leave Castellane (724 m), which is in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Department. It is a cosy ancient small city set around a central square with its warm sand coloured buildings and light green and blue window shutters. The main feature […]

Provence – up into the Mediterranean alps

Cycling25

Day 2 update Today, 21st May, we left the mountain town of Grasse. What a difference a day makes! Bright sunshine and light winds! This morning we discovered how beautiful Grasse is. We breakfasted in the town square, overlooking the countryside hills and sea to the south. Grasse is the perfume capital of the area. […]

Day 1 of our cycle ride raising funds for Ukraine

Cycling25

Day 1 of our cycle ride: We left Paris on the on the night train and arrived in Nice on the south coast of France at 9am the next morning, the 20th May 2025. Unfortunately, the weather had turned a stormy and on the way along the Avenue des Anglais seafront. We had to shelter […]

Donate4Ukraine cycle ride – Paris

Cycling25

Please donate We have met some interesting people on the way. One cyclist, Chris, we met was cycling to Turin! His holidays are spent on amazing cycling trips. He’s done Eastern Europe. The night train from Vienna to Amsterdam, and he’s even cycled in Taiwan. On this trip, we are also raising money for Ukraine. […]

France – South to North Cycle Ride 2025 and raising money for Ukraine!

Cycling25, event, Fund Raising, News

900 mile cycle ride raising money for Ukraine! Two guys from Sussex are undertaking a new cycling challenge! On 20th May we begin our attempt to attempt to cycle over 900 miles from the South of France to Dieppe and then back to Lewes via the ferry. We are: Jonathan Gilburt (aged 63) from Newhaven […]