Maxine's Le Etape du Tour 2017 challenge

This Sunday I will be taking on the most physically challenging adventure of my life so far...I will be living the legend of the Tour de France. I'll be riding the same route as Stage 18 of the 2017 professional challenge. I'll ride one of the most iconic Alpine mountain stages of the Tour de France which will end on top of the Izoard after cycling 181km with approx. 12,000ft of climbing (quite a lot is an average of 8% incline too!) that's at least 10 hours in the saddle...if i don't get caught by the broom wagon!! (it could be over 30 degrees in temperature out there too!) There are 15,000 people entering the event but only 6% are women... that's why it's going to be a challenge!! I've had a journey through my training so far & anyone that has been in my world over the last 2 months knows how I've struggled to fit the right amount of training into a busy schedule. To say I'm apprehensive is an understatement but I'm going to give it my best shot! There will be times on the ride when I will question 'what am I doing?' and 'why am I doing this?'...I will have to keep reminding myself that I am so lucky to be alive and well and able to sit on my saddle and peddle my bike up mountains. A certain young lady, the amazing Alice Razza would have done anything to have been in my shoes. Alice made a massive impact on me, her strength and determination to beat cancer, even to the very end, she loved cycling, she loved life. The charity Muffins Dream Foundation http://www.muffinsdreamfoundation.org/ gave Alice and her beautiful family support and opportunities to spend quality time together having fun and making the most of the time they had left. I'd like to give something back to the charity so other families can experience the same to help them through the difficult journeys they face with their illnesses. Please did deep if you can ans sponsor me on this epic personal challenge! Thank you and lots of love in advance. Maxine