Photography by Dave Hayward and Adrian Franklin.
In 2017, a team of amateur cyclists took on the 3 Tours Challenge, riding the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España to help raise vital money for blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia.
The challenge was to cycle over 10403km in just 63 days, completing each of the famous Grand Tours one day ahead of the professionals – a feat only 39 professional cyclists have ever completed.
The team of riders included Geoff Thomas, former England and Crystal Palace footballer; James Maltin, wealth manager; Doug McKinnon, telecoms entrepreneur, and Hayden Groves, chef and author of Back in the Saddle.
National Chef of the Year 2013, Hayden Groves’ love of both food and cycling began early. Success in either field requires many of the same attributes. Simple hard work is not enough to get you to the top: talent is also needed, and Hayden has demonstrated that he has it in buckets.
In 2012 Hayden joined BaxterStorey, the innovative independent hospitality provider, and has been instrumental in promoting and developing their ethos of fresh, local food delivered by highly skilled and enthusiastic teams.
With his natural stamina, cycling come easily to Hayden. His first cycling hero was Greg LeMond, the American three-time winner of the Tour de France, and by the age of 15 his love of road racing was firmly in place.
The 3 Tours Challenge has given him the perfect opportunity to showcase both of his very special talents and to put them to good use in raising money for the charity.
Back in the Saddle features 63 recipes inspired by every stage of their route through Italy, France and Spain: a cycling and food odyssey.
The book features contributions from Professor Charles Craddock CBE, Alastair Storey, Phil Liggett MBE, Laura Kenny CBE and Michel Roux Jr.
All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to help Cure Leukaemia. To order your copy of Back in the Saddle, head to: www.3tourschallenge.com/
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