Our co-founder and Director of Translational, Darcey Black, is planning to take part in the BiotechBikers “Catalyst” Charity Event, a 250-mile cycle ride from London to Bruges, on 8th to 10th May 2025. The event will raise funds for Action Medical Research.
Action Medical Research (www.action.org.uk) is the leading UK charity dedicated to funding vital research to help sick and disabled babies, children and young people. AMR has been funding medical breakthroughs for 70 years now and have helped to beat polio, fight meningitis, prevent stillbirths and develop ultrasound scanning in pregnancy. They are now driving forward children’s research, including in the fight against premature birth and rare diseases.
The BiotechBikers (www.biotechbikers.com) cycling networking tour, “Catalyst”, will see around 40 cyclists ride from London to Bruges across three days and cover over 250 miles. The riders will take on some of iconic Belgian roads and Murs (aka very steep climbs!) that will really test their endurance.
By sponsoring Darcey, you will support this charity in helping to find ways to reduce premature birth, to support children facing a lifetime of challenges caused by disabilities, and to develop cutting-edge therapies for rare and incurable diseases. Your sponsorship will help make a real change to children’s lives.
You can sponsor Darcey by following this link:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/darcey-black-2
(Note: All costs to participate the event will be paid for by TherapeutAix, so be assured that all donations will go to Action Medical Research).
Day 1: Epsom to Dover (102 miles)
The day started with a meet-up of all the riders at the famous Epsom Racecourse, home of the horse racing Derby. I could use the thoroughbred metaphor to describe the assembled group of cyclists—it would apply to most of them, but certainly not me. After a short briefing and group photo, we were off. Divided into three pace groups, I chose to ride with the least fast (i.e., slowest!), hoping for a reasonably paced and leisurely ride through the Surrey and Kent countryside. It was obvious from the start that I would be working hard all the way. I was part of a talented and seasoned group, who were certainly fitter than me.
The first 20-odd miles were through the Surrey Hills, crossing the North Downs, before descending into the relatively flat Kent countryside. We passed through pretty Kent villages with their customary pub and village cricket square. Our first feed stop was at a beautifully manicured cricket club. After a brief stop, and fuelled with high-energy snacks, we set off at a gallop on quiet back roads. I was soon off the back, but the group were kind and allowed me to get back on when they stopped at junctions. Riding in a group (aka peloton) is much easier than being on your own (you save about 30% effort), so I tried to stay part of it. But even gentle climbs spat me out the back.
The lunch stop at halfway was a very welcome break. In contrast to the Tour de France, the designated refreshment area was a pub offering excellent sandwiches, chips, and beer. The latter was substituted—somewhat disappointingly—for a tasteless energy drink. The longer rest was welcome and gave me the chance to recover a little. I certainly felt a lot better on the next leg and even spent some time at the front of the group.
The final feed stop was at 75 miles, to ensure we had enough zip for a final big climb near the end. We now had views of the Channel and turned due east along the Kent coast into a headwind—just what you need at this stage of the course. Then came the last climb of the day: over 2 miles and a 10% incline. It would have been OK, had I not pedalled over 95 miles to get there. We re-grouped at the top and then had a nice, relatively gentle spin into Dover and our hotel for the night.
Finish photos were taken, and then it was time for a well-earned beer. All in all, a good day in the saddle. I felt a lot better at the end than I thought I would during the early stages of the ride. However, at the end of the day, it’s not about how I felt. I did this for enjoyment and fun (sort of!). It is about how much I and my fellow riders can raise—both in terms of awareness and money—for a great charity focused on children’s illness and disease: Action Medical Research.
Day 2: Dunkirk to Ypres (65 miles) – A Day in the Wind!
Our second day started very early (5:45 am!) to allow us to take the early ferry crossing from Dover to Dunkirk. There was quite a bit of hanging around at the port—getting our bikes cleared through customs, passports checked, and so on. We were pleased that it was still sunny and relatively warm as we waited on the quayside for the ferry. Cycling onto the boat alongside huge juggernauts was certainly a weird experience. Our first feed stop of the day was on board—a full English breakfast. Not exactly the best nutrition for highly tuned athletes facing a tough ride.
Two hours later we arrived in Dunkirk and, to quote Willie Nelson, we were on the road again. The wind was coming from the northeast, exactly the direction we were heading. The terrain was flat, but the wind made it feel like a steady climb. I struggled to keep with the group (which would have provided some shelter), but at least I kept them in sight and didn’t get lost.
The route took us through the industrial area surrounding Dunkirk and then down onto the beachfront in the town. Today we would be riding past several reminders of the two major conflicts of the 20th century. The first was at Dunkirk beach—a memorial to the evacuation of British troops in 1940. After a brief stop, we headed along the coast and into Belgium before turning inland and southeast. And it was still a headwind! There was little shelter from it—not helped by many twists, turns, and stop-starts as we meandered through the Belgian countryside, with only cows as spectators. It was hard slog, and it sapped my energy. But short stops at cemeteries for German and British soldiers from WW1 put it all into perspective. The fallen buried there—mostly in their 20s—did not live long enough to have the opportunity to enjoy life as we were now doing.
The route finished in Ypres and took us through the Menin Gate, a memorial to those never found following the battles in Flanders. We returned there later for the daily ceremony of the Last Post—another reminder of the futility of war.
A tough day for me. It left me thinking that I might try to find a shortcut for Day 3.
Day 3: Ypres to Bruges (91 miles) – Steep Hills, a Tailwind, and Cold Beer!
Surprisingly, I didn’t feel too bad when I sauntered into breakfast on Day 3. My legs were still working, and my mood had lifted—thanks to the encouragement and support from my fellow riders, and a couple of beers the evening before. I was buoyed further since a tailwind was forecast to push us along towards Bruges. The only slight concern was the three steep, cobbled climbs (the Kwaremont, Paterberg, and Koppenberg) along the route. The organisers had included these “just to make it interesting.” Keen cyclists will know that these climbs are legendary in classic cycle races like the Tour of Flanders and the Tour de France. The pros treat them like little molehills and barely notice them. The rest of us just suffer.
We rattled along the first 40 km, along tree-lined canals, cycle paths, and quiet back roads to the mid-morning feed stop—a great little café serving excellent pastries and coffee. Good fuel for the climbs to come. The first and longest climb, at 3 km, came shortly after the stop. I figured the best way to approach it was to race at it, pedal hard until you run out of gears, hold on until you can’t go any further—and then fall off. This worked on the first climb, the Kwaremont (without the falling off bit). I made it up OK, albeit slightly slower than everyone else. I used the same approach on the second and third climbs, but it was less effective. They were shorter but much steeper towards the top. Both times I didn’t have enough forward momentum—or fitness—to get up them. So I stopped, admired the view, and walked up the final couple of hundred meters.
Then came the descent onto the flat Belgian plain with a tailwind. We sped along, stopping for lunch in a typical local café. Knowing that I was going to complete the ride to Bruges, I tucked into a rather large plate of spaghetti bolognese, making sure I’d have enough energy. We hit the road for the final 50 km push to Bruges. There was a “school’s out” mood in the group, and we quickly covered the distance, arriving in Bruges by late afternoon. The final flourish was a short, and surprisingly hazardous, tour around the city centre—dodging tourists, speeding locals on “sit-up and beg” shopping bikes, and horse-drawn carriages. Perhaps not the best time for a peloton to navigate Bruges city centre.
We finished at a café barge close to the centre. Congratulatory back slaps and chapeaus were exchanged. And then came the big reward for three days of riding—cold beer and frites!
A Few Days Later…
Thinking back, it was a great and very well-organised ride. It was enjoyable and a good opportunity to chat and network with my fellow participants from biotech. But it was tough going for me at times. However, it was for an excellent cause—Action Medical Research. Thank you to all who sponsored me. It looks like I will reach my target of raising over £2k. And finally, a big thank you to Emma at Action Medical Research and to Rupert and his WMP team (Scoops, Emma, Bella, and Sam) for their organisation and support along the way.
Same again next year?