Perthshire Advertiser

Heat is on in bike challenge

George prepared for pain in Spain

- Gordon Bannerman

Fair City businessma­n George Stubbs will be feeling the pain in Spain.

The 52-year-old Perthshire Chamber of Commerce director is taking part in a demanding 500km Madrid to Murcia cycle challenge raising cash to support the work of Myeloma UK.

The GS Group managing director joins a four-strong team taking to the road next week in the Spanish capital.

Athole McDonald, group director with Tayside business Kilmac, is recovering from recent stem cell treatment at Perth Royal Infirmary and he has volunteere­d to drive the support vehicle.

For three days from June 9-11 the team will be clocking up the miles and coping with searing temperatur­es in the Myeloma Awareness Cycle.

George, who is teaming up with Neil and Janet Cockings and Lesley Pearce, admitted: “I’m well out of my comfort zone but I enjoy challenges, even if alcohol was involved when I agreed to this one.

“I enjoy cycling as a hobby, pedalling to the beach for a coffee when I’m on holiday. I suspect this will be a little different but I needed to lose some weight so it has definitely helped give me focus.

“I have left it to the others to plot the route. There will be a lot of unknown roads to contend with but at least motorists tend to be more courteous with cyclists than back home because cycling is a massively popular sport with the Spanish.

“We will be heading into the prevailing winds so that won’t be Perth businessma­n George Stubbs

ideal. But my biggest worry is the heat because it will be 30 degrees plus.

“You really do feel your skin burning when you’re on the bike. I will have had a week’s prep to get used to the heat because I didn’t fancy the idea of getting off a place and jumping on the bike the next day.

uk.virginmone­ygiving.com/team/ madrid2mur­cia

 ??  ?? Wheely tough
Wheely tough

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