Foundation News
13/02/10 - Heavy Snow Hinders Slam
Press release from the Dallaglio Cycle Slam
Heavy snow in Rome, for the first time in 25 years, halted cycling on the first day of Lawrence Dallaglio’s 2,800km ride across Europe to raise £1m for Sport Relief and the Dallaglio Foundation.
Rugby World Cup winner and former England captain, Dallaglio, began the month-long charity cycle this morning but heavy snow not seen in Rome since 1985 caused gridlock in the city centre and forced the team of cyclists off the road for their own safety.
With the first pit-stop scheduled at 50km north of the city, the riders passed through the outskirts of Rome as the snow began. It continued to fall later causing power cuts in the centre of Rome and icy roads along the Dallaglio Cycle Slam route.
The cyclists were forced to take refuge from the inclement weather in a local farmer's barn just north of Trevignano Romano.
Lawrence Dallaglio, founder of the Dallaglio Foundation, said: “I was actually really enjoying the cycling despite the weather. After all the work and planning that has gone in to this it is devastating to have to stop early. Rest assured though we will not be put off and will press on as soon as it's safe to do so.”
Rob Mauchlen, event director said: “It is such unbelievable bad luck, especially as this part of the world hasn't seen weather like this for 25 years.
“I am sure there will be some disappointed cyclists but, as event director, it is my job to rein them in if necessary.
“We have planned for such a setback on the schedule so this shouldn't hamper our time plan too much. We will continue to assess the weather situation and will start riding again when it is safe to do so.
“The determination of the riders is outstanding as some of them wanted to continue but ultimately their safety is paramount and I had to make the decision to bring the day's riding to an early finish.”
The Dallaglio Cycle Slam will take place over the course of a month finishing in Edinburgh, and will see a team cycling through all of the RBS 6 Nations countries, taking in each of the international rugby stadia along the way.
The aim is to raise at least £1million, the net proceeds of which will be split equally between Sport Relief and the newly formed Dallaglio Foundation, whose beneficiaries include Cancer Research, DebRA, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, Help for Heroes and the RPA Benevolent Fund.
Dallaglio has been joined by over two hundred and fifty other cyclists including a host of celebrities and sports stars. Former footballers Lee Dixon and Les Ferdinand are taking part in the first leg riding from Rome to Italian city San Remo.
The punishing route will cover over 2,800 winding kilometres and is split into five stages, each of which will pass through an RBS 6 Nations country. From Rome and the Stadio Flaminio, the team will cycle through France to Paris’ Stade de France and then head to the home of English rugby at Twickenham.
The peloton will then visit the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Dublin’s Croke Park before heading to Murrayfield in time to watch England and Scotland fight it out over the Calcutta Cup on 13th March.
This challenge is the latest in a long line of projects that the Dallaglio Foundation has been working towards in its inaugural year. Launched following the passing of Lawrence’s mother Eileen, who lost her courageous battle with cancer in December 2008, the Dallaglio Foundation has already helped to raise over £600,000 for Cancer Research UK through its prestigious charity party, 8Rocks, which took place in November.
Visit www.dallagliocycleslam.com for more information about this epic ride.
To donate, go to http://www.justgiving.com/dallagliocycleslam and sponsor Lawrence.
Key dates:
12 February 2010 – depart from the Stadio Flaminio, Rome
22February 2010 – arrive in Paris
26 February 2010 – Cycle through London and arrive at Twickenham
02 March 2010 – arrive in Cardiff
06 March 2010 – arrive in Dublin
08 March 2010 – arrive in Belfast
12 March 2010 – arrive in Edinburgh and final day of Dallaglio Cycle Slam
Headline Partners:
Causeway, Pizza Express, Wiifit.Plus, Blenheim Capital Partners, thelisteningcompany and Amlin.
Event Sponsors:
Nike, Giant, Rok Creative, Garmin, Wiggle, 3663, Keiser, Greene King, Perform Group, Gatorade and Giro, Stena Line
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