The Team

Mark

Mark brings years of Probert Adventure experience to the table. The veteran map-smith has been indulging his cartographic passion pre-adventure by meticulously planning each leg of the route, although he is controversially placing the entire team's trust in the legendarily unreliable GPS, shunning traditional maps due to the extra weight. Squadron Leader has had a typically studious approach to this year's challenge, often spending days on end locked in his study poring over incline profile graphs and long range weather reports. Let's hope this thorough planning will lead his team safely through the challenge.


Tom

Tom has put in a lot of work to shed a staggering amount of bulk picked up on his 2010 USA road trip. 20 miles a day on the bike coupled with a strict physio regime to strengthen his gammy back have worked wonders and he's in peak shape to take on the early Alpine section of the Tour. Nutritional experts are concerned that France's delicious wines, cheeses and patisseries may prove too tempting for him though, and unless he can stay focused, many are predicting a low placement this time around. Tom's new classic 90s touring bike has led to further accusations that he is more interested in looking good than getting up hills, prompting further fears about his performance in this year's challenge.


Greg

Every great squad has a blend of youth and experience. With Mark more than fulfilling the experience end of the spectrum, Greg brings the youth element. The young gun has built on his LEJOG experience with a busy race season in 2011, which has propelled his fitness into stratospheric levels. This new found strength, along with some minor alterations to his trusty Giant steed see him in great shape to take on this year's challenge, but a punishing social schedule (including a school prom and a festival) ahead of race day could see him make a slow start in Italy. 


...Plus Special Guests:


Marco

The first of this year's special guests: Marco left the UK road racing circuit after a strong display in the London to Oxford run in early 2010, and has since established himself as a key player on the Italian scene, basing himself in Milan. He instantly immersed himself in Italian cycling culture, acquiring a vintage Colnago racer which will turn a lot of heads in this year's challenge.








Ciro

The second guest rider is a complete unknown quantity. Team Probert have never seen this elusive rider, but are trusting entirely in Marco's judgement of his prodigious colleague. In the build up to the event, Ciro has provided vital local knowledge, pointing out the best local routes. Both special guests join the Team for the first week, before returning to Milan.