Team 3CC: The Start of the 3 Countries Challenge

Today a team of 19 cyclists and 4 support crew flew to Toulouse for the start of their epic adventure which will see them cycle over some of the highest Cols in the Pyrenees.

Starting in the small mountain town of Luchon, which sits in the middle of the Pyrenees, the team will cycle for six very hard days through 3 countries: France, Andorra and Spain!

Jonathan Thomson who is leading this team of wounded, injured and sick service personnel will be keeping us updated throughout this expedition:

"We're in Bagnères-de-Luchon, normally referred to as Luchon, deep in the Pyrenees surrounded by high peaks and some intimidating cols, one of which we will go up tomorrow on our way into Spain.

Luchon has a faded elegance about it, harking back to the days of the Emperor Napoleon III. Indeed, what is thought to be his villa is here to this day, steadily disintegrating like a forgotten fairy palace as its ownership continues to be disputed.

Nearby the Casino tells of days when Luchon attracted high-flyers. Today we, and those who ski and cycle the big slopes, are the high-flyers as we contemplate pedalling our little machines up the Col du Portillon, where eagles soar, and then off and away into Spain."