Blog. Bike to Care - Bordeaux 2023 UK

On 8th and 9th May a team of hospitality personalities will push their physical limits to the test as they cycle a challenging 200km circuit across Bordeaux all in the name of charity.

Following its debut in Bourgogne last spring, Bike to Care will soon hit the roads of Bordeaux for its second edition. Last year over €250,000 was raised for various good causes and a phenomenal £32,806 was donated to Hospitality Action. The 2023 UK team will be led by Hatch Mansfield’s Mark Calver and Aaron Turner. They will be joined by Richard Davies and Richard Ball from the Calcot Collection; Joanne Taylor-Stagg from The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences; Nicholas Davies from the Langham London; Rob Flinter from Park Plaza London Waterloo; James Hiley-Jones from Greenclose Hotels; Peter Dean from the Buyer, Patrick Schmitt from the Drinks Business and John Stimpfig from First Press Publishing publications.

We caught up with some of the team to learn a little more about the challenge and why they’re taking part.

Why do you think the hospitality industry needs a charity like Hospitality Action?

Mark Calver, Director, Hatch Mansfield

The Hospitality Industry is a huge industry employing huge numbers of people. These people are like all of us, they all have problems from time to time and an industry wide support body like HA is critical. It's there in the difficult times to help people get back on their feet again.

Aaron Turner, Regional Sales Manager, Hatch Mansfield

The sheer size of the hospitality industry and the number of people it employs means that sadly it is necessary to have a charity dedicated to those working within it. The scale of support provided, and the issues that HA addresses, are so broad reaching that it provides those who have spent their careers putting other people first with the reassurance that there will be someone there for them should they ever need it. The effects of the pandemic and the new world we live in are still majorly impacting hospitality, and thankfully HA are there to help those who are struggling the most, whatever the issues may be.

How did you get involved with ‘Bike to Care’ and what does taking part mean to you?

Joanne Taylor-Stagg, General Manager, The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences

In 2022, Pierre-Henry Gagey of Louis Jadot company and his Burgundian friends created 'Bike to Care' to raise funds for associations in the restaurant and hospitality sectors that care for people in difficulty and also encourage new vocations and support the training of upcoming talent. When Hatch Mansfield, who has supported the industry for many years, asked if I’d be interested in joining “Bike to Care”, I said yes immediately.

The UK team will be raising money for Hospitality Action again this year. After all, it is the industry’s benevolent fund, and they do so much good work; we naturally want to do what we can to support as many people as possible through their incredible work. I couldn’t be more pleased or proud to be doing my bit in the gorgeous surroundings with the odd glass of wine as an incentive to get to the end.

James Hiley-Jones, Managing Director, Greenclose Hotels

I was lucky enough to have been invited by Hatch Mansfield (who are the importers of Taittinger, Louis Jadot, amongst other fine wines and are great supporters of our industry and charities). The Bike to Care initiative is a wonderful idea and what a pleasure it was to join the team last year, riding through famous vineyards, enjoying a glass or two and raising funds for HA. I can’t believe my luck in being invited for a second time.

John Stimpfig, Director, First Press Publishing Publications

I heard about the event in Burgundy last year and was super impressed by the people who took part and the amount they raised for some great charities. If there was any chance of helping in 2023, I wanted to be a part of it. Luckily, I managed to get a place on the Hatch Mansfield Team. Taking part means a great deal to me. Firstly, Hospitality Action is a charity that deserves all the support it can get for the work it undertakes. Secondly, it’s a personal challenge to cycle 200km in two days in my mid-sixties. Fingers crossed that I can do it...

You both took part in the challenge last year, what was it like? What will be your motivation to finish the course?

Richard Davies, Executive Chef, Calcot Collection

Last year’s event was so well organised that I couldn’t turn down the chance to do this again, cycling with like-minded people, whilst raising money and awareness for Hospitality Action. Oh, and did I forget to mention that the food and wine were fantastic!! My motivation to complete - Cycling helps me stay fit, healthy and to avoid the temptation of drinking after a stressful day or week and, I need events like this to have a goal and a target to keep me motivated to train. Whenever I am asked to take part in a charity event, whether that is cooking or cycling, it is always yes, as things could have been very different for me if it wasn’t for hospitality so I will always try to give back whenever possible.

Richard Ball, Executive Chairman, Calcot Collection

Last year was a great experience. The riding was glorious if a bit testing over the undulations of the vineyards. The Burgundian Vignobles Hospitality was unforgettable, and it was uplifting to spend time with chefs, sommeliers, wine producers and hoteliers from around the world all riding together for this great cause. I have no doubt that the Bordeaux experience will be equally memorable this year, and I hope that we exceed last year’s extraordinary fundraising and feel proud to be part of this great industry.

What will be your motivation to finish the course? 

James Hiley-Jones, Managing Director, Greenclose Hotels

Whilst not a natural athlete, I will be spurred on greatly by the camaraderie in the group and we all might be slightly competitive. The thought of letting the side down weighs fairly heavily especially when raising money for a wonderful charity that does so much to support our industry.

John Stimpfig, Director, First Press Publishing Publications

One incentive to finish is pure personal pride. But more importantly, I know that there are a lot of people in the industry who need help and assistance from Hospitality Action through no fault of their own. So, I’ll mainly be pedalling as hard as I can for them.

To learn more and make a donation please click here.

And if you’d like to take part in a challenge event of your own please click here.