Participants:
Series Code: TIJ
Program Code: TIJ007114S
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00:24 Each year the Tour de France captures our attention
00:28 with its glamour, appeal, and popularity. 00:31 And it also reminds us that some of our fondest early childhood 00:36 memories are associated with our bicycle. 00:39 We all remember what it was like the first time we 00:43 tried to ride a bike, after some falls a few bruises 00:47 and lots of practice, we eventually succeeded 00:51 and it's the feeling of accomplishment, freedom, 00:54 and excitement that is indelibly etched in our memories. 00:59 There's nothing quite like the relationship of a child 01:03 to their bicycle, the exhilaration of self-propelled 01:07 speed, the sense of freedom, and the endless adventures 01:11 still live on with us and for many people that early love 01:17 for bikes stays with them through life. 01:20 It seems that we humans have an endless love affair with 01:25 bikes. Perhaps that helps explain why there are over 01:29 one billion bikes in the world and 364,000 new ones 01:34 are produced every day. 01:36 That's 15,000 per hour, or 253 a minute or four bikes 01:43 every second. In fact 47,670 bikes are sold every day. 01:51 Yes, every two seconds someone will buy a bike and an 01:57 elite few of those bikes make it into the world's most 02:00 prestigious, biggest, and most difficult bicycle race, 02:05 The Tour de France. 02:06 It attracts the world's very best bikes and bike riders. 02:11 The race is staged for three weeks each July 02:15 usually in some 20 day-long stages and covers some 02:19 3,600 kilometers or 2,235 miles mainly in France. 02:26 The tour is France's Premier Annual Sporting Event and has 02:32 deep cultural roots. 02:33 It is televised around the world and watched by over 3 billion 02:38 viewers in over 190 countries as one of the supreme tests 02:43 of human endurance. 02:44 The bike race is also watched live by huge crowds 02:49 over 12 million along the course of the race, 02:52 the largest and most excited crowds gather to watch 02:57 the final stage of the Tour De France as the winner 03:00 of the coveted yellow jersey makes his way to the 03:03 finishing line on the avenue, Champs-Elysées. 03:07 This year we are going to join them, so come along with us 03:12 and recall and relive some of those childhood bicycle memories 03:18 as we depart London and cycle through the rolling hills 03:22 of the English countryside and quaint villages of France 03:26 on our way to Paris. 03:28 It's the journey of a lifetime between these two iconic 03:32 capital cities as we arrive Paris to see the grand finale 03:38 of the premier bike race in the world. 03:41 And as we do so, we'll discover ways to be a winner 03:45 in the greatest race of all, the race of life. 04:05 Can you imagine a world without bikes? 04:07 When the only way to travel way by horse or walking. 04:12 Well, in 1817 in Germany Baron Karl von Drias 04:17 who was a prolific inventor constructed the first bike. 04:22 This bike had no pedals, weighed a massive 22 kilos 04:27 and was made primarily of wood but the inspiration 04:31 of transporting people on two wheels and a frame 04:35 had begun and the bicycle has continued to evolve 04:39 over the last two centuries. 04:41 Sophisticated technology is used more and more 04:45 to help create the best bike from the most basic for children 04:50 right up to the most competitive elite cycling races. 04:54 Dubbed as the world's biggest annual sporting event 04:58 the Tour de France continues to grow in popularity and fame. 05:03 Now surprisingly the race was first organized by a 05:07 newspaper company L' Auto in order to increase sales. 05:12 Well, they certainly succeeded and many were enthralled with 05:16 the race. The initial plans for the tour was just six stages 05:22 but the stages were long and the competitors had to 05:26 ride through the night to complete each faze. 05:29 The race was so daunting and unprecedented that only 05:34 15 people would gain enough to enter it. 05:37 There have been many variations to the Tour de France 05:40 over the years. For instance, due to cheating that occurred 05:44 during the nine sections of the 1904 tour, 05:48 from then on stages were only ridden during daylight hours, 05:53 this meant that more stages were added. 05:56 For a few years the winners were calculated by points 06:01 rather than their times. It wasn't until 1937 that riders 06:07 could have some support teams to assist them on the tour. 06:11 In 1947 for the first tour back after World War II the race 06:17 continued under government management and officially 06:21 renamed The Tour de France. 06:24 Today the race has evolved to include 20 to 22 teams 06:29 of eight riders each, which cycle a new course developed each 06:34 year involving the general clockwise or anticlockwise loop 06:38 around the country of France. 06:40 The race always includes some steep elevation of Pyrenees 06:46 and the French Alps. 06:47 Only the most elite cyclists from around the world 06:51 can ever hope to compete in this ultra-endurance race. 06:56 These days the overall winner of the Tour de France 07:00 is based on total quickest accumulated time of the race. 07:04 Each day of the race the leader of each stage is calculated 07:10 and wears the coveted yellow Jersey for the next day. 07:14 Overall, this endurance bike race has brought 07:19 millions of people to France and created worldwide fame. 07:23 But we're on our way to see the finish of the Tour de France 07:29 so we joined a charity ride called 25,000 spins 07:34 initiated by philanthropist businessman and entrepreneur 07:38 Craig Shipton. 07:40 While living in London in 2009 Craig dreamed of cycling 07:45 all the way from London to Paris in time to watch 07:48 the Tour de France, he soon realized people would join him 07:53 on trips like this and would be also willing to raise money 07:57 for charity while doing it. 07:59 Combining these two passions has been a successful endeavor 08:04 and more than a decade later Craig still runs trips 08:08 consistently in Australia, New Zealand, and occasionally 08:12 in Europe. Over the past 14 years 25,000 spins have cycled 08:19 four million kilometers with over a thousand cyclists 08:23 participating and have raised more than 7,000,000 dollars 08:27 for charity. 08:28 After weeks of planning, the longer way from London to Paris 08:32 Charity Bike Trip begins, so come piddle with me and 08:37 the other 24 participants as we explore the journey together. 08:42 We stopped the ride here in the center of London, 08:47 this is a 21st-century city with a history dating back to 08:52 Roman times and it's packed full of iconic attractions. 08:56 The city is famous for Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abby, 09:01 Shakespeare's Globe Theater, London Eye, Big Ben, 09:05 Tower Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, St. Paul's Cathedral, 09:09 the River Thames, and Trafalgar Square, just to name a few. 09:14 Big Ben, the world's most famous clock is located at 09:20 the northern end of the Houses of Parliament in the borough of 09:23 Westminster is almost 100 meters tall and each of the 09:28 four nations in the United Kingdom, England, Scotland, 09:31 the Northern Ireland, and Whales are represented on the 09:35 Shields of the tower, then before leaving London, 09:39 we ride past the beautiful Buckingham Palace. 09:42 This is the residence of the royal monarchs of the 09:45 United Kingdom and is a focal point where the country gathers 09:50 in times of celebration and in times of mourning. 09:54 This first day of real cycling is a big one, 09:59 it's a solid 108 kilometers and is not for the faint-hearted. 10:04 We're leaving from Sutton and we'll enjoy the exquisite 10:08 English countryside as the team makes its way down 10:12 the rolling hills and leafy roadways of Old England 10:16 to Brighton where we'll cycle below the white cliffs 10:19 which stretch all the way to Dover. 10:22 It's time to stretch our legs and get some sustenance 10:27 before continuing on past country parks, nature reserves, 10:32 cute villages, glorious English gardens, and idyllic countryside. 10:38 Fifty-five kilometers further on brings us to Brighton 10:43 and its iconic Royal Pavilion and the famous Palace Pier. 10:48 After lunch, we cycle along the base of the white cliffs 10:54 that stretch along the coast line towards Dover 10:57 but we only cycle as far as New Haven where nearing the end 11:02 of our day one, we join the other weary cyclists 11:06 and catch the Ferry across the English Channel to 11:09 Deep in France which is about 125 kilometers or 78 miles 11:15 away across the channel. 11:20 With our leg muscles and our energy batteries recharged 11:23 by a good night's sleep, here we are on our second day 11:28 which is full of seaside villages and French countryside. 11:33 We're riding mainly on the Avenue Verte route 11:37 through Normandy towards Paris, which is many ancient towns 11:41 and half-timbered buildings scattered among the farm fields 11:45 along the way. The rolling landscape with a field of wheat 11:50 the farm and round bales of hay typified this region 11:54 that we're cycling through. 11:56 After 40 kilometers we stop at the beautiful village of 12:01 Neufchatel-En-Brae for refreshments and then on 12:05 through more beautiful countryside to Claret for lunch. 12:08 Finally after a long 92 kilometer day, the team is 12:14 rolled into the beautiful historic town of Rouen 12:18 for the night. Now Rouen is a town rich with Medieval 12:22 architecture and historical significance, it's a 12:26 perfect town to explore the story of Joan of Arch 12:31 a national heroin of France. 12:33 She was a peasant girl who led the French Army to victory 12:37 against the English during the siege of Orleans and 12:41 was later tried by the English and religious leaders 12:44 in the great cathedral here and the burned at the stake. 12:48 We've had a rest day and are feeling ready for another big day 12:55 of cycling, we're riding over 90 kilometers through some 12:59 magnificent countryside including beautiful fields 13:03 of sunflowers, though there will be some testing times 13:07 today with some steep hilly sections which no doubt 13:11 will be a true test of our physical endurance. 13:15 I'm reminded that at times when cyclists may be struggling 13:19 the comradery of a team and the purpose of cycling 13:24 for a meaningful cause keeps us all peddling and 13:27 pushing forward and this feeling may be quite similar although 13:31 of course not entirely to the Tour de France competitors. 13:36 Being able to ride with a team no doubt pushes and encourages 13:41 each rider to perform at their best. 13:44 In cycling, there are times when riders rely heavily on each other 13:49 such as when riding in a Pelton, 13:52 this is where the lead rider breaks the wind and others 13:56 can benefit from riding in their slip-stream a pocket-protected 14:01 from the wind that can pull riders along. 14:05 We stopped for a break and to visit the famous 14:09 impressionist artist Claude Monet's home and Garden 14:12 at Giverny and then after a hard day covering over 14:16 100 kilometers we arrive at our most unique accommodation 14:20 of the trip so far. We stay next to the magnificent 14:24 La Roche Guyon Chatteau nestled in the heart of the country. 14:29 Our arrival is marked with a great celebration 14:33 by all of the cyclists. 14:35 It is day five of the trip and there is a sense of excitement 14:40 in the air, today we ride our final 109 kilometers 14:45 to the city of Paris. 14:47 Then after another beautiful morning of riding through 14:51 French terrain, we arrive at the exquisite 14:54 Palace of Versailles for lunch. 14:57 Around 15 million people visit this palace each year 15:02 making it one of the most popular tourist attractions 15:05 in all the world. 15:07 Continuing on after lunch we just started seeing the 15:12 skyline of Paris opening-up before us, we can even see 15:16 glimpses of the Eifel Tower in the distance as we arrive 15:20 on the outskirts of Paris. And then it's on to the 15:24 very heart of Paris, in the 60 meter or nearly 200 foot tall 15:29 Arch of Triumph situated on the right side of the Seine River 15:34 it is the center for 12 radiating avenues, 15:38 the arch is a living record of important triumphs 15:42 and commemorates French victories and the World War I 15:46 tomb of the unknown soldier. 15:49 The Arch of Triumph flows into the Champs-Elysées 15:54 to the place where the famous Tour de France finishes. 15:58 This is the final stretch which decides once and for all 16:04 the winner of this extreme fete of human endurance. 16:08 As we ride down the Champs-Elysées mirroring 16:11 what each Tour de France competitor will do in 16:15 only a few days' time. 16:16 We all feel this moment of accomplishment or an elation 16:21 of our own achievement. 16:23 As a 25,000 Spins Team we also embarked on this 16:29 tough journey of cycling across hundreds of kilometers of terrain 16:34 to reach this climactic arrival into Paris and how much more 16:39 for these elite athletes having endured weeks on the road 16:43 circumnavigating the entire country of France 16:47 will that feeling of excitement fit in for them? 16:51 In fact, this incredible achievement is so profound 16:55 for the Tour de France competitors that even 16:59 in the midst of this intense race, the cyclist has made 17:03 a truce. At the start of the last stage on the outskirts 17:07 of Paris, the teams all agree to take an opportunity 17:12 to have a moment of celebration. A time when they can laugh 17:17 and smile, hug, and absorb the feeling that the end is near 17:21 and that they have done it. 17:23 They've almost achieved a fete that many could only dream of. 17:29 The second part of the final race day is when the riders are 17:34 completing 6 to 8 laps of the wide partly cobblestone circuit 17:40 of Champs Elysees, riders at this point are trying to 17:44 win by breaking away from the Peloton and going solo. 17:48 Most wins are from the final sprint where specialist 17:53 sprint riders often take the victory. 17:56 Here today in our team, no one seems interested in doing 18:01 multiple laps on the Champs Eleysees circuit but were 18:05 excited to embrace the experience of riding through it 18:09 once knowing the special and unique history of the place 18:13 will hopefully make those cobblestones more bearable 18:16 and finally, here we are. 18:20 Now, you can't talk about riding to Paris 18:23 without some mention of the Eifel Tower. 18:26 This iconic 330-meter or about 1,000-foot high structure 18:32 towers over the city with impressive and intricate 18:36 architecture identifiable world-wide. 18:39 At its construction in 1887, it became the tallest manmade 18:46 structure in all the world. 18:48 For those eager enough, you can climb the 600 stairs 18:53 up to the top of the second level or you can take the lift 18:58 from the ground all the way up to the observation deck 19:01 at 276 meters or 900 feet. 19:05 After what we have been through in the past five days, 19:08 I'll be taking the lift. 19:11 But first, some team photos and maybe a few hugs, 19:16 tears, and high-fives too. 19:18 This has been such an incredible journey and a 19:22 beautiful way to celebrate all the terrain that 19:25 we cycled through and the money we've raised for worthy causes. 19:30 The Tour de France is one of the most physical demanding 19:37 of any major sporting event in the world 19:40 it takes endurance, resilience, and commitment to keep riding 19:46 day after day, week after week, and in many ways 19:50 this ongoing relentless ride can bare many similarities 19:55 to our own race of life. 19:56 It requires the same endurance, resilience, and commitment 20:01 to live it well just like the elevation of riding through 20:06 the French Alps. There can be many days where everything 20:10 feels like an uphill battle, then there are days where 20:14 we are cruising with ease, wind in our hair, 20:17 and we are flowing freely and comfortably down life's path. 20:22 You know, there's an ancient book full of wisdom and stories 20:26 that can help us understand more about ourselves, others, 20:31 and how to live well. 20:32 This book is the Bible written over a period of 1,600 years 20:38 by 40 different people who captured their own experiences 20:42 of life with others and with God. Now within this book 20:47 there is some wisdom on this idea of endurance 20:50 and the race of life. 20:52 There's a section called Ecclesiastes which was 20:56 most likely written by Solomon, a wealthy and wise Jewish king. 21:00 In this book Solomon is reflecting in his old age 21:05 back over his life and he writes insightfully... 21:26 Time and chance, we are all subject to these things 21:30 no one can live a life completely avoiding 21:33 all of its troubles. 21:34 With enough time and life experience chances are 21:39 we've all experienced moments of deep heart-wrenching loss, 21:43 confusion and destruction and in these times how do we endure, 21:48 how do we cope? 21:50 Just like in the Tour de France when the lactic acid is building 21:55 and the riders feel like they cannot go on, 21:58 or even worse, they experience a fall from their bike due to 22:02 an unforeseen obstacle or unexpected accident. 22:06 It is in these moments that we can see the beautiful colors 22:11 of human resilience and perseverance rise from the ashes 22:15 but, how do they endure it? 22:18 How do they keep going? 22:20 Well, some suggest that having a connection with something or 22:26 someone higher than ourselves can be an inspiring factor 22:30 to help change the motivations and purposes in our lives 22:34 There a numerous testimonies of people who were on their 22:39 last inch of hope, people who felt as though maybe life wasn't 22:43 worth all the effort and heartache and then when they 22:47 encountered and experienced Jesus or God or the supernatural 22:51 then all of that changed. 22:54 You see, the Bible recounts numerous stories of people 22:58 who met Jesus of Nazareth and their own lives were changed. 23:02 Paul was a powerful character in the New Testament 23:06 of the Bible who experienced Jesus personally 23:10 and flipped his life around and I mean literally flipped. 23:15 He went from killing Christians to becoming one of the 23:19 biggest advocates of Christianity and towards 23:22 the end of Paul's life he also reflects and encourages other 23:26 followers of Jesus in a letter that is now titled Hebrews. 23:31 And this is what Paul shares... 23:56 Paul shares here that Jesus went through the crucifixion 24:01 experience with joy, a terrible, stressful experience 24:07 with joy! Why was He joyful? Well, friends, Jesus was joyful 24:14 because He knew that His sacrifice would reconnect 24:18 himself with humanity with you and me for all eternity. 24:23 Now this thought can inspire us to not grow weary or 24:30 lose heart along the journey of life, it could help us to 24:34 dig deep in life's trials knowing that God understands 24:39 and that He has endured the depths of despair too 24:42 in order to redeem us from ultimate suffering. 24:45 At times, we can feel discouraged in our walk 24:50 through life but perhaps drawing on this ancient wisdom 24:55 can give us the motivation and encouragement that we 24:58 need to dig deep, stand back up after falling and keep 25:03 persevering in the race of life. 25:05 Maybe we don't just have to tolerate or endure these 25:09 situations but we can thrive and even find joy within them. 25:15 So, it's importance to remember when we face the trials 25:19 and challenges of life that even the prestige and honor 25:23 of winning the Tour de France and even the sense of 25:26 achievement of completing the 25,000 spins ride 25:30 from London to Paris doesn't really in any way compare 25:35 with the reward that awaits those who endure the 25:39 trials of life for Christ's sake. 25:41 And that is a reward we're focusing on and aiming for 25:46 the reward of eternal life. 25:49 Our journey through the mountaintops and valleys 25:53 and each unique experience is what shapes our lives. 25:57 How is your peddling going? Have you found something 26:01 worthwhile to keep peddling for? 26:03 If you're looking for an Inner Strength and a connection to 26:07 something or someone that can fuel us through the tougher 26:11 moments of life. 26:12 If you would like to find the secret to a positive attitude, 26:16 if you'd like to experience lasting peace and true happiness 26:20 then, I'd like to recommend the free gift we have for all our 26:25 Incredible Journey viewers today, it's the booklet 26:28 Harnessing the Power of Enthusiasm. 26:32 This book is our gift to you and is absolutely free, 26:36 I guarantee there are no costs or obligations whatsoever 26:40 so take this opportunity to receive your free gift today. 26:45 Phone or text 0436.333.555 in Australia, or 020.422.2042 26:55 in New Zealand, or 770.800.0266 in the United States 27:02 or visit our website tij.tv or simply scan the QR Code 27:09 on your screen and we'll send you today's free offer 27:12 totally free of charge and with no obligation. 27:15 You can also write to us at the addresses on your screen, 27:18 or email us at info@tij.tv. Don't delay call or text us now. 27:26 If you've enjoyed finding out more about the greatest bike ride 27:31 of all, and our reflections on the strength, commitment, 27:35 and perseverance it takes to sucseed in the race of life, 27:39 then, be sure to join us again next week when we will share 27:43 another of life's journeys together. 27:46 Until then, let's pray to the one who gives us strength, 27:50 peace, and happiness, every day. 27:53 Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the gift of 27:56 cycling, and exercise, it helps keep us strong and fit. 28:00 Thank you more importantly for your example of perseverance 28:05 through hardships. May we also dig deep and show the same 28:09 resilience and perseverance in our own lives too. 28:13 And we ask all this in Jesus' Name. Amen! |
Revised 2025-06-10