Paul Middleton, Head of Highways and Transport at Rutland Council, and a group of close family and friends will take on the Royal British Legion’s (RBL) Pedal the Somme in 2026, raising funds to provide the lifelong support for the Armed Forces community.
Paul has supported the RBL through these events in the past completing the Poppy rides, Pedal to Ypres and Pedal Normandy Beaches, and has now been presented with the opportunity for a new ride to commemorate the 110th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
Paul shared why he is excited to take on this challenge:
“WWI is a very distant memory for the current generation, but the legacy of the sacrifices given must always be remembered by the current and future generations.
“As a team we are a mixed bunch with some hardcore cyclists and those that are carrying a bit too much timber however we all aim for the same goal to complete the event and raise vital funds for the RBL.
“Over four days we will ride across the serene landscapes of Northern France – once the front line of one of the First World War’s most pivotal battles. We will follow the routes once taken by soldiers over a century ago, visiting preserved trenches, poignant cemeteries, and stirring memorials, each telling the story of courage, sacrifice, and service. It will give us a chance to honour those who came before us while making a real difference today. The total distance over the four days is 445km (day 1: 126km, day 2: 124km, day 3: 107km, day 4: 88km)
“Our team’s name represents Stag (Hertfordshire) Clangers (Bedfordshire) and Grupetto (a cycling term meaning group of cyclists that rides together in the mountain stages of a race (hills in our case). The group’s sole purpose is making the time cut that will allow them to ride the following day. These cyclists ride for the benefit of their team rather than to win the race which we think is appropriate for what happened in WWI.”
Get Involved
If you would like to donate to the team or individually and help the Royal British Legion continue to provide vital services and support for the Armed Forces community – serving and ex-serving personnel and their families, please visit the fundraising page here.
Image: Paul Middleton