Cicerone

In September 2016, Walter Beckers and Kendal Noctor travelled to mainland Europe to ride up mountains. Armed with routes and spiritual guidance from Phil Deeker, founder of Rapha Travel’s Cent Cols Challenge, they set off on a ten day journey to amass thousands of metres of elevation, testing their bodies and minds to breaking point. In 2017, the year of his 60th birthday and the 10th anniversary of the Cent Cols Challenge, Phil Deeker will ride 1,000 cols in 100 days. In this short film - its title meaning ‘guide to sightseers’ in Italian - we pay tribute to Phil, cicerone of the mountains, and his unwavering commitment to pushing the limits of what is possible on a road bike.

Walter Beckers

A lifelong cyclist and an A&E nurse, Walter makes an annual pilgrimage to the mountains to chase his passion for riding there – complete with young family in tow. He spent his formative years racing in the Ardennes, but he’s now mostly found out riding before dawn in all conditions in order to combine family life and time on the bike. When not riding, he’s cooking vegetarian meals for anyone who’ll eat them.

Kendal Noctor

Kendal is a professional photographer. Originally from the Isle of Wight, he now lives and works in London, but escapes to the high mountains as often as possible. This year, Kendal will complete another Cent Cols Challenge as part of Phil Deeker’s ‘ride of 1,000 cols’, and in 2018, plans to set his sights higher still.

Ride With Phil Deeker

From 1-13 July, Phil Deeker will guide the Rapha Travel Cent Cols Challenge Vosges-Jura as part of his bid to ride 1,000 cols in 100 days, riding the same roads followed by Walter and Kendal. To join him on part of his journey, book your place now.