'This is completely unknown' – Tour de France sportive winner set for gruelling 500km challenge
British amateur Victoria Stansfield will climb more than 18,000m this weekend in her cycling and trail running crossover
At 1:30am on Friday, Victoria Stansfield will embark on an unknown journey from her home in Chamonix, France. The world's top female gran fondo racer will pedal into the darkness for the first time in her life, as she sets out to conquer a daunting 500km challenge combining cycling and trail running. Stansfield recently won the Marmotte in the French Alps, Étape du Tour de France, and Étape du Tour de France Femmes – all renowned sportives in the circuit.
Her latest endeavor is La Dame Blanche, inspired by French folklore, meaning "The White Lady", the female spirit of the mountains. She plans to cycle 330km around Mont Blanc and then compete in the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). Nobody has ever accomplished both events consecutively; together, they cover 501km with over 18,000m of climbing (8,300m on the bike and 10,000m on the run), and Stansfield aims to complete the entire route in 50 hours.
Although Stansfield acknowledges the possibility of not finishing the grueling race, she is excited to discover her limits and inspire her daughter, Margot, to face her fears.
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