with Antonio (r) and Tony in March

Sometimes, people do the most incredible things.

I have skiied with my friend Antonio Henriquez a few times over the years. Antonio is a partner at international law firm, Clifford Chance and is based in Spain. He is a softly-spoken, understated gentleman. And a real competitor.

When we were last together in Italy earlier this year, he first mentioned Transpyr 2015 to me. 

Antonio did so in a deliberate way, but he didn’t make a big deal about it. As I understood, there was a cycling event later this year which he was going to do. He said that he wanted to do it in the name of Team Margot & mentioned that it was important to him since he cannot be a bone marrow donor (because of a medical condition he had as a teenager, which makes him ineligible) and he really wanted to do something to help.

Team Margot Transpyr 2015 Jersey

I hadn’t heard of Transpyr and until just the other day, and I must confess that I hadn’t really understood what it was all about.

It turns out that Transpyr is an unbelievably arduous cycling challenge across the Pyrenees, covering a distance of 800 KM from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic via the southern Pyrenees, with approximately 18,000 m of accumulated climbing, over the course of a week. 

It’s an astonishing physical challenge to attempt.

And yet, on Sunday, Antonio and his friend Rafael Valle-Trabadelo will be setting off on Transpyr, cycling in the name of Team Margot, amongst around 300 other riders.

To give you some idea, here’s a promotional video:

We all wish you & Rafa the best of luck Antonio ! Travel safely and we look forward to hearing how you get on !

What a week !

Team Margot
Together, saving lives

Yaser

Husband to Vicki and father to Oscar (2007), Rufus (2008), Digby (2015), Humphrey (2017) & Margot (2012-2014)