STYLE | Feature
Joyriding and fine dining LeBlanq, curators of intimate weekends of cycling and gastronomy, held its first ever luxury joyriding weekend on the Isle of Wight on 17th to 19th September 2021. A team of some of the world’s most iconic cyclists, including Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sean Yates, Joanna Rowsell and Adam Blythe, joined a group of leading chefs, including Claude Bosi, Francesco Mazzei and Ashley Palmer-Watts, to host a weekend to remember.
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pon arrival at The Royal Hotel, Ventnor, a fleet of Aston Martin cars whisked guests to Ventnor Botanic Gardens for pre-dinner drinks, followed by a five-course celebration dinner prepared by two of the Island’s best chefs: Adam Fendyke of Castlehaven and Nick Dobson of The Royal, in collaboration with Ashley Palmer-Watts. Dishes featured some of the very best produce from across the Island, with drinks pairings provided by the Island’s own Mermaid Gin and Laurent Perrier’s Master of Wine, David Hesketh. On Saturday, groups of varying abilities were challenged by itineraries that took in the best roads and views across the Island. The 60 guests rode alongside ride leaders including Sir Bradley
Wiggins, Adam Blythe and Sean Yates, while Aston Martin and Michelin support vehicles showed the way. For Saturday’s dinner, Claude Bosi – known across the Island for his collaborations with The George – prepared the ‘Tour de Feast’ as the culinary culmination of the weekend. With a menu created as a sevencourse homage to Sir Bradley Wiggins, the two Michelin-Starred chef of London’s Bibendum conjured delicious dishes, each accompanied by drinks paired by Laurent-Perrier. Sir Bradley Wiggins, Tour de France winner and one of Team GB’s most decorated Olympians, was on the Island for the first time. He said, “It’s beautiful; I never knew it was like this. It’s joyriding at its best”.
Top left: Sir Bradley Wiggins soaking up the sunshine. Below left: Claude Bosi. Top right: Ashley Palmer-Watts & Ewoud Dudok de Wit.
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