PEDAL POWER: ANDREW GROVES JOINS TEAM FORTERRA FOR THE HEIDELBERG CHALLENGE 2026 IN AID OF CANCER RESEARCH UK.

Building materials manufacturer Forterra has welcomed Andy Groves of Harris Lamb’s Stoke-based Agency team to join its cycle team in the Heidelberg Challenge 2026 this week.

The 575-mile ride, which starts on Thursday in Arras, aims to raise £2,000 for Cancer Research UK to fund continued research and development.

Andrew will join Forterra’s Group Planning Manager Ian Holmes, Production Manager Nick Parkin and National Sales Manager Gary Bell for the three-day challenge, which starts with a 214-mile ride through Northern France to Arlon.

The team will then head East through Luxembourg and the Hunsruck mountains to Mainz in Germany before the final leg; a 170-mile journey through the Odenwald National Park and Heidelberg to Stuttgart, where they will switch their Lycra for Lederhosen to enjoy a well-earned beer at Oktoberfest.

Andy said: “I’m really excited to be taking part in such a brilliant event. Forterra is a long-standing supporter of Cancer Research UK, having raised more then £40,000 for the charity in 2025, and it’s a real honour to have been invited to take part in one of the business’s fundraising challenges.

“I’m a keen cyclist, but it’s been a while since I tackled a route this tough. We will be riding in relay, so while none of us will need to cycle the full 575 miles, it will still be an extremely challenging few days in the saddle with over 30,000 ft of hill climbing along the way.

“However the route will take in some spectacular scenery as well as a huge sense of achievement when we finally reach Stuttgart!”  he added.

To support Team Forterra and Cancer Research UK, visit Forterra’s justgiving page here.