AN ILKLEY Michelin star chef-turned-cyclist has been declared fit after a crash to ride alongside Lance Armstrong on this year’s Tour de France route.

Simon Gueller, of The Box Tree restaurant in Ilkley, had a major crash while cycling at Leathley Bank near Pool-in-Wharfedale this month just a day after returning from a pre-ride training camp with Lance Armstrong in Aspen.

Simon, 50, broke two ribs and suffered a collapsed lung, but will take part in the One Day Ahead challenge alongside former England football star Geoff Thomas, Lance Armstrong and a handful of others as they aim to raise a whopping £1m for charity Cure Leukaemia.

Simon has made a startling recovery – which even surprised medical staff – thanks to the treatment he received and also due to his high levels of fitness built up from his gruelling training regime during the last year.

Armstrong has confirmed he’ll take part in the gruelling charity ride for two of the later stages, which follow the exact route of this year’s Tour.

Simon said: “It was a bolt out of the blue and I just came off and was in terrible pain, really nasty. But total rest and rehabilitation is paying off now and I’m determined not just to start, but to see it through to the end after a year of training.

“It was quite a surreal experience being out there with Lance, talking to him, training with him. We all know what he’s done, what he’s admitted to and been found to have done. But this isn’t about anything other than fighting cancer and raising money to one day beat it. If people like Lance, who’ve been through it and survived, can help raise money, then so be it. I call people as I see them, and he seems really up for helping in whatever way he can. That I can’t fault one bit.”

Simon won’t be short of inspiration either side of the handlebars, with lead man Geoff Thomas heading up the peloton. The former England and Crystal Palace star was given just months to live back in 2003, but has been in remission since 2005 thanks to treatment from Cure Leukaemia Co-founder Professor Charlie Craddock.

It’s not the first time Simon has had to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles after been told just 13 years ago he may never walk again after a benign tumour was found and removed near his spine.

He added: “A few years ago I thought it was going to be game over, that I might never walk again let alone ride a bike. So to have shed four stone or so, be the fittest I’ve ever been – despite the crash – and effectively be riding the Tour de France, I’ve got to be pretty happy about that! But it’s important not to lose sight of why we’re doing this, which is for a life-saving charity. Raising £1m together is a heck of a target, but why not?”

To donate to Simon’s challenge, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/simongueller