from Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province,

Linden will take part in the Haute Route Alps, a seven-day, fully supported climbing-fest in the French Alps that will see 500 amateur cyclists take on more than 900 kilometres of mountain terrain and climbing a combined 21,000 metres over 19 iconic ascents, such as Glandon, Alpe d’Huez and Mont Ventoux. It started in Geneva, Switzerland on Sunday and finishes Aug. 30 in Nice, France.

According to the website, the week of climbing is the equivalent of cycling more than twice from sea level to the summit of Mt. Everest.

Linden has been registered for the event since last year, but when Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini approached him about taking over the massive job of re-tooling the organization, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to find time for the ride.

“With the way my life has worked out, I really thought I wouldn’t be doing this, but the way things have worked out, the people we have in place, it’s pretty quiet, it’s a good window,” Linden said before departing for Europe.

“It’ll get me fresh and ready to roll for the season.”

more