A HEALTH worker from High Barnet is cycling a leg of the Tour de France to raise money for charity.

Tim Smith, 39, will ride 107 miles and struggle up four hills to complete the Etape de Tour race, which ends with the infamous Mont Ventoux - a 6,273-ft mountain feared for its hulking size and strong winds.

And he hopes to cross the line long before the professionals - if only because he will be cycling the route on July 20, a few days before the main pack sets off.

But the pain will be worth it, according to the assistant occupational therapist, because it is in such a good cause - the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, in Putney.

He said: "This hospital relies on charitable donations to survive and carries out a fantastic service for people suffering from various neurological conditions that have either been acquired or have worsened from birth."

Mr Smith, from Sebright Road, has been cycling since he was a young boy, but became serious about the sport around 21 years ago.

He plans to complete the course in under seven hours - just two hours slower than the top tourers.

"That's quite optimistic," he admitted. "I just have to be careful not to go too fast at the start, or it could all go horribly wrong by the last big climb.

"It will definitely be a challenge. I've never ridden for that length of time on that sort of terrain before.

"It's one of the toughest rides I've undertaken."

Visit www.justgiving.com/Tim-Smith/ to donate money to Mr Smith.