The Square to Square team at the 1,000-mile point.
WIGHT LIVINGWHEN a team of determined cyclists finally crossed the line at the end of an epic 1,457-mile Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge, most of them broke down in tears.
After a fortnight conquering the roads of France and Spain, plus the Pyrenees, averaging 100 miles a day, the finish line in Gibraltar marked the end of a physically and emotionally draining rollercoaster.
Seven cyclists and a five-person support crew left Newport’s St Thomas’s Square on October 2, followed by 14 consecutive days on the road, until they arrived at Gibraltar’s Casemates Square on October 15.
The latest instalment of the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge, which has been held every three years since it was created in 2004, pushed the riders to the limits.
As if cycling non-stop for about ten hours a day was not hard enough, the riders were exposed to extreme heat, strong winds and heavy rain during the course of the challenge, held to raise funds for the Barely Born Appeal and IW Young Carers.
Newport firefighter Matt Arnell, 42, suffered as much as anyone but with saddle sores rather than the weather.
Matt said: "I have never felt pain like it in my backside.
"I was rubbing Germolene and nappy cream on my bum all the time, I really had to grit my teeth and get through it but there were times when I felt like I could not go on."
Matt, whose parents, Michael and Margaret, met him in Gibraltar with some of the other families, said team spirit was the key to getting through the tough times.
He said: "It was absolutely critical because we all needed support from someone at some point.
"The last ten miles was really emotional, my hands were shaking when we finished and most people burst into tears."
Stephen Smith, 19, of Worsley Road, Newport, was talked into taking part in the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge with friend, Kieron Stewart, after both completed the 664-mile La Manche to Le Med cycle in August last year, in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
Stephen, currently on a gap year, said the hardest part of Square to Square was the extreme heat in Spain.
He said: "During the middle of the day, it was more than 40 degrees and I could feel myself dehydrating.
"We were continually taking on fluids and we were covered in sun cream but it was unbearable at times."
After making their way across France, the team had the Pyrenees to contend with.
They spent two days getting through the mountains but some riders coped better than others.
Matt said teacher Richard Clark challenged himself to get up the mountains as quickly as possible, while others found it tough to get to the top.
Matt said: "We at least hoped for some lovely clear weather at the top but it was cold and wet.
"We were soaked and we had a long descent down and by the end everything started to seize up because we had been hanging on to our bikes for so long."
Strong winds caused problems near Madrid, when Kelly Addison, the first woman rider to complete the Square to Square challenge, had to be protected from the wind by her team members after she was blown to the other side of the road.
But despite their battles with the weather, the cyclists completed the challenge without any major mishaps.
Matt and Stephen said they could not have done it without the support crew, who looked after them throughout the challenge.
Their task was to guide the cyclists along the route, which involved navigating through towns and villages, plus packing up their tents, preparing their food and providing water.
Phil Wells, 24, of Ventnor, a full-time chef at the Leconfield Hotel, Bon-church, and a volunteer for IW Young Carers, was part of the support crew.
His mum, Angela Ross, 57, who he cared for, died from cancer just three weeks before the start of the challenge, while the team were in the New Forest training for the event.
Phil said there was a point when he was unsure about going but was very glad he did.
He said: "It was like having another family around me.
"The whole team pulled together and that really helped me and it made me realise how important it is to live life. I am very thankful to them for that."
Phil, who cooked for the cyclists, said he was surprised by how much the challenge took out of him.
He said: "Rarely was there a chance to take everything in because we were always navigating and looking at maps.
"The whole thing was mentally and emotionally draining but also very satisfying."
So far, the cyclists have raised around £20,000, which was the target when the challenge was set.
A host of other fundraisers have been held on the IW, particularly by Island schools.
Some have taken part in mini Square to Square challenges and Barclay’s has been collecting at its Newport branch.
The bank has offered to match every pound its staff raise.
The cyclists also packed bags in supermarkets and they spent eight hours cycling constantly on a static bike on a Wightlink ferry.
They now hope to raise nearer £30,000.
Meanwhile, a raffle will be held on March 3, at a presentation evening to mark the end of the fundraiser.
Tickets can be bought from team members or via www.squaretosquare.org.uk.
Matt said it was something he would look back on with great pride.
"I feel very proud when I sit back and think about what we achieved and it was a tremendous effort by everyone involved."
Reporter: mattw@iwcpmail.co.uk