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Despite meeting some delays along the way, two cyclists who set off from Guernsey 11 days ago have finally arrived in Rome, completing the first stage of their challenge.
Gary Hooks and Leon Howard cycled from the island to Rome in preparation for the 2021 Tour de Sez, which will see up to 100 local riders follow the same route in support of the Sarah Groves Foundation.
Pictured: The duo cycled to Rome as a recce for the 2021 Tour de Sez.
Today the pair set off on the second leg of their journey - cycling 1,000 miles to Istanbul.
Currently, they are slightly behind schedule due to an "unfortunate mishap" with the support vehicle 70km from Rome. After spending hours seeking roadside assistance yesterday, the problem was eventually solved by a Facebook-follower who identified an issue with the fuel cut-off switch. By that stage, the battery had been run flat but, with help from a passing motorist, the team were able to get back on the road.
Pictured: Gary Hooks and Leon Howard on their arrival in Rome.
Although the harsh, mountainous terrain of mainland Italy proved to be harder than expected, and some adverse weather got in the way of their plans, Gary and Leon are still keen to complete the challenge.
As of Sunday evening, the cycling duo's net elevation gain was more than 61,805 feet - the equivalent of twice the height of Mount Everest - over the first 1,150 miles.
Pictured: The pair have already travelled more than 1,000 miles.
They aim to arrive in Istanbul by Wednesday 2 October.
Pictured top: Gary Hooks and Leon Howard on their journey.
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