Celebrations for the end of the ride went on late into the evening, and included some traditional vodka bought for the team and guests by Krys Duvall, who was not able to be in Krakow at the end of the ride.

Les managed to shut up the band for 5 minutes to hand out the awards for the riders and to thank them all for their extraordinary contribution to the Pancreatic Cancer cause. The consensus was that the total mileage from London to Krakow had crept up from Les’ initial estimate of 950 miles to the final total of 1030 miles (some of it self imposed ‘getting lost’ miles)!

On the 8th, the various team members went their own separate ways: Smit and Jordanna had a wedding to go to (Tereska & Ben who were getting married in a Krakow castle); Simon went to the airport to get a plane back to England and his family; Joy and Trace, after dropping Simon off at the airport, spent their 38th wedding anniversary being part of the ‘cafe society’ around the centre of a resplendent Krakow; and Les, together with Sue, Rosa and Immi went for a visit to the former concentrations camps of Auschwitz / Birkenau.

On Saturday, Trace & Joy (in their car) and Les, Rosa and Immi (in the van) set off for England, whilst Jordanna & Smit spent the day recovering after the wedding before setting off on the Sunday for the 7 hour train journey to Budapest where they will be spending an extra week.

Despite this final leg being only 48 miles it was hard and hilly. The 5 core cyclists were joined by some from Kone, Poland including at least one of the stage drivers. The old town centre of Krakow is very beautiful - similar to Prague in some ways. The town square is large with the long archade of the rennaisance Cloth Hall in the middle. These days it is a popular tourist spot and very busy. Les’ family(wife, children, sister and niece and better halves)  flew out to Krakow on Wednesday to be there to greet the cyclists, along with some of Les’ Polish cousins, Kone Poland and countless reporters and TV crews, when they arrived at the finish just after 3pm. The centre is full of trams and Trace fell off for the 3rd time when he got stuck in a tram line. However the team were able to cycle together in triumph to the finish to loud cheers. A beautiful bouquet of red roses was presented to Jordanna who celebrated her 28th birthday that day. The team had many photos taken and then Les and Trace were then mobbed by the press for interviews and signatures on Tshirts. There were emotional reunions for Les and Trace with their wives Sue and Joy and for Les with all his family. A fantastic achievement for all - Les for having planned it all and then completing the ride from Hanover despite the set-back with need for transfusions and investigations during the early stages, Trace for never having ridden long distances before and then completing all but the 2nd stage  when he and Joy were driving up from Calais, Jordanna for only having started cycling 7 months before the start and becoming the rider with the best technique, Simon for taking on the leadership when Les had to miss the first few stages, Smit for involving his school and providing musical entertainment on his guitar with Les and Joy who had only gone along originally to support Trace - driving their car all the way - but ended up as the support for the whole team and having to navigate and liaise with all the drivers from Kone of the support van. They clicked well as a team and the spirit along route and afterwards was fantastic. Les then spoke at a press conference and finally, after going back to collect the car and support van ,which could not go into the pedestrian old town, the cyclists, family and supporters finished the day with a celebratory Polish meal in a local restaurant accompanied by traditional and not quite so traditional music from accordian, double bass and saxaphone or clarinet etc. As usual the word about pancreatic cancer was spread in expected and unexpected ways such as English tourists surprised at seeing an English charity in Poland especially as they had personal experience of pancreatic cancer.

You can see photos of the finish by following the link to the PCUK web-site under “useful links” to the right. You can also hear one of the Polish interviews given by Les Niewiara by following the link listed under “In the press” to the right.

An early start at 7.30am was needed as we were told that we needed to be in Bedzin at 2pm for our rendez-vous with the mayor of the town. Little did we know what lay in store.

Cycling wise, this was to be an ‘easy’ day with just the 100km to be covered, and having been met by our driver for the day Stasiek (again supplied by KONE Poland) away we went. It was great that the wind once again was in our favour, and we made good time, finally arriving on the outskirts of the town of Bytom where we had lunch, before being met by the Mayor of Bedzin’s police escort who then proceeded to lead us (lights flashing) the remaining 15km to the meet point. There we were greeted by an army of photographers and film crews who were there to watch us arrive, meet the mayor, sign the town flag, before finally setting off on the final kilometre with the mayor and about 20 other cyclists for the town palace which is now used as a museum. Once there we we greeted with a trumpet fanfare (Bedzin town anthem celebrating its 650th nniversary as a town) as well as all of the aforementioned press and media.

The team were greeted by the town dignitaries as well as by more of Les’ cousins before being whisked away to a press conference which had been set up in the foyer of the museum. Words of welcome (as well as gifts) from the mayor were followed by a short speech by Les (in Polish) as well as by all the other members of the team. Questions followed, before the majority of the team went to have interviews or photographs taken with the assembled crowd. The proceedings finally finished 2 hours later and the team arrived at their hotel (courtesy of the town of Bedzin) at 4pm, and the comfort of a cold beer.

In the evening the team enjoyed the hospitality of Les’ cousin Zosia who laid on some great food (the beetroot soup was a particular favourite) and some great company. Unfortunately by 10pm, the team were exhausted and retired back to their beds for an early night, but not before seeing the report of TVP Katowice television.

It has been a surreal day, and oh yes, the mileage was a ’short’ 60 miles.

 You can see photos of them cycling with the mayor and the  reception in Bedzin under the “In the press links” to the right 

102 miles! Les is in the 100 mile club! Very nice driver, Wojtek. Nice warm weather, nothing eventful (for a change); looking forward to the last 2 slightly shorter days to Krakow.

Les’ Polish being useful, especially as tonight we are going to Les’ cousin Eva’s for dinner. Lots of translating necessary probably!

What poetry! (Gubin to Lubin we mean!) Last night was our last in tents; got up early packed up and set off at 8am into Poland. With our new (Polish) driver, Marcin we set off, Jordanna getting a puncture after 10 minutes. Got to first stopping point later than hoped for, Les really suffering with no energy, but a Mars bar cured all! The sugar rush kept him going all day.

Thunderstorms (again!) - hail, cold, Les wore 4 layers of clothing, then Jordanna had a second puncture. Fortunately the tailwind (for a change) meant that not too much time was lost…until Jordanna got her third puncture! Eventually arrived at Lubin after 6km of cobbled roads and our first night in a hotel. Les’ cousin Andrzej met us there, we were all tired after our third 100 mile day. Lovely meal in a hotel and can’t wait for the fourth 100 mile day tomorrow!