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.

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