A Powys based cycling group took on a journey of over 200 miles by cycling from London to Paris in just four days.

Starting from London on September 18 and finishing at the Eiffel Tower just days later at 6pm on September 21, the Welshpool and border-based cycling group Border Biking Belles travelled more than 300km to complete the challenge.

In the process they raised £8,000 for Shropshire mental health services, in what group member Gemma Oliver called a “powerful” journey.

She said: “The trip was organised by Emma Wilde, who runs Border Biking Bells. They tend to do an annual tour, and I said I’d be interested in taking on something big.

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“I’d never done anything like that before but really wanted to do something challenging.”

At 41 years old, Gemma was the youngest of the group, with the oldest being in their 60s. But despite their range in age, the group were determined to stay as a unit for the entire journey and to cross the finishing line together.

“Our goal was to get everyone across the line, so we did a lot of training as a group to make sure we could all cycle as a unit at the same pace.

“It was enjoyable, but we had to dig deep to make it all the way. Day one was especially tough as we had a ferry to catch to France, so we were on a tight schedule to make that in time. We had a 7am start and got to the ferry at 5pm, only taking a 20-minute break over the whole day.

“We are so exhausted from the previous day that day two was also really tough, especially as we had a day of climbing ahead of us.

“Day three was a little more relaxed as we were on flatter terrain. Then day four was stressful again as we knew we’d be cycling into Paris. Between the lights and the traffic, getting in and out of France’s capital was a bit mental.

(Image: Gemma Oliver)

“Our finishing line was at the Eiffel Tower and when we made it I felt such overwhelming pride and relief to have done it and got through safely.”

During their journey across France, the group stopped at the Thiepval Memorial, a monument to the 72,337 missing British and South African servicemen who died in the Battles of the Somme during the First World War.

Gemma added: “We didn’t have time to stop that often because of the time crunch, but that was a powerful moment, not just at the memorial but as we cycled across the French countryside where so many died more than a hundred years ago.”