Europe might be a distant memory but it’s the final countdown for Bike For Bobby duo Robbie and Phil.
After 24 days of blood, sweat and tears the dynamic duo are less than 24 hours from the thrilling finale to their epic 3,500-mile journey.
And the Geordie heroes have eaten up the miles from Lincoln to the North East today – setting themselves up to make tomorrow’s Cycle Sportive in time for the 10am start!
“Unless anything goes horribly wrong we intend to be at Ponteland High School with everyone else tomorrow,” said Robbie.
“It’s what we’ve been working towards for the last few days but we didn’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves in the final stages.
“We’re in Darlington tonight and we’re looking good. Or at least we were until I lost the rest of the Bike For Bobby team in the hotel tonight!”
Robbie is in buoyant mood ahead of the final day of cycling action – after Phil suffered a fourth successive puncture.
“It’s now 4-3 in the tyre challenge and if I’m honest Phil’s starting to hold me back,” quipped Robbie.
“I always thought of him as a semi-professional when it came to cycling but I can’t believe he’s gone through a fourth tyre.
“He was laughing at me when I’d had three punctures and he’d had none. But this has always been a marathon, not a sprint.”
Phil’s take on the puncture battle is, unsurprisingly, very different.
“The way I look at it I’ve come from 3-0 down to lead 4-3 with 50 miles to go,” he added.
“I’ve timed it to perfection. There’s no time for Robbie to salvage the draw so it’s no wonder he’s making out he’s actually the winner.”
The real victory will be the successful completion of an incredibly ambitious challenge tomorrow.
And a typically humble Robbie added: “As hard as it’s been for us it’s much harder for people coping with cancer.
“After tomorrow we can have a rest and get on with our lives. That’s not always the case for people suffering from cancer and their families and Phil and I have been talking about that a lot lately.
“It’s important that we’ve retained our focus and remembered why we decided to do this in the first place.”
Phil and Robbie will be mingling with Cycle Sportive entrants, their friends and families at tomorrow’s celebratory Bike For Bobby finale.
And Robbie added: “What I’m looking forward to most is talking to people at the event, finding out why they’re there and hearing their stories.
“I’ve been exchanging tweets with a lady from Sheffield who’s driving up to the Cycle Sportive.
“A number of her family have been affected by cancer and it’s people like her who will make the Cycle Sportive so special.”
Robbie and Phil will also be able to toast their big day with a pint of Bike For Bobby Ale – brewed by the Tyne Bank Brewery in Ouseburn.
“I’ve already placed my order with our media manager Simon to get me the first pint in,” added Phil. “I just know it’s going to taste great!”
The ale will be on sale at Ponteland’s Diamond Inn, Kenton Bank Foot’s Twin Farms and The Strawberry at Gallowgate.
Today also saw the details of Sunday’s celebratory leg from Gateshead to St James’s Park, confirmed. It will follow the route below:
1. leave Hilton Newcastle Gateshead at approximately 1:15pm on Sunday 11th November;
2. turn right up Bottle Bank, then first left and join the Tyne Bridge on the Gateshead side;
3. continue over the Tyne Bridge to the 550N roundabout;
4. turn left down upper Mosley Street (A186);
5. turn first right and head up Grey Street to Grey’s Monument;
6. turn left onto Blackett Street past Old Eldon Square;
7. head along Gallowgate past Sir Bobby’s Garden; and
8. turn right up Barrack Road and enter St James’ Park