Sander joined the Sam Steen Show on RTL Today Radio this week to give an update from the road, with the trio having spent nearly three weeks cycling across Europe in support of Fondation St Luc. "We’re nearly three weeks in now, so well over a quarter", he said. The challenge will ultimately see Sander, René, and Marc cover around 7,000km across more than 20 countries, with the aim of raising €1 million for cancer research.
While the scale of the challenge was never in doubt, the riders admitted the opening weeks have been tougher than expected. “We thought we’d ease in with a couple of weeks of flats”, Sander joked. "But the weather completely threw us off."
Instead, the team found themselves battling cold temperatures, heavy rain, and relentless headwinds almost immediately. "It was very cold. We had a lot of rain, headwinds", he said. "The impact that had and how hard it made it was actually a bit of a surprise."
One particularly brutal day stood out. "We had headwind, rain, gravel, and near-zero temperatures", Sander said. "I’ve never been so cold on the bike."
Despite the conditions, the riders have also found moments of beauty and perspective during the journey. "The landscapes have been incredible", Sander said. "Especially southern Poland and Slovakia. Just gorgeous."
But one of the most striking experiences came while cycling alongside the Ukrainian border. "We were alongside the border for almost 100km", he explained. "On one side, you’re cycling in peace and quiet. On the other side, people are fighting for survival."
The proximity to the war left a strong impression on the team. "The fact that you can’t safely cross the border… that really stood out for us."
Alongside the physical challenge, the fundraising effort continues to gather momentum. The team has now passed the €400,000 mark, putting them over 40% of the way towards their €1 million target.
"We’re very pleased with that", Sander said. "But every small donation helps because we’ve still got 60% to go."
Supporters can follow the team’s progress and make donations through the official website: www.2wheels4purpose.com. The site also links directly to the team's Instagram updates, documenting the highs, lows, and realities of life on the road. As the riders continue south towards Gibraltar, the challenge is only set to get tougher, but so too is the sense of purpose driving every kilometre forward.
