Sander van der Fluit, René Beltjens and Marc Bijlsma from 2Wheels4Purpose joined the Sam Steen Show on RTL Today Radio this morning from southern Spain as they prepared to ride the final 72 kilometres of their extraordinary journey from Tallinn to Gibraltar in support of breast cancer research.
"It's been epic," Sander said. "We're kind of waiting for it to be over, but at the same time we're going to miss it very, very much."
When the trio first spoke to RTL Today Radio before setting off, they had mapped out an ambitious route across Europe.
Now, with just one stage remaining, they've gone even further than planned.
Their journey so far has seen them complete:
"It's a physical challenge," Sander reflected, "but it's the camaraderie that actually carries you through."
René agreed that the mental battle often outweighed the physical one.
"I think the mental element is a little more important than the physical one," he said. "We went through that really with the same motivation."
For all three riders, this has never simply been about cycling.
The journey is raising funds for Fondation Saint-Luc, which has supported medical research, healthcare innovation and patient care at the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc in Brussels since 1986. This year's campaign is helping to fund breast cancer research, with the aim of developing new treatments and giving more families precious extra time together.
Each rider has their own deeply personal reason for taking on the challenge.
René is riding in memory of his wife, Vinciane. Breast cancer research gave them four additional years together before she passed away, and he hopes this journey can help create the same opportunity for other families.
Marc is also cycling in honour of his late wife. During her illness, new treatments gave them six extra years filled with family life, laughter and memories that would otherwise have been lost.
For Sander, the motivation comes from seeing cancer touch the lives of so many people close to him. The ride has become a way of transforming that experience into something positive by helping fund research that could change someone else's future.
"It definitely helps that we have a goal," René said. "Not just geographically, but also the charity motive. That keeps you going on the days when you'd rather do something else than cycling."
The fundraising effort has already surpassed €400,000, but the team is hoping for one final surge before they reach Gibraltar.
Sander revealed that a generous supporter has pledged to match every donation made over the next week, up to €50,000, effectively doubling every euro donated.
"If people want to donate now, their money carries double," he said. "We want to go out with a bang and we've found somebody who wants to help us do that."
After spending more than two months together, crossing almost an entire continent by bike, the trio were asked if they'd still want to see each other once they reached the finish.
The answer came with plenty of laughter.
"We'll definitely have to get together and reminisce," they said. "Friends for life, for sure."
For Sander, however, the first priority is much simpler.
"I've been away from home for two and a half months," he said. "I just want to get home and be there with my family."
Donations can still be made through 2Wheels4Purpose, with every contribution over the coming week being matched by a generous supporter up to €50,000.
To learn more about the challenge or make a donation, visit 2wheels4purpose.com.
You can also listen back to the team's latest update on the Sam Steen Show below.
