24/05/2025
Day 10 – Saturday, 24th May
Jimena de la Frontera to Gibraltar
The Final Push: From the Spanish Hills to the Rock
The final day of the Lourdes to Gibraltar Charity Ride began with a heartfelt show of support. At 09:30, the team was met at Los Angeles by a group of local cyclists who had ridden out from Gibraltar to join them for the final leg. Their effort to connect with the team and accompany them home was deeply appreciated and set the tone for a day filled with camaraderie and reflection.
After a relaxed breakfast at Venta Troyana at 10:00, the enlarged peloton set off on the last 40 km stretch towards Gibraltar. Along the route, more cyclists joined the group, turning the ride into a celebratory procession. The terrain was mostly flat, and thankfully, there were no incidents or delays, not even the police traffic control at the Castellar Castle junction. The riders to were allowed continue uninterrupted onto the Via Verde.
At the Via Verde, the group paused to regroup and enjoy the final kilometres at a gentle touring pace. The atmosphere was light and social, with many riders curious to hear more about the journey, the places travelled, the challenges faced, and the cause that had driven the team forward for ten days and over a 1,200 kilometres.
Approaching the Spain-Gibraltar border, the mood shifted and anticipation building. After the customary passport checks, the group rolled across the frontier and headed straight for Casemates Square.
It’s hard to describe what happened next. As the riders passed through the iconic Grand Casemates Gates, they were met with a wave of applause, cheers, and shouts of “Well done!”, “Congratulations!” and “Thank you!” from a crowd that had gathered to welcome them home.
It was surreal.
Family, friends, supporters, and well-wishers had turned out in force. The Hon. Minister for Industrial Relations, Civil Contingencies, and Sport Hon Leslie Bruzon, was there, along with representatives from both Brain Tumour Research and Kidney Care Gibraltar. Members of the press from Gibraltar and Spain captured the powerful moment.
There was laughter and there were tears, a mix of emotions: pride, relief, joy, gratitude, and a sense of loss that this unforgettable journey had come to an end.
It was, without a doubt, one of the most emotional moments of the entire ride.
This day wasn’t just about completing a long-distance challenge. It was about raising awareness. It was about sharing a message that matters: “Early diagnosis saves lives.” We urged the community not to ignore health concerns, to get checked, and to support one another in the fight against serious illnesses.
This chapter closes not with a full stop, but with gratitude, to our sponsors, the media who followed us, our wider community, our friends, and most of all, our families whose support was the foundation beneath every pedal stroke. A special thanks to our support Team Michael Vella and Ian you made the ride so much easier.
A massive THANK YOU. Gibraltar.🇬🇮
You have carried us home.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
