Some 20 Tyrolean cyclists (pictured top) – consisting of tourism representatives, sports personalities, business leaders and politicians – will pedal 1,300 gruelling miles over eight tough days, spending six to eight hours a day on the road covering around 150 kilometres.

Among those saddling up for charity are former Austrian ski racing stars and Olympic champions Stephan Eberharter, from Salt Lake City 2002, and Leonhard Stock, from Lake Placid 1980, 68-year-old Austrian cycling legend Wolfgang Steinmayr, Pro Cycling Germany editor-in-chief Marcus Degen, Tirol Tourist Board chief executive Josef Margreiter and Tirol Government Minister Hannes Geschwenter.


Eberharter (pictured above), Stock and Margreiter were in training earlier this month and gave their thoughts about the forthcoming challenge and what it means for Disability Snowsport UK in a short video which can be viewed by clicking here.

The epic journey will start from the bridge over the Inn River in Innsbruck (pictured below) on July 19 and conclude at the iconic Tower Bridge in London seven days later, the day before the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony on July 27.

It will feature eight stages through Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium before the cyclists take a ferry to Ramsgate in England in order to continue their ride to Tower Bridge.

The final 90-mile United Kingdom leg from the Kent resort to Tower Bridge will take place on July 26 and the team will be joined by sport personalities including BBC Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell, former British ski hero Konrad Bartelski and cycling enthusiasts from the Ski Club of Great Britain, holiday operator Crystal Ski and Snow Magazine.


Tower Bridge was selected as the most suitable finish line due to its close proximity to Trinity House, which will become the Austria House Tirol during the Olympics and the official home of the Austrian Olympic Committee.

The marathon ride will enjoy symbolic significance as Innsbruck became the first city to host the Winter Olympics three times with the youth event this year, having hosted the senior Games in 1964 and 1976, while London will become the first location to host the Summer Olympics on three occasions having previously staged it in 1908 and 1948.

"We nominated Disability Snowsport UK as our chosen charity as we believe strongly in their vision that skiers and boarders with a disability should be able to ski or snowboard alongside the able-bodied as equals at all snow sports facilities and resorts," said Margreiter.

Anyone who would like to sponsor the team can do so by visiting its JustGiving fundraising page by clicking here.

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