Day 8, Friday 3rd October LAST DAY

Prades to Banyuls Sur Mer...120 kms (plus 20 km from getting lost!)

Well, it's here. This is the team's last day of getting up for 7.30 breakfast, pulling on smelly, sweaty, uncomfortably kit, making up protein shakes, checking hair and make up and getting on a bike with a painful bottom at 8.30. Le Pink Peleton rides again - they look fantastic! A few cyclops (cycling lovers, other, partners and supporters) join the start to wish them well and follow them up the road from Prades. The final blasts of Queen chase the team up the mountain, blaring out in the quiet surroundings. Robby, Radek, Mark A chasing each other hard but go the wrong way! - Criket's in for a forfeit for that one.

They all seem to have found additional strength from somewhere and the pace is the fastest we've seen. Col de Palomores slows them down. We look back to the mountains they crossed on day 7 to find snow on the top of the coldest col yesterday, thank goodness we escaped ice skids and crashes. Sun's out again!

Time for team photos en route this morning, we're so proud of them. We stop at a restaurant for lunch before the final slog to Banyuls - but Fred takes the guys the wrong way, they end up taking their wine and steak lunch up the steepest col they've faced in the whole week, by mistake! A few grumpy faces and choice words but by the time they are stitting on top of the hill overlooking the glistening bay of Banyuls all is forgiven.

Warren manages to fall off in the last 500 metres, luckily the crowed gathered in town to cheer the heroes in miss this bit of action! Our 30 cyclists cycle slowly make their way down the main promenade in sun and blue sky to a reptuous welcome - strangers come down to the bay who've heard about our trip, the local police stop the traffic. The bikes are thrown down and arms flung around each other in sheer delight at finishing and pride at the achievement. Everyone strips down to shorts and runs into the freezing Med sea - Dickie showing a little more flesh than we really wanted to see! Ana and Sam, our girls, have made it! We scoop the guys up and take them to the hotel.

Team presentantations follow and Hopalong also known as Hop Hop and Officer Ponch from CHiPS, along with giant gentleman and stylish on a bike Si Hunter, Nige Knobblies sexy legs Garfitt are Judge and Jury dishing out the final forfeits.

Overall yellow jersey is awarded to Robby 'Teaboy' Enthoven for an amazing performance in the top pack day after day. White jerseys to Ana 'Piece of Cake' Atzen and Sam 'Spinning' Lennon for the girls sheer determination and guts. Polka jersey is awarded to Felix 'Fitness freak' Evans - a mere 22 years old and the Green jersey to Radek 'Bomber' Bohm a great guy who led from the beginning, amazing strenght to rival Bruno the pro. Well done to all.

The champagne flows and after dinner it's a free for all! The whole gang hit the dance floor and go wild - the most amazing, scary and mad dancing you've ever seen, a great release and a great end to 8 days of immense physical and mental endurance.

There are so many wonderful moments and memories that the team can share with you themselves - I guarantee, get to talk to them and you'll be inspired, your cheeks will ache with laughter and you'll wish you'd been there. What an adventure.