Gethin Jones has shared a heartfelt tribute to Greg James after joining him on the fifth day of his punishing Comic Relief cycling challenge, as the Radio 1 star pushed through pain to help raise more than £1.1 million.
BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin rode alongside Greg during the latest leg of the Longest Ride, which saw the team travel through the north of England from Worksop, near Sheffield, to Heslington, near York. The demanding challenge is part of Greg’s bid to cycle 1,000km across the UK in eight days ahead of Red Nose Day on Friday, March 20.
By the end of day five, donations had already reached an incredible £1,100,305, with Greg still facing another 400km on the road.
After completing the day’s ride, Gethin took to Instagram to praise Greg’s determination and the huge effort he has been putting in. He wrote that it had been “a gorgeous sunny day in York” but said that wasn’t the real story. Instead, he pointed to the brutal physical toll Greg is now carrying, saying: “The reality for @greg_james is 600k’s in his legs, 400 to go.”
He went on to describe just how difficult the tandem challenge has become, explaining: “The headwind is savage on a tandem – pedalling is heavy as he tries to get the distance done, but also balancing.” Gethin added that Greg was “defo grafting”, admitting that “the uphills are not his friend, and the downhills seem to past fast now.”
Despite the strain, Gethin made it clear he was deeply impressed by Greg’s attitude throughout the ride. He called him “a complete gent” and said he still “has a smile for everyone”, while also marvelling at the crowds that had come out to support him along the route.
Urging the public to keep backing the challenge, Gethin wrote: “He’ll need all your help getting to Edinburgh. Please support and donate if you can.” He also reflected on the remarkable company Greg had alongside him during the day, joking that on the back seat he had been joined by “@geraintthomas86, a guy you may have heard of, and a Prince of Wales…”
The fifth day of the challenge came after another emotional moment earlier in the journey when Greg cycled through Wales. On Saturday, March 14, he finished the second day of the ride in Abergavenny after completing an exhausting 220km stretch.
Speaking afterwards, Greg admitted he had been overwhelmed during the climb through Blaenavon and said he “burst into tears” on the route. Explaining what had triggered the emotional moment, he said: “And then someone gave me a Wales flag and I was holding that and I thought about my nan and she’s Welsh.”
He continued: “I just thought about everything, and then everything just made me cry and I just felt really overwhelmed by it all. But the day is done. And I actually can’t believe I’ve managed to get to Abergavenny.”
Greg began the challenge in Weymouth on Friday, March 13, and is aiming to reach Edinburgh by Red Nose Day, bringing his extraordinary eight-day journey to a close. His ride has already become one of Comic Relief’s most talked-about fundraising efforts, with support pouring in from famous faces, royal visitors and crowds lining the roads.
