Former Scotland rugby captain Rob Wainwright completes 500 mile cycle ride for Doddie Weir's foundation

A peloton of 100 cyclists, led by former Scotland rugby captain Rob Wainwright and cyclist Mark Beaumont, have completed a 500 mile ride for Doddie Weir’s motor neurone disease charity.

They completed the journey from Murrayfield to Cardiff in just 50 hours, and made it in time to deliver the match ball before kick-off at Saturday’s match between Scotland and Wales.

Several other rugby players joined the challenge, including Martin Johnson, Alix Popham, Dean Ryan, Carl Hogg, Mike Teague, Colin Charvis and Iwan Tukalo.

The group is aiming to raise £250,000 for research into treatments for motor neurone disease (MND).

On arrival to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Mr Wainwright told the BBC: "The support we had on the way down was unbelievable.”

He sung Weir’s praises and added: “He’s such an inspiration to us and to everyone”.

This is the third year riders have completed the Doddie Cup 500. In 2020, those who took part got an average of three hours of sleep across the 48-hour-long ride, which saw them maintain speeds of 15mph to deliver the match ball on time.

Mark Beaumont and Rob Wainwright with other participants of the Doddie 500 challenge, before they set off on Thursday.

In 2017, Weir announced he had been diagnosed with MND. He later set up his foundation, named 'My Name'5 Doddie’, to raise funds for research into a cure for the degenerative condition.

Weir was unable to make the Scotland versus Wales match as planned, as he recently tested positive for Covid.

Wales emerged triumphant 20-17 over Scotland as players competed for the Doddie Weir cup, named after the former Scotland international lock in 2018.

Donations can be made on the Doddie Cup 500 fundraising page.

The match ball, which was was attached to the back of a bike, made it to Cardiff safely.

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