Team Tadej Pogačar, led by husband-and-wife duo Charlie and Becca, burst out of the gates with a strong start. Meanwhile, others were still getting familiar with the platform and navigating life's inevitable hurdles. To keep the momentum going, I rebalanced a few teams, creating an all-female squad under the banner of Beryl Burton. The platform’s leaderboards brought a competitive edge, but we made sure to celebrate every participant’s accomplishments, staying true to the spirit of the challenge.

Over the span of three months, Team Tadej was steadily chased down by the powerhouse efforts of Eddy Merckx and the unstoppable girl power of Team Beryl. Everyone pushed hard, racing to stay ahead of the red marker on the map. The relentless pace led to tight contests and thrilling finishes, with Eddy ultimately securing victory just ahead of Beryl. Altogether, we logged over 18,000 miles on the bike, with more than half the participants meeting — or surpassing — their personal goals.

Some of the standout achievements included Dean Denham’s relentless solo effort, Bryn Griffiths’ 100-mile ride in freezing conditions, and Sabina Hickmet’s steady performance despite balancing weekend grandparenting duties. The competitive spirit added some extra excitement, but the true goal was simply to finish. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone’s support and participation — well done to all the riders!

As we look ahead to January 2026, I hope to spark interest in even more members of our club. The Winter Challenge has proven to be a rewarding and motivating experience, and I encourage everyone to join in next year. Let’s continue to ride together, set new goals, and support each other in our cycling journeys!