CYCLIST Rob Kersley is getting back on his bike to complete his third solo long distance ride in as many years.
Rob is preparing to peddle all the way from the Alps in Switzerland to the toe of Italy and aiming to raise further funds for the Guide Dogs Cymru charity.
Sports massage therapist Rob, from Lower Chapel, near Brecon, has already raised more than £3,000 for the charity by riding solo from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 2014 and last September from the Cardiff City Stadium to Real Madrid’s famous Bernabeu home in Spain.
"My brother Steve works for the charity as a volunteer co-ordinator for puppy walking. They rely on donations for the guide dogs and this is a good way to raise awareness," said Rob.
He will be accompanied on his epic journey by wife Liz who will travel ahead in the couple’s motorhome with their black Labrador Woody. They leave on September 2.
Liz and Woody have travelled in a support vehicle for all of Rob’s adventures, which he said wouldn’t be possible without his wife.
"We look at the approximate distances, I know roughly what I can do in a day, and Liz does all the planning. She is very good at the planning and the devil is in the detail."
Rob said he cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 20 hours over seven days while his 1,226 mile ride from Cardiff to Madrid took eight days.
"Don’t ask me how long this will take and I’ve been doing lots of physical training and I’m really looking forward to it," said Rob of the 1,020 mile journey that will start in Martigny, Switzerland, at the foot of the Col du Grand St Bernard in the Alps, and finish at Italy’s most southerly point, Melito Porto Salvo.
Rob will cycle gruelling mountain ascents and descents, the west coastline through Genova, Pisa, Rome, Naples, Pompeii and then over to the east coast for the final stages.
Anyone who wishes to sponsor Rob can visit his Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/RobKersley Rob’s Italia Alps to Toe.