Twenty cyclists who aimed to raise £20,000 in a charity cycle ride actually raised more than £30,000.

They cycled from Bordeaux to Barcelona for the island’s Children’s Centre charity.

The group, 17 of whom live in the island, spent nine days cycling, spanning 560 miles across two counties, with 62,000 feet of climbing, including eight mountain summits.

The cyclists undertook their own fundraising and for some it represented a significant physical and mental challenge.

Dave Hogg, a director at Douglas-based insurance firm Aon, didn’t start riding his bike again until 2016 after a 15-year break.

Before starting the event, Mr Hogg tried to convert the statistics for the ride to a more relatable route.

He said: ’I worked out that it was the equivalent of cycling Brighton to Glasgow, climbing over Mount Everest twice!

’I’d ridden around the Isle of Man for three years, but it was a fantastic experience to have taken on some of Europe’s most iconic climbs.

’Stage 14 from the 2019 Tour de France finished at the summit of the Tourmalet and it’s fair to say I was a tad nervous about it all, but the views were breathtaking and we were all left with a huge sense of achievement. Plus, the descent was every cyclist’s dream - 14 miles straight down.’

Organiser Lisa Motley said: ’On behalf of The Children’s Centre, I would like to say a big "thank you" to our headline sponsors - Aon Insurance Managers, Isle of Man, with additional invaluable support from the Steam Packet Company, Thomas Miller Captive Management Limited, Knox House Trust and Bikestyle.

’To have these amazing sponsors on board ensures all of the money raised by our group of intrepid cyclists goes directly to supporting our charitable services.’