Race Europe - from the Arctic to the Mediterranean

Nordkapp → Tarifa | July 2026

Round-the-world record breakers Mark Beaumont and Jenny Graham are teaming up with Martin Mansell and Hamish Graham for an extraordinary 3,500-mile race down the length of Europe — ‘it’s all downhill!’

Race Europe encourages people to push their limits and dream bigger, themes explored throughout the Endurance podcast series featuring all four riders. This event and media platform are raising vital funds for two important charities, one national and one local: the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and Yorkshire Children’s Charity.

A huge thank you for your generous support.

The Challenge

In July 2026, the Race Europe team will set off from Nordkapp, Norway, the northernmost point of mainland Europe, and ride all the way to Tarifa, Spain, its most southern tip.
That’s 3,500 miles (5,400 km) across seven countries - a true endurance epic.

The route includes:

• 24-hour daylight inside the Arctic Circle
• Remote northern roads and sub-zero temperatures
• Endless windswept plains
• Major Alpine climbs
• The heat of southern Europe
• Relentless elevation and back-to-back ultra-distance days

For the riders, it’s a test of resilience, teamwork and mental toughness, fuelled by purpose and the two charities they’re riding for.

Mark Beaumont

Mark holds the Guinness World Record for cycling around the world, having broken this 29,000 KM record twice, in a time of 78 days and 14 hours. He also holds the African record from Cairo to Cape Town. Having led expeditions to over 130 nations and territories, he has 2 decades of experience filming documentaries with the BBC and GCN, as well as having published 6 books.

Jenny Graham

Jenny is a record-breaking round-the-world cyclist and author of Coffee First Then the World. A storyteller on and off the bike, she shares adventures through writing, speaking, filming and broadcasting. She’s raced and toured across countries and mountain ranges globally, guided riders through their first big adventures, and helped grow nationwide youth cycling programmes. She’s presented cycling documentaries with GCN in some of the wildest locations a bike can go, and now directs The Bà, a wild west-coast duathlon/sportive. Jenny is buzzing to join the Race Europe team!! Coast to coast, one relatively straight line, powered by legs, grit and a whole lot of good craic.

Martin Mansell

Martin is a Yorkshire entrepreneur turned amateur endurance athlete, rebuilding himself after a severe ACL tear in 2022 which left him unable to walk for months. Since then, he’s pushed steadily into ultra-distance challenges: launching the 460-mile Yorkshire Beast challenge in 2024, racing an EV from Leeds to Nice which involved pedalling 1,100 miles in under a week, and cycling across the French Alps overnight in 2025. Driven by purpose and a commitment to raising money for causes close to home, Martin brings grit, resilience and a no-limits mindset to the team as he prepares for his biggest challenge yet in 2026.

Hamish Graham

Hamish has been on a bike since before he could walk, from riding a tandem at three to completing a 100-mile sportive at twelve and becoming one of the youngest ever finishers of the Fred Whitton at thirteen. He raced across Europe as a junior and later at Elite level in Belgium and Brittany, building the tactical skill and race awareness he’s known for today. His endurance highlights include an Ironman in Barcelona, the Dales Divide ultracycling race, the 1,100-mile Leeds-to-Nice charity ride, and the Three Peaks Cyclocross. With over 15 years of racing experience, Hamish brings pace, resilience and sharp strategy to the team, using his background and ability to raise money for causes that matter.

Together, they’ll ride from the top of Europe to the bottom, back-to-back days, pushing their limits for charities that change lives.

Who We’re Racing For

My Name’5 Doddie Foundation

Founded by rugby legend Doddie Weir, the charity funds pioneering research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and provides support for those living with the condition.

Yorkshire Children’s Charity

A life-changing charity supporting children across Yorkshire with disabilities, mobility needs, essential equipment, educational support and more. Their work directly impacts families facing hardship.

Why Your Support Matters

This challenge is immense, and so is the fundraising goal.
Every donation helps:

• Fund crucial research into MND
• Support children living with disabilities
• Provide vital equipment to families in crisis
• Expand both charities’ impact across the UK

Your support fuels every climb, descent, and early-morning restart.

Follow the Journey

We’ll be documenting everything from the Arctic to Andalucia — the highs, lows, weather battles, and questionable tan lines.

Follow the ride, share the updates, and if you can, please donate.

Together, we can turn this ride into something far bigger than the miles.