STUDENTS and staff at Wellington School have tackled a gruelling 880k cycle ride across the Pyrenees, climbing 61,330ft.

After completing a ride from Bordeaux to Caen last year, this summer’s challenge was from Bordeaux to Barcelona over the Pyrenees.

The team of 28 flew to Bordeaux and collected their bikes which had been driven over by staff in the school minibus.

They biked 60k to Hostens, where they camped and had a swim in the lake.

The next day, they embarked upon the first full stage, biking an average of 120k a day, much of it on the Tour de France route.

Year 10 student George Beckley said: “After crossing over in to Spain, the team cycled through beautiful countryside that involved long climbs and spectacular descents.

“The more cols we went up, the fitter we became, so the faster we went, which meant we ate more.”

Finally the team embarked upon their last day’s cycling to Barcelona, over the foothills and out on to the plains and then a final few hills before the final descent into Barcelona – a swim, ice cream and a lie-in.

Nick Vyse, head of Wellington upper school, said: “These boys have all achieved something quite remarkable.

“This was a gruelling ordeal for them and included some of the most taxing climbs in the Tour de France.

“The morale was good, fitness levels were excellent and a real adventure was had by all.”