Former Welsh skipper Colin Charvis crossed the line without his partner Ron Rutland, who had cycled from South Africa to be at the World Cup in the UK.

The heat and the loose, dry and dusty course broke racing snakes from the sharp end of the field as well as backmarkers from the blunt end of the pack, many of whom collapsed on the finish line and had to be treated for dehydration.

“I have blisters on my feet and my toes are numb. It was agonizing; the most physically challenging day of my life.”