ALMOST 300 Pedal For Pounds cyclists enjoyed the adulation of 21,000 football fans to mark the end of their fundraising feats.
Cyclists raising money in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Huddersfield Town’s Keep It Up campaign did a lap of honour before the relegation decider.
Challengers had 35 miles to cover on the fourth and final day from Harrogate to Huddersfield.
Click below to see our pictures from Saturday's lap of honour.
But after riding more than 200 miles the previous three days, many weary cyclists were thankful to see the final straight down Leeds Road to Town’s Canalside complex.
Spirits were lifted as cheers marked the end of their 240 mile slog.
Derek Highe, 54, of Mirfield, said: “To be a part of an event like this is such a good thing for football fans.
“Cycling into the stadium for the lap of honour, it can’t be better that.
“To have the stadium nearly full and have the away fans applauding as well, that was such a high.
“That was worth the blood, sweat and tears on its own.
“I’d sign up again for next year tomorrow.”
Juliette Dennett, 51, of Mirfield, raised £2,000 taking part in the challenge with her daughter Loren.
She said: “It was really good, it was a tough final day because everyone was tired but it was quite euphoric in the end when everybody was arriving back at Canalside.
“There was fantastic spirit.
“The only thing that could’ve spoiled it was Huddersfield getting relegated and thankfully that didn’t happen.
Huddersfield Town owner, Dean Hoyle, hailed all those who took part in the fourth year of the event.
He said: “It’s wonderful how the event has grown since we first started. “To have 297 riders on Pedal For Pounds 4 has been great.
“We’ve raised over £1m now, which is fantastic.
“And it’s not just the people who do the ride, it’s everyone who helps on the course and also fantastic credit to everyone in the community who digs into their pockets.
“For me taking part meant that I had no time to really think about the big game with Barnsley but everything turned out well in the end, both for the ride and the club, so it’s happy days.”
