Thinking of going to the World Cup 2018? Think your journey to Russia is rough? Spare a thought for friends Jamie Marriott and Mitch Jones, who are embarking on a 2,400-mile cycling trip across eight countries.
Best mates Jamie and Mitch are setting off from the quaint village of Emsworth, Hampshire, on England’s South Coast, and their journey will take them all the way to Volgograd, on the banks of the River Volga, in time for The Three Lions’ opening World Cup Group G game v Tunisia.
And here’s another twist: their training regime consists of... no training… but lots of beer drinking.
However, there is a method behind the madness – the cycle will raise money for The Bobby Moore Cancer Research UK fund, named in honor of the late, great England World Cup-winning captain, and is dedicated to the memory of Mitch’s late football coach.
READ MORE: Russia 2018: Volgograd – bright future awaits city with dark past
Despite England fans accounting for a fraction of ticket sales for Russia 2018 matches, and British tabloids encouraging fans not to travel for fear of violence, the lads confess they are more worried about flat tyres than football hooligans on their journey, and would even walk to Russia if it guaranteed World Cup glory.
Before they set off on the mammoth journey, RT Sport caught up with Jamie and Mitch at one of their many training bases – a sports bar in London.
They told us about where their cycle idea was born, their journey ahead, riding bikes instead of bears, and the chances of England bringing football home.
Watch Part 1 of our ‘Long road to Russia’ interview...
BY Danny Armstrong for RTSport