About Team Rynkeby

Team Rynkeby is an international charity cycling team that cycles to Paris every summer to raise money for children with critical illnesses. The cycling team has existed since 2002, when 11 exercise bike riders associated with the Danish juice company Rynkeby Foods decided to cycle all the way to the French capital to see the end of the 89th edition of the Tour de France.

Rynkeby Foods was the main sponsor of the ride, but there were also other companies that supported it. In fact, the participants were so good at raising sponsorship that there was a surplus of 5,100 euros when the participants returned home. The proceeds were donated to the paediatric cancer ward at Odense University Hospital, and so a tradition was born.

Today, Team Rynkeby is an international charity success story that attracts more than 2,000 cyclists and 500 helpers to its more than 60 local teams in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Germany and Switzerland.

The participants are ordinary people driven by the desire to cycle, get fitter, make new friends and make a real difference for children with critical illnesses. The participants have written a motivated application and have subsequently been selected to be part of the project.

Some of the participants are experienced exercise bike riders, while others have never ridden a racing bike before joining Team Rynkeby. However, the project has such a well-proven training concept that all participants will be able to complete the 1,300 kilometres and eight-day bike ride to Paris if they simply follow the team's training over the winter and spring.

In addition to training, participants will also help raise money for Team Rynkeby's fundraiser for children with critical illnesses. A large part of the money is raised through corporate sponsorship of the project, while the rest is raised through various events.  

Participants cover the costs of their own participation (bicycle, cycling clothes, hotels and catering). The Team Rynkeby Foundation's central costs are covered by Eckes-Granini along with a percentage of the funds raised. A maximum of 12 per cent of the funds raised can be used for administration.

Over the years, Team Rynkeby has donated more than 100 million euros to children with critical illnesses.