The team endured an entire day of driving torrential rain, a modest number of punctures, plenty of hills, and one mechanical failure so severe that a participant – albeit one who had ridden the entire way on a Brompton folding bicycle – elected to run the last 2 km into Paris, all in the name of the charity.

Already responsible for moving nine million people a day, having fulfilled Transport for London’s (TfL) obligations to transport people around London and to the Games venues during the summer, TfL Commissioner Peter Hendy CBE decided that this was not enough of a challenge, so convinced 13 TfL staff to cycle to Paris and insisted on mending his own punctures, of which he had three on the first day.

Gary Forster, chief executive of Transaid, who also participated in the ride, said: 'There was a broad mix of participants from across the transport industry, including representatives from some of the largest logistics and passenger transport companies in Europe. We’re very lucky to have such support and grateful that the challengers found the time to leave their busy day jobs to put forth a tremendous effort to raise money for Transaid’s crucial cause.'

Transaid’s cycle challenges have become famous across the industry; since 2006 teams of supporters have saddled-up in Malawi, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania and Madagascar, but this is the first time Transaid has run a cycle challenge so close to home. Next year, Transaid will host a cycle challenge in Uganda, with the funds continuing to reduce impacts of road crashes throughout the developing world. Forster says the enthusiasm and bonhomie generated on the London to Paris ride is also likely to lead to another European cycle challenge in the future.

The team taking part in the London to Paris event, sponsored by Bandvulc, included FTA President Stewart Oades, TfL Commissioner Peter Hendy, Transaid CEO Gary Forster, Transaid Chairman Graeme McFaull and Trustee Clare Bottle. There were also representatives from Backhouse Jones, Hitchenor Wakeford, Iron Mountain, Musgrave Retail Partners, Palmer & Harvey, Bridgend Council, Clipper Logistics, Crossrail, Delin Capital, LaFarge Cement, Manhattan Associates, Norbert Dentressangle, Pie Mapping, Price Waterhouse Coopers and Tesco.