Kiwis Sarah van Ballekom, left, and Rebecca Wardell at the top of the 4655m Ak-Baital Pass in Tajikistan – the highest point in their 20,000km cycling odyssey home from Switzerland. Van Ballekom, a former New Zealand universities rower, pedalled alongside Wardell for six months before returning to Switzerland, and then rejoined her for the ride through Laos. She's about to ride into Singapore – her 18th country – having cycled more than 17,000km. But, unquestionably, their worst day was in the Iranian city of Sari, when van Ballekom slipped and brought Wardell crashing down with her. SUPPLIED Sarah Van Ballekom, Rebecca Wardell and Emma Twigg rode together until Turkey, when Twigg flew home to chase her 2020 Olympic dream.

Source: Stuff February 25, 2019 00:11 UTC