WATCH: Emotional moment as Kathy Weir joins cycling challenge to continue 'what Doddie started'

Crowds roared outside The Greenyards as Doddie’s Triple Crown - an epic 750-mile cycle from Scotland to Dublin - pedalled off in style. 

Pedalling from the official starting point at The Greenyards, the four-day challenge officially began this morning (Tuesday).

Teams are crossing Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland – the nations who contest the Six Nations Triple Crown. 

Rugby legends Rob Wainwright, Andy Nicol and Gordon D’Arcy, alongside world record-breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont and The Maclean Brothers, set off from Scottish Gas Murrayfield yesterday for day zero of the ride, marking the start of the mammoth cycling challenge.

Kathy Weir, the widow of the late rugby hero and MND campaigner, Doddie Weir OBE, joins the brave cyclists.

The mum-of-three is teaming up with hundreds of riders along the way in the four-day challenge which will see them clock up almost 750 miles. That’s roughly the length of the UK or just over 12,000 rugby pitches laid end to end.

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Kathy, 55, who now feels ‘mentally ready’ to take part in a challenge that supports the charity her husband Doddie founded, since his death from the cruel disease in 2022, added: “I’m excited to ride with some of our very close friends to help continue what Doddie started.

“Doddie was so good at shouting from the rooftops and making sure everyone knew about this disease. Rob and so many others have done so much to keep momentum, continue fundraising and bring us closer to a cure.

“I’m proud to be part of this and to help move things forward for people with MND - I know how vital that is.”

The route runs from Melrose to Leeds on day one, Leeds to Gloucester on day two, Gloucester to Pembroke on day three. Weary fundraisers will then board the overnight Irish Ferries crossing to Rosslare. It will be an early start on Friday morning, kicking off the last leg at 7am with hopes to cross the finish line in Dublin at around 6pm.

Around 10 support staff will help 12 core riders complete the journey, with hundreds more cyclists joining across different legs.

Doddie’s former teammate for both Scotland and the British and Irish Lions, Rob Wainwright has been gearing up for the mammoth cycle and is under no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead for the teams this week. 

He said: “It has to be painful. Three 180 to 200-mile days in a row is relentless – the lack of sleep, the early starts, the cumulative fatigue. And if we get headwinds and rain the whole way, it’ll be brutal. But there has to be a challenge.

“We’ve done quite a few of these big rides now and it’s great to see some familiar faces join us, as well as some new ones too. We are so pleased that Kathy is taking part.

“We’re all pedalling for Doddie to finish his mission to end MND. All funds raised will help  My Name’5 Doddie Foundation do that and we’re grateful for every penny.”

Doddie’s Triple Crown 2026 is the latest edition of former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright OBE’s annual endurance challenges in support of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which has now committed more than £20 million to research into finding effective treatments and one day a cure for MND. With incredible backing from loved ones, fans and charity supporters the Just Giving page alone, at time of publication, has raised over £930,000 for the foundation.

Other high profile names on the team sheet include world record breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont and former British and Irish Lions centre Gordon D’Arcy who hailed being asked to participate as a ‘huge honour’. 

Their arrival in the Republic of Ireland’s capital on Friday also marks the eve of Scotland’s clash with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. 

It isn’t all over for Kathy when she crosses the finish line, however. The dedicated campaigner will also deliver the match ball with Gordon ahead of Ireland’s clash with Scotland on the final day of the 2026 Six Nations Championship. 

To donate or follow the ride, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/triplecrown26

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