Leading the challenging Barcelona-to-Paris ride, Guido De Wilde says every cyclist is carrying a cancer story and a message of hope to Paris.
Hundreds of kilometres into a gruelling 3,333km journey from Barcelona to Paris, 68-year-old Guido De Wilde is cycling with the memory of a cancer battle he overcame, a promise he made and the stories of patients still fighting the disease.
The stage 4 colon cancer survivor is leading a 15-member team in Cycle Against Cancer, a 25-day charity ride supporting Al Jalila Foundation’s cancer care programmes in the UAE. The team began the journey from Barcelona on July 1 and, according to the live tracker, has already completed more than 300km of the route, which will feature over 54,000 metres of elevation gain before reaching Paris.
For De Wilde, the challenge is about more than physical endurance. It is a message of hope, showing others that life can continue moving forward even after receiving a diagnosis no one wants to hear.
“This ride was always meant to send a message to anyone who has been told they have cancer — that there is still a path forward,” he said. “I want people to know that a diagnosis is not the end of their story.”
De Wilde still vividly remembers the day his life changed. It was January 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, when he was managing a portfolio of more than 170 hotels across the Middle East, Turkey and Egypt and was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.
What stayed with him most was not only the diagnosis itself, but the way the news was communicated.
“When I received the diagnosis, the first thing I realised was how important the delivery of that news can be,” he said. “Although my condition was very serious, the radiologist who shared the diagnosis also gave me hope. He told me there was a way forward and that recovery was possible. That message of hope is what I carried with me from that moment.”
Cycling quickly became a key part of his recovery journey. During six months of chemotherapy, De Wilde continued riding on a virtual training system at home, using cycling as a source of strength and motivation.
“Instead of allowing the treatment to take away my spirit, I chose to take an active role in my recovery,” he said. “That was when cycling became more than just an activity — it became part of my fight.”
Years later, that same determination has brought him back on the road, this time alongside a team united by a shared purpose.
A team united by purpose
Cycle Against Cancer brings together cancer survivors, business leaders and members of the UAE cycling community. Thirteen of the 15 riders are based in the UAE, while two have joined the challenge from abroad. Many are cycling in memory of loved ones they have lost or in support of family members currently undergoing treatment.
For De Wilde, every participant is carrying a deeply personal reason for taking part.
“One of our riders is also a stage 4 cancer survivor who battled bone cancer,” he said. “The other riders all have family members they have either lost to cancer or who are currently going through treatment, so there is a shared purpose behind every name on this roster.”
Preparing for the challenge
In the months before the ride, the team followed a demanding training schedule, often waking up at 2am or 3am to cycle at Al Qudra before temperatures rose. Their preparation also included yoga, nutrition planning, disciplined sleep routines and strength training.
“What keeps me coming back is the shared purpose,” De Wilde said. “Everyone on this team understands why they are doing this, and that mission kept us moving forward.”
The Barcelona-to-Paris route was deliberately designed to challenge riders both physically and mentally. Over 25 days, they will face long distances, steep climbs and demanding terrain. De Wilde said the difficulty reflects the resilience shown by cancer patients every day.
“It is a physically demanding journey designed to test endurance, resilience and teamwork, and the difficulty is the point,” he said. “It reflects what our riders and the patients we are riding for prove every day — that even the toughest battles can be faced and overcome.”
A long-standing commitment to cycling for a cause
De Wilde’s connection with charity cycling stretches back more than two decades. A passionate hotelier, he began using cycling to raise awareness and funds in 2003 before co-founding Marriott’s Road to Awareness in 2008.
In 2022, he launched Cycle Against Cancer with a solo seven-day ride from Brussels to Bergamo, Italy, raising $100,000 for Al Jalila Foundation.
“That ride was the official beginning of this movement, driven by a personal commitment to support the region’s healthcare community,” he said. “From that solo journey, the mission has grown into a full team taking on the Barcelona-to-Paris challenge this year.”
Riding to support cancer care
Funds raised through the challenge will support Al Jalila Foundation’s cancer care programmes, including research initiatives and access to treatment for patients.
“In a country where more than 7,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed each year, that funding helps provide timely access to treatment and support for those who need it,” he said.
De Wilde said his relationship with Al Jalila Foundation dates back more than a decade, since the foundation was established in 2013, making the ride a continuation of a long-term commitment to improving healthcare outcomes.
As the riders continue their journey towards Paris, De Wilde said the purpose behind the challenge helps them push through the toughest moments.
“Every one of us is carrying somebody’s story to Paris,” he said, “and that is not something you put down halfway through.”
