We bike to support children with critical illnesses.
Team Rynkeby is a community of 2,300 cyclists and 500 support crew across 8 countries, cycling to Paris for a good cause. Since 2002, the international cycling team has raised over 849 million DKK for children with critical illnesses.
We respect each other
We take responsibility
We are committed
We are evolving
We chase success together
Part of something bigger
Every year, riders and support volunteers don the yellow jerseys to participate in a project where cycling, community, and a noble cause go hand in hand.
The participants are ordinary people from all walks of life, regardless of age, profession, or physical ability. Some have numerous miles behind them, while others are strapping on a racing bike for the very first time. Some join as volunteer helpers, eager to assist with everything that propels the team forward.
We cycle to Paris for children with critical illnesses, but the journey begins long before the first stage.
Team Rynkeby is a community that grows throughout the entire season. When you join, you become part of a movement that extends beyond the miles you cover on the open road. It is during the many hours spent together that you truly understand why the project is bigger than any individual participant.
Local engagement with international reach
It all begins at the local teams, where riders and helpers come together for training, planning, sponsorship activities and local events, fostering a shared effort of cycling, camaraderie and fundraising.
At the same time, all teams are part of the international project with a common direction, where countries, teams and participants work towards the same values and the same ambition to make a difference for children with critical illnesses.
Purpose Before Anything Else
The purpose is the reason we ride, and therefore fundraising is a central part of Team Rynkeby.
Through close partnerships with over 4,500 sponsors and local events, riders and supporters raise funds for organisations that assist children with critical illnesses and their families.
Since its inception in 2002, Team Rynkeby has raised over 849 million kroner, a sum resulting from many years of effort by participants, sponsors, partners, and local communities.
What is the money used for?
When we say that our purpose comes first, we mean it. Participants cover their own costs for taking part. Everything from the racing bike and the yellow kit to hotels and meals along the way is at their own expense.
Our central costs are covered by Eckes-Granini, the owner of Rynkeby Foods, in collaboration with the foundations and partners that support the project. Additionally, a maximum of 12 per cent of the funds raised goes towards administration.
Our Heartfelt Cause
The funds raised go to organisations that support children with critical illnesses and their families.
We lift each other up
Our values guide how we collaborate across teams, countries, and roles.
Behind the Yellow Jersey
Behind the yellow jerseys stands an international organisation, local teams and the dedication of volunteers, who bring the project to fruition year after year.
The Story Behind the Yellow Jerseys
It all began in 2002 with a visionary idea. Knud Vilstrup, a passionate recreational cyclist connected to the juice producer Rynkeby Foods, came up with the notion of cycling from Denmark to Paris to witness the conclusion of the Tour de France. He convinced the management to sponsor juice and cover travel expenses, provided he could gather at least 10 other riders for the journey.
In the spring of 2002, the team "Team Rynkeby" was born. 11 recreational cyclists and a single helper in a minibus rode from Denmark towards the French capital. The journey was tough, beautiful, and filled with challenges, but they persevered.
It was never intended to be a charity project. They did it for the experience and the sense of community. However, the pioneers were so skilled at securing sponsorships that they returned home with an unexpected surplus. They decided to donate the entire amount to a hospital ward for children with cancer.
Knud Vilstrup then persuaded Rynkeby Foods to continue the project. What started with 11 cycling enthusiasts has now evolved into one of Europe's largest charity cycling teams.
TEAM RYNKEBY'S LOCAL TEAMS
More countries are joining
Team Rynkeby has grown from a single Danish team to an international community with participants from multiple countries. Over the years, new countries have joined, with each contributing their own teams, local initiatives, and support for the collective fundraising efforts.
Year-on-Year Development
Since the first ride in 2002, Team Rynkeby's fundraising has evolved into something that no one could have dreamed of back then. The funds raised increase year on year as more teams, countries and sponsors come on board.
