6 Jun, 2022 @ 16:44
1 min read

Ronaldo hits the Santiago de Compostela trail in Spain

(sp)uae Dubai Sport Conference Fifa
DUBAI, Jan. 2, 2019 Ronaldo Nazario de Lima, Chairman of Real Valladolid reacts during the 13th edition of the Dubai International Sports Conference, at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Jan. 2, 2018. (Credit Image: © Xinhua via ZUMA Wire)

RONALDO, the former Brazilian footballing superstar not to be confused with namesake Cristiano, who famously struggled with his weight, may well shed a few pounds after Real Vallolidad won promotion to La Liga.

The former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Milan (Inter and AC) striker honoured a pledge to complete the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage if the club – which he bought a 51% stake of in 2018 – made it back into the top tier.

The players completed their part of the deal with a 3-0 pay-off win against Huesca, and a week later the double World Cup winner set off with partner Celina Locks to complete the 450 kilometre route.

(sp)uae Dubai Sport Conference Fifa
Ronaldo Nazario de Lima, Chairman of Real Valladolid Photo: Xinhua via ZUMA Wire/Cordon Press

But they will not be walking – the duo set off from Valladolid’s Jose Zorrilla stadium on bicycle and will travel through the provinces of Lugo, Ourense and A Coruña at a pace of between 50 and 60 kilometres a day.

As a former footballing superstar, he is used to being looked after by a skilled team, and this pilgrimage is no exception.

He is being accompanied on the adventure by a guide, a physiotherapist, a mechanic and another support person.

“It will be beautiful,” he told Spanish media. “I know that I will suffer physically, but it will be an unforgettable experience.”

But he has made sure it won’t be too physical and maybe he won’t lose quite as many pounds as he could have – the couple are using electric bikes.

READ MORE:

Dilip Kuner

Dilip Kuner is a NCTJ-trained journalist whose first job was on the Folkestone Herald as a trainee in 1988.
He worked up the ladder to be chief reporter and sub editor on the Hastings Observer and later news editor on the Bridlington Free Press.
At the time of the first Gulf War he started working for the Sunday Mirror, covering news stories as diverse as Mick Jagger’s wedding to Jerry Hall (a scoop gleaned at the bar at Heathrow Airport) to massive rent rises at the ‘feudal village’ of Princess Diana’s childhood home of Althorp Park.
In 1994 he decided to move to Spain with his girlfriend (now wife) and brought up three children here.
He initially worked in restaurants with his father, before rejoining the media world in 2013, working in the local press before becoming a copywriter for international firms including Accenture, as well as within a well-known local marketing agency.
He joined the Olive Press as a self-employed journalist during the pandemic lock-down, becoming news editor a few months later.
Since then he has overseen the news desk and production of all six print editions of the Olive Press and had stories published in UK national newspapers and appeared on Sky News.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Spain's top court orders end of height discrimination against female police force recruits
Previous Story

Massive bust sees arrest of corrupt police officers who helped gangs smuggle drugs into Spain

Cruise Ship Passenger Feared Dead After Falling Overboard West Of Spain's Balearic Islands
Next Story

Cruise ship passenger feared dead after falling overboard west of Spain’s Balearic Islands

Latest from Lead

Go toTop