Setting off from Budapest, Berlin, Manchester, Madrid and London, the goal of reaching the finishing line in Paris seems to be bordering on the impossible. But the teams, including five all the way from the United States, have big plans on how to travel the huge distances that lie ahead. “It’s 1485 kilometres from Budapest to Paris. I’m not sure how we are going to make it without cash, mobile phones, credit cards etc. But the journey is the reward! If you see it that way then reaching the finishing line in Paris will sort itself out,” comments a Hungarian participant, seemingly unfazed by the challenge ahead.

The sheer distances involved guarantee plenty of unforgettable experiences along the way. Be it the 1485 km (923 miles) from Budapest, the 1055 km (656 miles) from Berlin, the 814 km (506 miles) from Manchester, the impressive 1271 km (790 miles) from Madrid or the 1446 km (899 miles) from Rom, it’s all about getting to the finishing line in Paris. Exactly how they cover the distance is entirely up to the teams. “Can you travel such distances with nothing more than cans of Red Bull as currency? Can you find enough to eat and drink? Can you find somewhere to sleep and still manage to make new friends? We’ll see. One thing’s for sure: creativity and ingenuity are a must,” explains an overseas team the difficulties posed by the challenge, adding: “There are a series of tasks that have to be completed at checkpoints along the way in order to top up your supply of Red Bull. If you don’t manage to complete the task, it’s going to be pretty tough going.”
The victorious team will be crowned in the French capital not according to the fastest travelling time, but using a points system comprising the number of checkpoints visited, kilometres travelled and the number of votes received via Internet.