A group of 13 cyclists from Dundee-based global people development company Insights are preparing to tackle one of the toughest charity rides on the calendar, an 800-mile journey across Britain and Ireland in memory of Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir.
Team Insights will line up for Doddie’s Triple Crown, a four-day endurance challenge that starts on 10 March, with the aim of raising £30,000 for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. The ride supports research into Motor Neurone Disease and provides vital help for people and families affected by the condition.
Among the riders taking on the 2026 challenge are Insights Group CEO Andy Lothian and Insights Learning and Development CEO Fiona Logan. Alongside colleagues from across the business, they have been logging long winter miles in often grim conditions to prepare for the physical and mental demands of the event.
A tougher route for 2026
Organised by former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright, Doddie’s Triple Crown will see hundreds of cyclists cover 800 miles in just four days, travelling from Scotland to Ireland ahead of Scotland’s Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin.
Following the success of the 2025 edition, which raised more than £1 million, organisers have increased the distance from 700 to 800 miles. The aim this year is to raise a further £1 million, making the 2026 ride the toughest yet.
The route begins in Melrose on Tuesday 10 March, heading south to Leeds on day one before continuing to Gloucester and then Pembroke. Riders will take an overnight ferry to Ireland, with the final leg running from Rosslare to Dublin, finishing in time for the international fixture at the Aviva Stadium.
Riding for Doddie’s legacy
Doddie Weir, a former Scotland and British and Irish Lions international, died in November 2022 aged 52 after living with MND for more than six years. Through the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, he helped drive forward research into treatments and improved care, committing millions of pounds to studies, clinical trials and patient support across the UK.
Andy Lothian says Weir’s attitude has been a powerful motivator throughout training.
“At Insights we are aiming to do our bit to help push progress forward, inspired by Doddie Weir’s legacy and motivated by the incredible community behind this cause,” he said. “Doddie was not only inspiring in his rugby career but in how he refused to let this illness define him. His legacy goes far beyond sport.”
Reflecting on the build-up to the ride, Lothian added that the challenge has tested the team in more ways than one.
“Preparing for an 800-mile ride has pushed us well outside our comfort zones. We’ve built up the miles gradually, supported each other through tough, wet and windy sessions, and kept reminding ourselves why we’re doing this. By the end we expect to be very saddle sore, but it will be worth it.”
Team Insights is encouraging individuals and businesses across Dundee and Scotland to support the fundraising effort through donations, raffle prizes or by sharing the campaign.
Motor Neurone Disease is a life-shortening condition affecting the motor neurons of the nervous system. Around six people are diagnosed every day in the UK, with up to 5,000 adults living with the disease at any one time.
