Why is Ronaldo cycling 450km across Spain?
Valladolid president and World Cup winner Ronaldo is cycling 450km to Santiago de Compostela after his side gained LaLiga promotion.
Retired Real Madrid and Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario has made true on his promise to cycle from Valladolid to Santiago de Compostela following their promotion to LaLiga. The 45-year-old, who also owns his first professional club Cruzeiro, bought a controlling 51 per cent stake in the club in 2018 and has overseen their return to the Spanish top flight as president.
To help Ronaldo on the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage made by thousands each year, he is riding an electric bike.
Commencing his trek from Valladolid’s Estadio Jose Zorrilla with girlfriend Celina Locks, the ‘poorly conditioned’ World Cup winner insisted he is happy to follow through on that promise.
“When we were relegated, I knew we had to do a lot of work to get back to the Primera Division,” Ronaldo said.
“I made the promise, we have done a very good job, especially at the beginning of the year with all the changes we made, all the philosophy we have changed.
“It will be beautiful. I know that I will suffer physically, but it will be an unforgettable experience.”
The Pucelanos earned automatic promotion back to LaLiga a year after they were relegated from LaLiga, finishing equal on points with title-winning Almeria.
They booked their place in the Spanish top flight on the final day of the league season, leapfrogging Eibar and beating them to automatic promotion by a point, after they lost in injury time to Alcorcon.
All going well, Ronaldo will complete the journey on Wednesday...