Overview

• The cyclists departed Saturday from St. Nikolaus, Germany, beginning a 1,860-mile ride to Rovaniemi, Finland.
• They are carrying thousands of letters and Christmas wish lists addressed to Santa Claus.
• Their planned route stretches through Germany, Denmark and Sweden before reaching the winter-themed amusement park on the edge of the Arctic Circle.
• A costumed St. Nikolaus personally handed over the mail and entrusted the cyclists with his own wish list at the ceremonial send-off.
• This cross-border mission continues a tradition that began in 1967 of volunteer replies to children’s letters sent to seven German towns with Christmas-themed names.