Many women who take part in this type of challenge are not regular cyclists, so it's imperative that everyone follows a reasonably serious course of training before the challenge. We'll send you a comprehensive guide to training when you register, which builds up gradually as the start date gets closer. The Women V Cancer Cycle Milan to Venice is a perfect motivation to get fit, lose weight and have an experience of a lifetime.

You'll probably also be pleased to hear that the route isn't very hilly. As you can see from this route map (subject to change), it is mostly flat, despite riding up to the lakes with views of the mountains.

Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up on their own and our Women V Cancer challenges are renowned for the incomparable camaraderie and life long friendships made as our groups take on these incredible feats together.

Once you've signed up for the challenge, we'll send you a link to a private Facebook group for everyone registered for your group. Please feel free to use this space to swap questions, advice and updates with your fellow cyclists on your training and fundraising. You may also want to reach out to the fellow participants in this group to see if there's anyone in your local area you can meet up to train and fundraise with.

Absolutely not! One of the amazing things about Women V Cancer is that people of all ages will come together to do something very special. The age range is likely to be from 18 to 75.

How you fund your challenge is entirely up to you. Some women will decide to pay their own tour costs so they can tell their donors that the donation they are making is going directly to support the work of the charities. Others will fundraise the full amount.

Your registration fee of £199 per person is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.

Your challenge costs of £1,445 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target if you choose sponsorship) cover:

• Meals food throughout your challenge, except for dinner on Day 1 and your lunch and dinner on Day 5
• Accommodation
• Bike hire
• All transfers in Italy
• A team of awesome, first-aid trained local guides and Dream Challenges staff
• Full support from the Dream Challenges office in the lead up to and during your challenge
• Medical support, including two doctors, who will accompany us throughout the challenge
• Mechanical support
• Your Women V Cancer Cycle Milan to Venice medal

In addition to paying your registration fee, you will need to budget for your:

• Flights to and from Italy - these will not be included, so you need to arrange and pay for these yourself
• Personal travel insurance to cover your challenge.
• Dinner on Day 1
• Lunch and dinner on Day 5
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

No, your main luggage will be transported each day by our support team. Each participant however will be organising their own flight to and from Milan, so you'll be responsible for your own luggage on the plane and as you make your way to/from the airport.

We advise you to pack light. You will need a bag to go on your bike or a waist bag for things like your camera, sun cream, tissues etc.

Any extra items you may need during the day can be carried on the support vehicle, which you will have access to at the snack stops and lunch.

A cycle helmet is essential and must be worn at all times. Cycling shorts are also recommended and everyone will need their own water bottles or a camel back-type hydration system. A kit list for the challenge will be sent to you when you register.

We provide very good hybrid bikes with water bottle holders for you at no extra cost, which will be ready and waiting for you in Milan.

Before we start the challenge, we have a bike fitting so that you'll be comfortable on it throughout the challenge. Many of our Women V Cancer heroes like to bring their own saddles and even their own pedals to make them feel more comfortable, which you are welcome to do.

Please note, you do need to bring your own helmet. Helmets are mandatory and you won't be able to take part in the cycling challenge without one. Safety is always our priority. 

If you don't reach your fundraising target you can either top up the additional funds yourself or simply forfeit your place on the challenge and lose your registration fee.

Yes of course! As you are responsible for organising your own flights to and from Milan, it is completely up to you which dates you book them for (as long as they give enough time for you to take part in the full challenge).

Please note, though, that for our first night, we will be staying in a hotel and meeting as a group for the first time at the hotel the next morning, so you do need to make sure you make the challenge briefing.

You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance covering health, accident, loss and repatriation. We have a recommended policy and will send you the details when you register. Currently, UK citizens do not require a visa for Italy, but we'll let you know if this changes before the challenge in 2019.

You'll probably be pleased to hear that the route isn't very hilly. As you can see from this route map (subject to change), it is mostly flat, despite riding up to the lakes with views of the mountains.

As we're not medically trained, we're afraid we can't offer you advice on this. We recommend you contact your GP or your local travel clinic, who will have the latest travel health advice.

We also recommend you visit the NHS Fit for Travel website here, to keep up to date with current travel health news and advice on staying healthy abroad.

NHS Fit for Travel website: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home