Fans waited before daybreak at Camden House for the start of the first Ultimate Bermuda Experience, inspired by reality TV host Phil Keoghan’s show ‘Amazing Race’.For eight visitors who won Mr Keoghan’s sweepstakes to take part, it was a whirlwind tour of the Island.The Ultimate Bermuda Experience was also a chance to show off Bermuda’s best, as well as building a relationship with the international cycling community.Asked why he had chosen Bermuda for his multiple sclerosis fundraiser, Mr Keoghan praised the Island as “an undiscovered cycling destination” for his team of associates, dubbed NOW and Novartis for MS Women’s Cycling Team, to get in shape.“With the rolling hills, you end up climbing more than you think,” he said.“Bermuda has perfect roads and the people are very courteous. At one point we went past a policeman and we must have been cycling at 50-something kilometres an hour. I wasn’t sure if we’d get pulled over, but he just waved.”The women’s cycle team was on the Island to practice, but the four couples who won the NOW energy bar competition toured Bermuda on the fly, scrambling from location to location. Their first task, shortly after arriving at the Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo, was to count the number of scales on the fish statue outside the building.They were then serenaded on the waterfront by local musicians Fyah Marshall and DJ Shirlz, before heading on to a kayaking event at Tucker’s Point.Mr Keoghan said he was already looking forward to his next visit to the Island.“It’s excellent terrain,” he said. “The team has cycled 70 miles in the last four days. One thing I would love to come out of this visit would be an organised annual bike ride here for MS, like they have in the US. There are 100 of these in the US each year with 100,000 riders. They raise a tremendous amount of money for the cause, and I hope Bermuda adopts this as an annual event.”Calling the Island an “idyllic place”, he said an annual cycling for MS event could become a package deal for Bermuda.“I just organised an MS ride in New Zealand, and I hope I could bring that template here,” Mr Keoghan said.The link between cycling and MS is “a campaign about movement”, he explained. “MS is a disease that takes peoples’ movement away.”MS attacks the nervous system, and the MS Society of Bermuda helps members cover their medical expenses, which can run up to $5,000 a month. Funds raised by the Ultimate Bermuda Experience go to benefit the charity.Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert, on hand with Premier Paula Cox to welcome the contestants to Camden, confirmed that the Ultimate Bermuda Experience or an event similar to it could become a regular fixture.“They are trying to do something yearly, which is why this has been called the first Ultimate Bermuda Experience,” Mr Furbert said. “At Sunday’s gala, Mr Keoghan talked about bringing 100 riders here. We want that to happen later this year. Anything that allows more publicity for the Island is a great thing. We couldn’t pay for this type of publicity.”Ms Cox said she was grateful to see “Bermuda and its people showcased on a world stage”.For women’s team captain Robin Farina it is a second visit to Bermuda having raced here in 2007.“I love it here,” she said. “It’s great for cyclists of all abilities. The people have been very friendly to us and the traffic is very accommodating.”For Ultimate Bermuda Experience players, the junket ran from a Hamilton pit stop to a jet ski trip from the Waterlot Inn grounds with Sea Venture Watersports manager Robert Pantry, up to 9 Beaches in Sandys, before heading to the Dockyard Glassworks and a Commissioner’s House finish.Each stop came with activities and cultural experiences, such as the Gombeys from the H&H troupe waiting at Dockyard.For Bermudian fans like Alfreda Dane, who waited from 6am outside Camden House with close to 50 others, Mr Keoghan’s visit was simply a chance to learn more about ‘Amazing Race’ and its host.“I’m always excited when they go to places I’ve been,” she said.Kerrie Aubrey said: “I switched my day off to be here this morning. I’m not someone who gets up before they have to. As you can see, I’m a big, big fan. I hope we get great weather to feature Bermuda well.”Perhaps the most prominent Bermudian fan of Mr Keoghan’s show is Merle Parfitt, who created her own version, ‘Ber-Mazing Race’, six years ago.Ms Parfitt’s competition puts young people through kayaking challenges, rock climbing and even an eating contest. It gained charitable status in 2009.“I just love that show,” Ms Parfitt said of ‘Amazing Race’, a CBS show that has run for more than ten years. “I love the idea of it, the way the competition is set out.”The eight visitors will remain on the Island through the week, experiencing Bermuda at a more relaxed rate.“It’s going to be nice for the rest of the week, because we’ve just had a great introduction to the Island,” said player Rita Singleton.Asked if his experience made him want to come to Bermuda again, Richard Elgin said: “It’s a beautiful place, but it might be a long way for us. We’re from Reno, Nevada.”Clips and pictures of the Ultimate Bermuda Experience will be available through the CBS website.Useful websites: www.elbowbeachcycles.com, www.nowcyclingteam.com, www.cbs.com.