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In the 1970s, art student PK Mahanandia cycled from India to Sweden to be reunited with his girlfriend – a Swedish woman called Lotta von Schedvin who just happened to be the exact match for a prophecy PK had been given about his future wife. The pair had met in India while Lotta was on holiday with friends and had instantly fallen in love but were soon separated by over 6000km. They spoke to Jo Fidgen in 2017 about the amazing journey that brought them together at the start of their relationship.

When Felipe Nystrom first heard about Cyclo-cross he thought it sounded awful. The specialist cycling circuit is a gruelling race – part on a bicycle, part carrying a bicycle. But for Felipe, the sport gave him a chance to prove to himself, his son and the many others who have been inspired by his difficult start in life, that it is possible to turn your fortunes around. Felipe had a tough childhood which led to a life on the streets and addiction to drugs and alcohol. Rehab was just the beginning of his recovery, it was cycling that gave him a new meaning. He explains to Outlook's Matthew Kenyon how he discovered cycling and almost by accident became Costa Rican National Road Racing Champion. Today, he often comes last in races – he's a decade or more older than the rest of the competitors – but he always gets the biggest cheer of the day when he crosses the line. This interview was first broadcast in 2024.

At the age of 24, Mamadou Barry was looking for a new direction in life. He'd failed his final year secondary school exams five times in a row and so, set his sights on a different type of education. He wanted to go to one of the world’s top Islamic universities – the prestigious Al Azhar University in Egypt. But he lived on the other side of Africa in Guinea and didn't have the money for a plane ticket. So, with only $55, a small bag of clothes and tools, and a handwritten map, he set off across the continent on his bicycle in search of an education. Mamadou spoke to Outlook in 2023.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Andrea Rangecroft

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(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape on a white background with a white label with the words: The Outlook Mixtape. Credit: Getty Images)