It was a sweaty and weary Tony Abbott who crossed the finish line of the charity Pollie Pedal but the prime minister is vowing to ride on.
After completing Monday's final 95km leg in Launceston, the 57 year-old said the event he helped co-found - now in its 18th year - will be on his calendar as long as he is able.
"As long as I have sufficient physical fitness to do something like this, I will be doing the Pollie Pedal every year," Mr Abbott said after changing back into his suit and tie.
"To raise money for good causes and to get the chance to see parts of our country that senior members of our parliament don't always see."
State and federal politicians were among the 50 riders in the 2015 event, which covered almost 500km and raised about $500,000 for Carers Australia.
"We often talk about the big economic problems our country faces but when you do something like Pollie Pedal for Carers Australia the big macro problems start to have much more of a human face," Mr Abbott said.
"The whole point of trying to build a stronger economy is so that we can deliver better services for the people who need them most."
The finish line-event was used to announce the extension and expansion of a government bursary scheme available to carers under the age of 25.
Mr Abbott was on his bike for only one-and-a-half of the event's four days as he jetted first to Melbourne on Friday for the funeral of former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, and then to Singapore on Sunday for leader Lee Kuan Yew's memorial.
He made the most of Monday's cycle, stopping at a rural school to chat with students before visiting a meat processing plant.
The route took in narrow twisting country roads and a few hills, with northern Tasmania's mountainous wilderness providing a picture-perfect backdrop.
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