Injuries, dehydration take their toll on Life Cyclists

More cyclists taking part in the gruelling Life Cycle Challenge, in aid of St Luke's Hospital's renal unit, risked dropping out yesterday as the team tackled the border between the French and Spanish Pyrenees mountains.

The number of cyclists had already dwindled to 28 from 32 on Sunday but event organiser and founder Alan Curry said he was expecting "a few more cyclists to drop out due to injuries and dehydration".

"The weather has been glorious if you're not a cyclist. The temperature has been very hot causing dehydration and cases of sunburn," Mr Curry said when contacted right after the team had cycled 1,000 metres up the Pyrenees.

Until 4 p.m. yesterday the team still had about 50 kilometres more to cycle and Mr Curry said they were hoping to camp for the night at a Jesuit's college in Pamploma, Spain.

Mr Curry said the team's morale fluctuated drastically from very high to very low: "There is no happy medium".

The team, which reaches its seventh day of the challenge today, are hoping to get their well-deserved rest tomorrow when they reach the end of their trek in Madrid.

They are expected back in Malta late on Wednesday night.

Donations to Life Cycle can be made directly through their website, www.lifecyclechallenge.com, or to the renal unit.

Donations can also be made through a deposit to the following accounts: HSBC 61141628050 or Bank of Valletta 14814521017. Otherwise send an SMS to: Go Mobile: 5061 8073 for Lm2; 5061 8915 for Lm3; 5061 9208 for Lm5; and Vodafone: 5061 7317 for Lm1; 5061 7900 for Lm2 and 5061 8816 for Lm3.