Another cyclist drops out injured

Another cyclist had to give up the Travelex LifeCycle Challenge yesterday because of intense knee pain, bringing down the number of challengers to 54.

Spokesman Louise Bugeja said the cyclist, Shanel Attard, had been feeling the pain before the challenge started but it intensified yesterday.

Four cyclists have dropped out since the challenge got underway on Tuesday. One, Nadine Grech, who sustained a shoulder injury on Thursday, had to spend a night in hospital for observation. She was picked up by the team early yesterday morning and all four are now on the way to recovery.

Yesterday's ride started with a 14-kilometre ride to the ferry port in Trondheim for a 15-minute crossing to Rarvik. Timings only started following the arrival in Rarvik to give the cyclists the opportunity to relax and enjoy the ride to the port and the crossing.

From Rarvik, the route was 202 kilometres, mostly through beautiful countryside. Cyclists had to cover a number of short but steep hills - both upwards and downwards. The weather was extremely hot and sunny.

Yesterday's trek took the team to Grong from where they will leave again tomorrow morning for the hardest and longest day in this year's challenge which will see them riding 270 kilometres to Korgen.

The team is still in the Norway part of the 10-day, 2,018 kilometre challenge in aid of renal patients, which will eventually see them crossing the Arctic Circle to Finland through Sweden.

Donations to Travelex LifeCycle can be made online at www.lifecyclechallenge.com, by SMS on 5061 7356 for a Lm1 donation, 5061 8921 for a Lm3 donation and 5061 9208 for a Lm5 donation, by cheque to LifeCycle Organisation, c/o Renal Unit, St Luke's Hospital, Guardamangia, or in HSBC (Malta) account 061198792050 or Bank of Valletta account 1481421017.