Cyclists conquer longest, toughest leg

The longest and toughest day in this year's Travelex LifeCycle Challenge was conquered - with a lot of perspiration - to the great satisfaction of the remaining 53 cyclists yesterday who rode 270 km from Grong to Korgen.

Yesterday's ride, which saw another cyclist, Vicky Degaetano, giving up the challenge because of severe pain in a knee joint, saw the participants cycling through some dramatic scenery, making their way up several short but steep and undulating climbs, as well as cycling 60 km offroad. The team initially included 58 cyclists.

The weather was again hot and sunny, and some of the cyclists were not expected to finish their ride before midnight. Tomorrow, the challenge will take the cyclists and their back-up team 217 km from Korgen to Gauske.

The team is still in the Norwegian leg of the 10-day, 2,018-km challenge, which will eventually see them crossing the Arctic Circle to Finland through Sweden. A total 1,025 km have so far been covered.

Donations to Travelex LifeCycle can be made online at www.lifecyclechallenge.com, by SMS on 5061-7356 for a Lm1 donation, 5061-8921 (Lm3) and 5061-9208 (Lm5), 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.