A cyclist who died this morning when he was hit by a car on the coast road at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq had been training for the LifeCycle marathon, timesofmalta.com has learnt.

Clifford Micallef, 45 of Swieqi, was an experienced cyclist who was responsible for tackling mechanical problems encountered by the LifeCycle team.

He died on the spot when he was hit by a car at about 5 a.m. The driver drove off but the car was later tracked down and a man is helping the police in their investigations.

LifeCylce, which raises money for the Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital, will this year start on August 6 and cycle from Istanbul to Damascus.

"Clifford was a very experienced and cautious cyclist, we are in deep shock," one of the Lifecycle organisers, Fr Pierre Marguerat SJ said.

He expressed his condolences to Mr Micallef's wife and three children.

Fr Pierre also pointed out that LifeCycle participants had suffered three other accidents while training this year, although they were not serious.

Mr Micallef was the secretary of the Malta Cycling Federation and a member of the Qormi Kia Cycling Club.

A magisterial inquiry is under way.

See also:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090730/local/cyclists-cornea-to-be-donated

http://www.timesofmalta.com/blogs/view/20090731/betfair-lifecycle-challenge-2009/cliff-micallef-1964-2009

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