A 250-kilometre ride from the Czech capital, Prague, to Prostejov, a village to the east of the country yesterday morning set this year’s Betfair LifeCycle Challenge going.
The cyclists travelled over hills, easy at first but harder as the day progressed. At one point, the team got separated and had to take a detour, adding quite a few kilometres until they could regroup.
As the Town Hall clock in Prague chimed 7 a.m., the cyclists met for a group photograph in the Old Town Square under a clear blue sky with no sign of the rain that had poured heavily on Saturday as the participants assembled their bikes.
The team members had already been up for two hours, packing their belongings and bedding in the school gym that provided accommodation while the kitchen crew prepared food for the four checkpoints along the route.
They then cycled 10 kilometres for the official start on the outskirts of the Czech capital, taking note of the start time. Although the challenge is not a race, the cyclists have to keep up with the group to ensure a smooth logistical operation.
The daily routine consists of stops every 45 kilometres for a snack consisting of sandwiches with chocolate spread, jam or cream cheese, couscous with tinned vegetables, cereal bars or bananas.
This morning they embark on a 220-kilometre ride to Zilina.
The 21 participants left Malta on Friday and will travel from Prague to Sarajevo, through the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, aiming to raise funds for patients at Mater Dei Hospital’s renal unit.
The challenge is scheduled to end on August 26.
Over the past years, the cyclists have visited more than 25 countries and raised over €1 million.
Donations can be made by cheque payable to LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation and sent to LifeCycle Malta, c/o Renal Unit, Mater Dei Hospital, Tal-Qroqq, MSD 2090. Donations can also be made online on www.lifecyclechallenge.com or via telephone. SMS donations: 5061 7370 to give €2.33, 5061 8920 for €6.99 and 5061 9229 for €11.65. Landline donations: 5160 2020 for €10, 5170 2005 for €15 donation and 5180 2006 for €25 donation.
LifeCycle is also on Facebook (LifeCycle Challenge Malta), Flickr galleries (Life Cycle Challenge) and Twitter (LifeCycleMalta).