Japan could turn out to be the toughest challenge yet in the 16-year history of the Lifecycle Challenge because of its mountainous terrain and the strict regulations, team leader Alan Curry told Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil.
Dr Busuttil met the team in Mosta at the end of their regular Sunday training. He listened intently to the details of this year’s trip, which will take participants from Fukuoku to Tokyo in September, to raise money for the Renal Unit.
Mr Curry said that the last three or four days of the two-week endurance test would be the equivalent of climbing up the Gotthard Pass – one of the hardest sections of past routes – “and then going up it again”.
The 26 cyclists taking part in the challenge this year are nearly half way through the 17-week training period. But there is also intensive work going on in the background to sort out the logistics. So far, free accommodation has been found for seven out of the 10 nights en route – saving some €500 a night.
“We were very fortunate as it seems that this is quite extraordinary,” Mr Curry said, explaining that major breakthroughs were made after contact was made with Rei Shiratori, president of the Institute for Political Studies in Japan.
However, the professionalism and respect for rules that are a fundamental part of Japanese culture pose massive problems. For example, around 250-300 signs are usually put up every day of the challenge to guide cyclists through the trickiest junctions, which are then removed by the last car of the back-up team.
This will not be allowed in Japan, and with massive cities to cross, the back-up team will have to find other ways to ensure no one strays off.
“Did you see the Japanese fans clearing up behind themselves at the World Cup? Well, there is not a bit of litter anywhere, not even a cigarette butt.
All the team are going to have to be extra careful, whether we are talking about dropping banana skins as we cycle, or taking shoes off when we go indoors,” he said.
Dr Busuttil also visited the Dar tal-Providenza which is organising a 53-hour volleyball marathon and the Alive Foundation, which is also organising a cycling marathon in several European countries to collect funds for breast cancer research.
The Opposition leader thanked the volunteers and appealed to the people to be generous and support such activities.