Participants in this year's HSBC Lifecycle Challenge, which starts today, will have more than the 2,000 kilometre journey to test their strength - they also face the challenge of high temperatures.
Spokesman Karen Zammit told timesofmalta.com that this year the cyclists will pedal their way from France, through Spain and across the Gibraltar Strait to Morocco, hence the name Strait to Africa.
They leave Malta for Lourdes tonight and start their journey on bikes on Saturday. Although the first part features a a 10 kilometre climb crossing the Pyrennees, temperatures from then on are expected to average 45 celsius daily.
The HSBC Lifecycle Challenge has been held for the past 10 years to raise funds for the Renal Unit at St Luke's and now Mater Dei Hospital.
Taking part this year will be 35 cyclists with a support team of 25. They intend to complete the challenge in 10 days, crowning months of tough training.
Joining the group for a few days will be El Samir Moussati, a Moroccan who studied in Malta and is currently studying and living in Germany and later four people from sponsors HSBC led by managing director Richard Jones.
The team will be sleeping in schools and sports complexes and will be living on a diet of mainly carbohydrates, chocolate and energy drinks.
The cyclists are aged between 20 and 55. 17 are taking part for the first time.
Donations to Lifecycle can be sent via SMS on 5061 7378 for €2.33 (Lm1), 5061 8927 for €6.99 (Lm3) or 5061 9219 for €11.65(Lm5).
www.lifecyclechallenge.com