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2009 Challenge Updates – Lifecycle Foundation https://www.lifecyclefoundation.com Supporting Renal Patients for Two Decades Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:34:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 The Challenge Is Complete https://www.lifecyclefoundation.com/2009/08/19/the-challenge-is-complete/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-challenge-is-complete Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:34:23 +0000 http://www.lifecyclechallenge.com/?p=191 Read More

]]> contact page. Though the cycling has finished for this year, the work of the Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital never stops. The Lifecyclists and backup team will arrive back in Malta Airport at 11:15am tomorrow, Thursday 20th August. Why not go along to welcome them home if you’re able to do so?]]> Day 11 – Homs to Damascus and Journey’s End https://www.lifecyclefoundation.com/2009/08/18/day-11-homs-to-damascus-and-journeys-end/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=day-11-homs-to-damascus-and-journeys-end Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:37:17 +0000 http://www.lifecyclechallenge.com/?p=193 Read More

]]> Updated The last day of the 2009 Betfair Lifecycle Challenge has finally arrived, and today the cyclists are riding the final 155km from Homs southwards to Damscus, over relatively flat terrain and on good roads. The weather is clear and sunny with temperatures up to 38 degrees celsius and low humidity. Cyclists and backup team members alike are excited about reaching the final destination after working so hard both before and during the challenge, and spirits are understandably high. The team is expected to reach the finishing line in the old city of Damascus at around 18:00 Syria time (17:00 Malta time).

Update at 15:30 Malta time

The challenge now has Damascus in its sights, in fact the first few cyclists have already arrived and can take pride in their achievement. They can also enjoy some well-earned rest and shade after a very hot day’s cycling. There was unfortunately another casualty today due to medical problems, but overall everyone is really excited to make it to the end of this year’s Betfair Lifecycle Challenge.
Summary: Day 11 – Tue 18 Aug 2009 – Homs to Damascus – 155km
]]> Day 10 – Aleppo to Homs https://www.lifecyclefoundation.com/2009/08/17/day-10-aleppo-to-homs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=day-10-aleppo-to-homs Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:47:24 +0000 http://www.lifecyclechallenge.com/?p=195 Read More

]]> Updated As the Betfair Lifecycle Challenge nears its end, the cyclists are in high spirits as they make their penultimate ride from Aleppo southwards to Homs, drawing ever nearer to their destination of Damascus. Apart from the 3 cyclists who dropped out early in the challenge, and who therefore don’t qualify to finish, almost every rider is well within their time targets. Although today’s ride does not feature really tough uphill gradients (the steepest being about 7%), it is long, and the weather is very hot, with temperatures likely to reach 40 degrees celsius. The cyclists are expected to reach tonight’s accommodation between 18:00 and 19:00.

Update

Unfortunately, one more cyclist has had to drop out today. It’s obviously extremely frustrating for them, being so close to the end, but they have contracted severe gastroenteritis and (for the moment at least) cannot continue riding. It’s also saddening for the other cyclists, as this member of the team was a real motivator, but with only one day left, everyone is confident of reaching the challenge goal, the ancient city of Damascus.
Summary: Day 10 – Mon 17 Aug 2009 – Aleppo to Homs – 218km
]]> Day 9 – Hatay (Turkey) to Aleppo (Syria) https://www.lifecyclefoundation.com/2009/08/16/day-9-hatay-turkey-to-aleppo-syria/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=day-9-hatay-turkey-to-aleppo-syria Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:53:32 +0000 http://www.lifecyclechallenge.com/?p=197 Read More

]]> Summary: Day 9 – Sun 16 Aug 2009 – Hatay to Aleppo, including border crossing – 114km]]> Day 8 – Kozan to Hatay, and Review of Turkey https://www.lifecyclefoundation.com/2009/08/16/day-8-kozan-to-hatay-and-review-of-turkey/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=day-8-kozan-to-hatay-and-review-of-turkey Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:16:50 +0000 http://www.lifecyclechallenge.com/?p=199 Read More

]]> Review of Turkey Yesterday was the last full day in Turkey before the crossing into Syria, and this is a good point to mention the attention received by the challenge from the Turkish media. The local Turkish newspapers in the areas that the challenge passed through have given the team coverage every day, and local TV stations have carried out 4 interviews with Lifecycle chairman Alan Curry and other members of the team. And as mentioned in earlier posts, the mayors of the towns the challenge passed through have often been there to welcome the cyclists, and the Turkish police have been happy to escort the team on several occasions. The Lifecycle Organisation would like to offer its thanks to the people of Turkey for this amazing hospitality which has really spurred the team on through all the challenges they have encountered. Please accept our apologies for the delay in getting this update to you.
Summary: Day 8 – Sat 15 Aug 2009 – Kozan to Hatay – 206km
]]> Day 7 – Avanos to Kozan https://www.lifecyclefoundation.com/2009/08/14/day-7-avanos-to-kozan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=day-7-avanos-to-kozan Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:45:25 +0000 http://www.lifecyclechallenge.com/?p=201 Read More

]]> Updated 15 Aug at 12:30 Today has been a long, difficult day for the Betfair Lifecycle Challenge. The route is at least 240km, and the first 40km took the cyclists over very rough terrain, with at least 15km of true off-road cycling – very hard on the joints, especially considering they have been riding long distances for the last 6 days already. There are also some tough inclines, up to 20% at times. After an early start, the first cyclists were expected to make it into Kozan at around 21:00 Turkish time (20:00 Malta time).

Update

The route had to be altered from the route taken by the pre-visit team due to roadworks. This meant that the team had to cycle east before continuing south, lengthening the route considerably. But that wasn’t all… a group of enterprising locals decided to play a prank on the challenge by changing the position of a number of the direction signs placed on the route ahead of time by the backup team. Unfortunately this prank proved quite effective and quite a few of the cyclists, along with one of the backup vehicles, had to be rescued from the top of a mountain by other support personnel, late in the evening. In the end, the lost cyclists and their bikes were transported to the night’s accommodation, as it was deemed impossible to continue after both the long detour and the prank. The 5 cyclists who made it to the end of the day without getting lost are now doing well on their time targets, and the others’ times have been adjusted in the interests of fairness.
Summary: Day 7 – Fri 14 Aug 2009 – Avanos to Kozan – 240km
]]> Day 6 – Kirsehir to Avanos https://www.lifecyclefoundation.com/2009/08/13/day-6-kirsehir-to-avanos/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=day-6-kirsehir-to-avanos Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:21:29 +0000 http://www.lifecyclechallenge.com/?p=203 Read More

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Summary: Day 6 – Thu 13 Aug 2009 – Kirsehir to Avanos – 90km
]]> Day 5 – Cubuk to Kirsehir https://www.lifecyclefoundation.com/2009/08/12/day-5-cubuk-to-kirsehir/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=day-5-cubuk-to-kirsehir Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:10:27 +0000 http://www.lifecyclechallenge.com/?p=208 Read More

]]> Summary: Day 5 – Wed 12 Aug 2009 – Cubuk to Kirsehir – 195km]]> Day 4 – Safranbolu to Cubuk https://www.lifecyclefoundation.com/2009/08/11/day-4-safranbolu-to-cubuk/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=day-4-safranbolu-to-cubuk Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:46:09 +0000 http://www.lifecyclechallenge.com/?p=210 Read More

]]> 2 updates including photos Day 4 is a real challenge for the Betfair Lifecycle Challenge team. Today sees them riding almost 240km through hills and valleys. They set off at 7am this morning, and are expected to be on the road for at least 12 hours. Today’s route also includes some stretches where the road quality is poor enough to qualify as “off-road” cycling, and the team are likely to be tired tonight.

Update 1, 12:20

News has just reached the webmaster that another team member has dropped out today from exhaustion. Please note that it is Lifecycle policy not to refer to individual team members by name during the challenge.

Update 2, 22:00

Another cyclist incurred a damaged wheel but they were able to borrow the bike of the cyclist who dropped out, in order to complete the day’s ride. The first cyclists arrived at Cubuk at around 18:50 though it was over an hour later by the time all had safely arrived. The mayor of Cubuk found time to welcome some of the cyclists as they arrived. At the end of today’s route, some cyclists are still behind their time targets but will hopefully be able to catch up. Tomorrow, Cubuk to Kirsehir, is another long day at approximately 195km. Please keep the cyclists and accompanying backup team in your thoughts.


Summary: Day 4 – Tue 11 Aug 2009 – Safranbolu to Cubuk – 236km
]]> Day 3 – Zonguldak to Safranbolu https://www.lifecyclefoundation.com/2009/08/10/day-3-zonguldak-to-safranbolu/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=day-3-zonguldak-to-safranbolu Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:35:03 +0000 http://www.lifecyclechallenge.com/?p=470 Read More

]]> Updated This ride was shorter and, after a short stretch along the Black Sea coast, took the Betfair Lifecycle Challenge south through the Karabük Province. The Turkish police escorted the team out of Zonguldak, and the total distance today was approximately 110km, including a few tough hills and some unlit tunnels. The two cyclists who had to drop out yesterday rejoined the cycling team today, and other cyclists who were over their time limit for the first two days’ riding are catching up. The challenge’s physiotherapists are treating some of the team for various muscle problems, but this is normal and nothing to worry about. As expected, day 3 was less eventful than day 2, with all cyclists safely completing the day’s ride by 4pm. Please accept our apologies for the delay in getting this update to you.
Summary: Day 3 – Mon 10 Aug 2009 – Zonguldak to Safranbolu – 110km
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