The Betfair LifeCycle Challengers were given a unique chance to experience the conditions they will be facing next month, thanks to a four-day training camp organised by Emirates.

The award-winning airline from Dubai offered complimentary flights to Larnaka in Cyprus, as well as organized a stay in Cyprus Villages’ traditional holiday apartments in Kalavasos, 4km from the coast and on the edge of a range of Troodos Mountains leading to Asgata.

Sixteen cyclists and six members of the back-up team flew out on Friday and settled in to the accommodation, re-assembling their bikes and learning to plan for life on the road. Saturday started with a team building session as well as a briefing by the Challenge’s physiotherapist. The first day took them along some excellent cycling routes, but the 100km route proved to be a massive endurance test as the temperature soared once they had left the coast and, at quite high degrees, tested their motivation and discipline, as they needed to be very aware of the dangers of dehydration and heat-stroke.

As will happen on the actual challenge in August, the back-up teams were spread along the route to replenish the cyclists with water and food, getting them through the grueling ride without serious mishaps.

Sunday saw the back-up team up at dawn, preparing breakfast in the village square, and the cyclists got off to an early start, covering dozens of kilometers in the mountains before the heat got to its peak.

The team returns to Malta today. The Betfair LifeCycle Challenge will take place in mid-August, with the participants doing 2,000km from Prague to Sarajevo.

Donation lines are already open:

SMS DONATIONS

5061 7370 €2.33

5061 8920 €6.99

5061 9229 €11.65

LANDLINE DONATIONS

5160 2020 €10

5170 2005 €15

5180 2006 €25

For further information contact visit www.lifecyclechallenge.com