A GROUP of Maltese cyclists making their way from Brisbane to Melbourne stopped in Cootamundra over the weekend as part of the ‘Lifecycle Downunder Challenge’.
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The 24 cyclists plus support staff are raising funds for people affected by kidney related illnesses in their home country of Malta.
They were met in Cootamundra by local Cycle Club president Mark Loiterton who was more than happy to discuss all things cycling with the group.
“They were really friendly and interested in how the cycling administration works in Australia,” Mr Loiterton said.
The group arrived in town late Saturday afternoon after travelling 220 kilometres from Bathurst in the saddle – a decent haul by any stretch of the imagination.
They came through Cootamundra and had been travelling on country roads the entire way to avoid major highways.
The Brisbane to Melbourne journey will take 10 days and involve 2000 kilometres on the bike.
Lifecycle started in 1999 with four people and one support car. One of the riders was keen to raise funds for dialysis support as his wife has been unwell.
The challenge still raises funds for patients affected by kidney related issues, providing support and home care for people.
In that initial year cyclists rode from Malta to the United Kingdom, a distance of 3000 kilometres and raised $10,000 euro.
Since then they have done numerous trips across Europe, with this year marking their first foray to Australia.
Organisers of the ride came to Australia earlier this year to mark out a course and at this time met with Mr Loiterton for the first time.
While in Cootamundra, they stayed at the Sports Stadium and made their own dinner on camp stoves.
The group has a major sponsor in Maltese company Betfair.
The cyclists do not ride traditional road bikes, preferring to travel on bikes which resemble mountain bikes more closely for the sake of comfort.
They finished up in Melbourne on Tuesday and met with the Melbourne-based Maltese Social Club.
Australia was chosen for the trip due to the strong connection this country has with Malta. There are currently 200,000 people of Maltese background living in Australia, which is half the total population of Malta.