Unsung Heroes

Carolyn Bonello at 17:59 on 12 May

We were bored at Splash and Fun roundabout so thought we'd pose.....each week we shall take progressively funnier pics for you to treasure....that's the danger of giving me your camera :)

This comment,posted to this photo, on a Facebook album I uploaded after a Sunday training session depicting our two physiotherapists fooling around with my camera, made me think. 

The general public see cyclists training together to reach a common goal, wearing their Betfair Lifecycle tops proudly as they cycle around the island. But in reality there is more to a team than just those who wear the cycling top. 

Just stop and think for a moment about all the work that is entailed to organise such a massive event. Who plans the route, ensuring the safety of cyclists and back up team? Who prepares the marketing material and PR making sure that the event gets well publicised and sponsors get the coverage due? Who takes care of organising logistics, flights, transportation, visas? When in Turkey and Syria meals won't just materialise at the end of each day - they will have to be planned in such detail to ensure that cyclists are getting the right nutrition required for such an endeavour. Preparatory cyclists meetings need to be organised, topics for discussion researched and thoroughly prepared. All this happens because there is a dedicated team working hard - since November to ensure that everything falls into place.

It's not only that. Each Sunday the backup team turns up, at the early hours of the morning, to support the cyclists. Whether it is to give directions at various checkpoints, solving any issues (like the closure of the Coast Road when a training session was planned there) that might crop up, taking photos and filming of the event or simply giving words of encouragement to struggling cyclists they dedicate time, away from their families, friends, hobbies and beds, to support the cyclists. 








Let's face it - waiting on a roundabout or in a corner, with a Lifecycle banner next to you, is not the height of major entertainment especially in the hotter months when am sure most of the team would prefer to go and laze on a beach.

Working behind the scenes often than not does not yield much gratification by the general public perhaps through lack of awareness. So this one's for you guys! Thank you for all the hard work and support you are giving us!

Photos courtesy of Ray Pace, pacemedia.tv