THE UNITED EIGHT EMBARK ON ANOTHER GIANT CHALLENGE

21st April 2008

Giant UK have recently announced their equipment sponsorship support of The United Eight racing team in their latest challenge to complete The Race Across America, the toughest cycle race know to man.

Formed in summer 2007 The United Eight is an eight person cycling team who in June 2008 will be taking on their toughest ever challenge to date, competing in The Race Across America, the world’s toughest bike race. The Race Across America is a 3,000 mile, non-stop journey from California to Annapolis, taking in fifteen states and climbing the equivalent of nearly four Mount Everest’s or 108,000 feet! And if that doesn’t sound difficult enough, The United Eight have committed to achieving this in just seven days!

Owen Slot of the United Eight team said, "When the United Eight embarked on this gargantuan challenge, we knew our priority was top range bikes. We were obviously overjoyed when Giant offered to help us and we then had a tantalising wait for the bikes to come off the production line. On 3 April, we all headed north to begin our main training ride, John O'Groats to Lands End, and there, at the start, waiting for us, were our eight Giant speed machines, shiny and new like a paddock of gleaming Rolls Royces. To ride on them has been an utter joy. All of us have ridden at various levels before, but not on models as classy, efficient and fast as the Giant TCR C 0. We can't wait to ride from coast to coast across the United States on them."

Riding for the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent, The United Eight consists of eight extraordinary people; Alex Waters (21), a British racing driver who has fought cancer and is the driving force behind the team. Chrissi Dietsche (29), is a German physiotherapist, and former professional snowboarder who was ranked fourth in the world in 2000. Giles Dalrymple (26), is a British environmental engineer. Jonny Wates (40), entrepreneur in renewable energy and a danger to himself! Owen Slot (40), is an award-winning chief sports reporter for The Times and author of two novels. Steve Young (39), is a former British soldier and personal trainer/therapist to the team. Tony Mitchell (48) is a sports teacher and British 400m and 400 hurdles champion (45-50 age group). Wynton Faure (30), a South African who works in the aviation business.

Folk law suggests the Tour de France is the world’s toughest bike race. However, the Tour is 2,000 miles long and is completed in three weeks whereas The Race Across America is an immense 3,000 miles and will be completed in an incredible seven days. Some riders will be averaging just two hours sleep each day during the race. Not only is the lack of sleep excruciatingly energy sapping but is also the one of the main causes of some of the worst accidents as riders fall asleep while at the wheel. The teams work in a relay format and have a better record at staying awake.

Not only will this be one of the biggest personal challenges for all the riders involved but the United Eight team are hoping to raise over £60,000 for the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent. And these guys really mean business, in a recent weekend they did the John O’Groats to Lands End ride – but purely as a training exercise.

The United Eight team will be competing in The Race Across America on their Giant TCR C 0’s on 11 June, to pledge a donation to the CLIC Sargent children’s cancer charity please click on www.justgiving.com/united8, or for more details on the United Eight team, www.united8.org.