The Best Cycling Team in the world to climb Kili for "Team Building"

80 riders and staff to climb 5895m African peak in early November!!

*Riis told Cyclingnews that the 80 riders and staff will have the support of a fully organised agency experienced in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The riders will gather on November 1 and walk for between six to eight hours a day to reach the Karanga Camp (4040m). At around midnight on November 4 the group will head to Stella point and the summit. Depending on weather conditions, they will reach the highest point of Africa in the morning of November 5.

“I want to put everyone in a different environment to see how they react,” Riis told Cyclingnews.

“It's not about being first to the top, indeed some people won't make it to the summit, it's about seeing how people deal with problems under stress, how they work together and who are the natural team leaders. We have similar situations at the races and so it can only make us a better team.

“It's not only about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It's about integrating new people in the team and laying the foundations for 2015.”*

read the full article here -(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tinkoff-saxo-confirms-kilimanjaro-team-building-trip)

"Indeed some people will not make it"...

That is for sure it they plan to climb to summit straight from Karanga Camp. I am afraid there will be casualties because:

1) Competetive athletes can go fast and far before AMS hits. And it hits hard.
2) Competetive athletes will consider this a challenge and not quit even if they should.
3) it is idiotic and uninformed to rush from 4000m to almost 6000m without proper acclimatization. At night.
4) They can not take Diamox or dexamethasone (banned substances).
5) There is no helicopter rescue service available on Kili.

Prepare for disaster.

perhaps?

Many of these guys are on multi-million Euro contracts....I doubt their managers / trainers / sponsors will be putting their 2015 earning potential at risk.

PS - Cyclingnews has a horrible reputation for very average journalism and reporting....I wouldn't be surprised if some of the details in this article are not accurate.

a progress update :- (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gallery-tinkoff-saxo-climbs-kilimanjaro)

all but 2 make it to the top - nice job :)

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-tinkoff-saxos-trek-up-kilimanjaro)

and, just to finish off - (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gallery-tinkoff-saxo-complete-kilimanjaro-challenge)