A team of riders representing Etisalat Group yesterday set off from Brussels to compete in the 2015 mHealth Grand Cycle Tour. The gruelling 1,500km event will pass through three European countries, finishing 10 days later in Geneva.

The aim of the tour is to raise awareness about diabetes, while providing an ideal opportunity to test and further develop mobile health solutions (mHealth) which aims at improving the day-to-day life for diabetics.

Members of Team Etisalat were selected from volunteers to participate in the event from across its international footprint. The team comprises 11 Etisalat employees of 8 different nationalities, as well as a long-standing Etisalat customer.

Commenting on the event, Dr. Ahmed Bin Ali, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, Etisalat Group, said, "Etisalat is proud to be supporting and participating in this year's mHealth Grand Cycle Tour. It provides a global platform to promote issues surrounding diabetes, a condition which affects millions of people around the world. In addition, the tour is the ideal opportunity to provide the impetus which will enable further develop of the mobile technology that is playing an increasingly critical role in delivering healthcare solutions."

Etisalat has equipped its riders with advanced vital performance monitoring tools integrated into their uniforms and through wearable devices. The devices will work using Etisalat's award winning Mobile Connect platform, providing real time critical data and analysis to riders and their coaches and medical practitioners.

Diabetes is a syndrome that affects 387 million people, or 8.3% of the global population, according to figures from 2014. Its growth shows no sign of slowing, and the International Diabetes Federation estimates that there will be close to 592 million people with the condition by 2035. The impact of diabetes is felt particularly strongly in MENA with one in ten adults in the region believed to be diabetic.

After setting off from Brussels, Stage 1 will end in Paris two days later. Part of Stage 1 will take in a stage of this year's Tour de France 2015. Stage 2 sees the riders leave Paris, crossing the Vosges before ending in Belfort from where Stage 3 begins. During the final stage, the riders will tackle a mountain profile stage in the Alps before finishing in Geneva on 12th September.
Source: WAM