Discover new e-bike adventures with Activate Cyprus! 🚴‍♂️🔋

Activate Cyprus, experts in cycling and triathlon events, now offer an exciting new experience: e-bike guided tours at the Troodos Mountain Bike Center. Located at Troodos Square within Troodos Hotel, this center now opens up new horizons for exploring the stunning Troodos area.

With state-of-the-art electric bikes, everyone can reach the highest point of Cyprus, Olympus Peak at 1952m, and enjoy breathtaking views with ease. Explore the magnificent routes, including the Caledonia and Chantara waterfalls, and enjoy an authentic local treat in the square of Platres.

“Our goal is to offer an unforgettable experiences for mountain and cycling enthusiasts,” says Activate Cyprus director Mike Hadjioannou. The e-bike tours cater to both beginners and seasoned cyclists, lasting from one to five days.

Escape everyday life and immerse yourself in the serene mountains and forests with the “Troodos E-Bike Experience.” For more information, visit www.activatecyprus.com/mtb-tours

#CyclingAdventures #TroodosEBikeExperience #ActivateCyprus #ExploreTroodos #CyclingTours

The hardest days on the bike: Migration Gravel race, Kenya

by Mike Hadjioannou

As I write this, it's been three weeks since the final stage of the Migration Gravel Race 2024. The suffering is still fresh in my mind, but thankfully my body has recovered.

**Day 1:** 140km with around 1500m of ascent, which initially seemed like a flat stage. One might think, "an easy ride in the Maasai Mara area." After an early wake-up and race preparations, I lined up behind the start line in high spirits, just like everyone around me. However, after the first couple of kilometers, I felt the high altitude affecting my breathing. I decided to take it slow to acclimate and avoid burning out. Almost 40 minutes in, I felt okay to ride at my own pace and enjoy the journey.

The terrain was rocky and rough with long sections of deep mud. My mountain bike skills came in handy, and I cruised through the beautiful Kenyan nature. My Pirelli Cinturato 50mm tires on 650b wheels handled the mud well, giving me enough clearance. Many riders struggled as the mud clogged their wheels, but I kept my pace. I realized that I hadn’t even reached the first water station, making me aware of the long, hard day ahead.

The Mara's rough, uneven terrain and strong headwinds made riding even more challenging. After spending a long time in survival mode, a group of three riders caught me on the only tarmac section. They kindly offered me a place in their group, which eased the pain of riding alone against the headwind. I stayed with them until 1km before the finish, then took it easy. Exhausted, I barely made it up the short hill to the finish line, immediately seeking a bottle of Fanta.

**Day 2:** 170km

with over 2800m of ascent—the hardest day on the bike ever. I started knowing it would be a survival experience with a long climb up to 2700m altitude. Early in the stage, a front tire leak forced me to stop and pump it up, putting me at the back of the race. Catching up with fellow riders was nice, as it gave me company during the long ride.

The climb to the mountain top was tough with steep gradients at high altitudes. The rewarding view of green mountains and Maasai huts was a brief respite. The descent included small uphills and technical single trails. I fell unexpectedly when my pedal got trapped in tree roots but continued riding with Luis from Portugal, who had the perfect bike for the race. After riding with Luis and another rider, I faced a steep section where exhaustion took over, and I lay down. Lawrence joined me, and we supported each other to the last checkpoint. Due to being late, we took a shorter route, skipping around 20km. The final 25km felt endless, with tiredness and back pain, but I finished the stage. However, I felt extremely cold and couldn’t warm up until moving into an organizer’s car.

**Day 3:** 140km and 1300m. After the previous day's ordeal, I had no energy to start day three, so I stayed at the camp. It was a great opportunity to meet other non-riders, see the camp logistics, and interact with local people. In the afternoon, I watched fellow riders finish. Seeing David Millar struggle to stand confirmed my decision not to start. Given my previous day’s experience, I doubted I could finish.

**Day 4:** 160km with 1500m. The nicest hard day of all. With no major climbs, just small hills and mostly tailwind, it was a pleasure to ride. Despite some stomach issues, the day was okay compared to others. The route was amazing, with lots of animals and rewarding nature. My left pedal broke, forcing me to push it inwards to prevent it from falling off the axle. A motorbike passing me slipped and knocked me off, but I escaped with bruises, and my bike was undamaged. Approaching the finish line, I enjoyed the views of wildlife and captured photos and videos. The final 15km felt smooth and sweet, a stark contrast to the challenges faced earlier.

O³ OlympusMan Trail Run races. The next level of train running in Cyprus

03 OlympusMan – Trail Run Expands and Grows

The 03 OlympusMan – Trail Run is taking on a new form, having been held in conjunction with the O3 OlympusMan Triathlon and Xtreme Triathlon, also organized by Activate Cyprus, a company specializing in cycling and triathlon events and sports tourism.

Specifically, the O3 OlympusMan – Trail Run, which involves mountain running on trails around the peak of Olympus in Troodos, will take place on Saturday, October 26, one week before the O3 OlympusMan Triathlon scheduled for November 2.

Participants have the opportunity to register in three different categories. Besides the O³lympusMan Classic, which covers a half marathon distance (21km), there are now options for the O³lympusMan Marathon+, covering a distance beyond the marathon (47km), and the O³lympusMan Ultra (72km).

Furthermore, one of the innovations in this year's edition of the 03 OlympusMan – Trail Run is the addition of a 7km route, the OlympusMan Office Escape Trail Run. This route offers the opportunity for individuals who want to escape daily life and enjoy a wonderful mountain run. It caters to both individual participants and companies, groups of friends, etc., who can register as teams with an unlimited number of runners. Additionally, a 1km race will be held for children.

It should be noted that since last year, the O3 OlympusMan – Trail Run has been included in the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) calendar, offering ITRA points to participants. From this year, it has also acquired the UTMB index race seal, which provides easier access to major international mountain running events of the UTMB.

Registrations will be open until October 19, 2024.

The O3 OlympusMan – Trail Run is supported by the Troodos Tourism Board, Atlantic Insurance, Troodos Hotel, Kykkos mineral water, and Lanitis Juices.

For more information and to register, visit https://www.activatecyprus.com/trail-run-events.

Migration Gravel Race 2024: The Journey to Maasai Mara

By Mike Hadjioannou

Even though I promised daily updates from the Migration Gravel Race to keep friends updated and share the adventure, that wasn't possible. Life in the Maasai Mara is more challenging than you can imagine.

The Adventure Begins

The idea of riding this adventure/race in one of Kenya's wildest areas, the Maasai Mara, started almost a year before the race. It became more tangible in early 2024 when I decided to go for it. I checked the dates, booked flight tickets, scheduled time for training, and informed my son about my adventure in this wild place. By March, everything was sorted.

Preparation and Journey

Improving my fitness through regular biking was not easy, but I felt I was in good shape to finish the race decently without overexerting myself. However, things turned out differently.

The long journey from Cyprus to Nairobi via Cairo marked the beginning of "stage 0" of the race. After making it just in time to the bus that would take us from Nairobi to the base camp in the Mara, the adventure began. The route to the Mara was stunning but slightly uncomfortable in the big overlanders we used. Despite the sunny weather, the chill wind of the altitude was noticeable.

The Road to Maasai Mara

The tarmac road felt rough, or maybe the overlander lacked suspension. The real experience began when we turned off the tarmac road onto dirt roads leading to the base camp. We passed through small villages (Sharmas) where excited kids shouted "Jambo" (Hello) and waved as we passed by. Their joy was evident on their faces.

Another characteristic of the area was the use of motorbikes, called "boda boda," for transportation. These motorbikes, usually made for tarmac roads, were skillfully ridden on dirt roads by locals. The boda boda often carried three passengers, or sometimes a mix of people and animals or large items like wood sticks, sinks, or wardrobes.

The rough road to the Maasai Mara slowed us down, and some overlanders even got stuck in the mud. As we neared the base camp, the scenery became wilder, and we began to see giraffes, elephants, zebras, wildebeests, and beautiful birds. The adventure was becoming real!

Arrival at Base Camp

The base camp was peaceful, with tents set up and waiting for us. It was late afternoon, and the anticipation for the race was high. There were still tasks to complete, like assembling bikes, preparing food and spare parts, attending the race briefing, and having dinner. We went to bed early as the race was starting early the next morning.

Pre-Race Camaraderie

During dinner and the race briefing, I met fellow participants. The main topic of conversation was how to survive the four stages of the Migration Gravel Race 2024. Encouragement was abundant, and the motto was, “We will enjoy the route and we will make it,” slowly and steadily.

Night fell, and it was time to rest and gather the courage to start the next day's adventures. Stay tuned for the detailed reports of the racing days in the next blog story.

Photos and videos of the day: https://drive.google.com/file/d/128huFl65EQsi2DVraqdJTx34Ycx0wI4Z/view?usp=sharing

Stay tuned for more updates!

This is Bedrock Gravel experience 2024

What an amazing week it has been! From thrilling gravel rides with a fantastic group to immersing ourselves in traditional culture and flavors, this week was a whirlwind of experiences. We honed our culinary skills, explored basket weaving, and found serenity in poolside yoga sessions. And, of course, there were plenty of opportunities to enjoy some refreshing beers and wines.

The highlight of it all was the Bedrock Gravel Festival "race," uniting passionate gravel cyclists from Cyprus and beyond.

Despite the exhaustion from the week's adventures, the desire for more remains strong. This hunger for gravel adventures will keep us motivated until our next gathering!

Let's keep the gravel spirit alive, everyone! Looking forward to our next ride together.

The Second Bedrock Gravel Festival is Coming!

Cycling enthusiasts, both from Cyprus and abroad, will be following the innovative Bedrock Gravel Festival in the coming days, an event established in recent years by Activate Cyprus, a pioneer in cycling and triathlon tourism. The festival will commence on Sunday, April 14th, and will last for one week. It will culminate with the Saturday race (20/04) covering a distance of 107km on gravel, followed by a BBQ Party and Beer Tasting at the finish line. On Sunday, April 21st, the last day of the festival, there will be a recovery ride for those interested.

For Cyprus, the Bedrock Gravel Festival is something unique, as there is no similar event on the island, while gravel races abroad are experiencing rapid growth. This festival combines a passion for cycling, the need for tranquility provided by the welcoming village of Tochni, and an opportunity to engage with Cypriot culture.

The Program

After the welcome on Sunday (14/04), cycling routes starting from Tochni will explore various areas of Cyprus, such as Lefkara, Stavrovouni, Kato Drys, Vasa, Akapnou, Zygi, and others. Participants will have the opportunity to explore amazing areas of the island, interact with Cypriot culture, customs, and cuisine through stops in villages, and mingle with the locals.

Among other activities, the program offers participants the chance to observe how a traditional Cypriot dish, koupepia, is made, witness the production process of halloumi cheese, taste local wines and beers, and more. On Saturday (20/4), the program will conclude with the 107 km race of the Bedrock Gravel Festival. The starting and finishing point will be at The Feed Zone Cafe in Tochni, in front of the offices housing Activate Cyprus.

For more information and participation in the unique Bedrock Gravel Festival, visit https://www.activatecyprus.com/gravel-events.

Cyprus Granfondo: A perfect combination of a bike vacation with a 3-days stage race

During the last weekend of March, the traditional Cyprus Granfondo in Paphos is a perfect opportunity for riders to work on their cycling condition and benefit from the warm temperatures and hospitality of this holiday destination in the Mediterranean Sea.

In the 28.6km time trial on Friday March 29th, riders have a first upgoing part towards a turning point to return back over the same road slightly going down to finish back next to the startline.

The next day, the 103km queen stage of this three days stage race leaves from the Paphos castle in a 15km neutralized start before the race really opens. Three major climbs of 8km, 6,5km and 13,5km brings riders towards the highest point on the course at an elevation of 900m above the sea. The finish is back in the valley after a long downhill.

The final stage has again a neutralized start from Paphos and is shorter with its 59km but also counts a 12km climb towards 780m above the sea to finish after a second shorter climb.

On day 2 and 3, there is also a shorter mediofondo distance for men over 60 and women over 50 counting respectively 89 and 50km as official qualifier distance.

Top 25% per age category qualifies for the 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in August in Denmark.

register now on https://www.activatecyprus.com/granfondocyprus

CYPR – SPALONY SŁOŃCEM, PEŁEN ŻYCIA

Road and gravel cycling in Cyprus

CYPR – SPALONY SŁOŃCEM, PEŁEN ŻYCIA

What the best Polish cycling magazine writes about Cyprus

Another amazing article in a cycling magazine that praises Cyprus for the perfect riding conditions, the life, the food and the compactness of the place!

The best Polish cycling magazine Szoza (Road) has recently republished an article about our Island and all that it offers to the cycling community, either that is road cycling, mountainbike or gravel! One island to your foodsteps!

With a short flight from Central Europe and you are here in our small island, with 330 days of sunshine per year, quite roads, amazing dirt roads with stunning views. And of course hundreds of fast and technical single trails for the lovers of Mountainbike. Our mountainbike trails are tested and approved by the top elite mountainbikers of the world who are coming year after year for the most historic and high level competiotion, the Cyprus Sunshine Cup.

You can find more in the article here https://magazynszosa.pl/51614-2/

A Gravel tour in Akamas

Embark on a much-anticipated gravel adventure, a dream ride for one of our passionate gravel enthusiasts. With the weather in Cyprus still delightful, making it the perfect time for a gravel expedition, planning and executing this tour became a breeze.

We commenced our journey from Peyia, parking conveniently next to the beautiful chapel of Agia Matrona. The ride kicked off immediately, fueled by our eagerness to explore off-road terrain. The breathtaking view of the sea under clear skies set the tone for an incredible journey. The terrain, mostly descending and flat until reaching the toxeftra beach, offered a relatively easy start.

As we ventured along the coast, the swift transition between the lush green forest on our right and the azure Mediterranean sea on the left made the ride truly enjoyable. Photo stops were frequent, given the consistently stunning scenery. Around 20km in, we began our ascent inland toward the Akamas Lighthouse, perched atop the westernmost hill of the island. The view from the lighthouse was nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing the unique landscape where land meets sea.

The descent towards the renowned "Blue Lagoon" was thrilling but manageable, thanks to the gradual gradient. Despite the gathering clouds hindering a full appreciation of the lagoon's mesmerizing blue, the experience was unforgettable. Our ultimate destination was Arnaoutis Cape, the western tip of Cyprus. The rocky and rough terrain posed little challenge for our bikes equipped with 45mm wide tires.

A sense of accomplishment filled us as we stood at the land's end of our own country. Our next stop was Neo Chorio, where we were fortunate to find a local cafe open. Indulging in a delightful Halloumi cheese and ham sandwich, we savored the taste of local flavors.

The return journey to the starting point involved a long uphill stretch of approximately 12km, with manageable grades of 4-6% steepness. A challenging 1km section tested our fatigued legs, but the reward was the panoramic view from the forest heart to the hilltop, offering vistas of the Mediterranean sea on both sides of the peninsula.

As the weather changed and a chill set in, we pedaled faster to warm up, relishing the descents at high speed. The perfect culmination to an outstanding gravel ride was a fast descent, facing the hills of Akamas, and witnessing what is often hailed as the most incredible sunset in Cyprus.

Mike with Jeroen, Luca and Nestor!

CYPRUS THE PERFECT ALTERNATIVE TO MALLORCA AND THE CANARIES

“Cyprus stole my heart. Perfect roads, peace and quiet, excellent food, mountainous terrain, great weather, and friendly people make this a great location to train for a week – with or without your family! In my opinion, The Limassol region is an excellent base as you can cycle into the mountains but still be on the coast.”

Recently i had the chance to ride with Frank Jensen from Cycloworld.cc online cycling magazine that informs all world about new events, cycling races and cycling destinations.

With Frank we had a nice ride around Limassol region in quiet roads and great scenery, got some cyprus coffee and delights and of course a great chat on the bike about what Cyprus has to offer to cyclists as a cycling destination.

Frank also got the chance to ride our iconic event 0-2000 Cycling Challenge that takes place between Limassol and the Troodos mountains.

Read his full article in https://www.cycloworld.cc/article/cycling-in-cyprus/2647

DISCOVER CYPRUS ON GRAVEL BIKE: 2ND BEDROCK GRAVELFEST AWAITS YOU

Embark on an unparalleled off-road adventure in the heart of Cyprus at the 2nd Bedrock GravelFest, taking place from April 9 to April 15, 2023. Organized by Activate Cyprus, this week-long event promises a thrilling blend of gravel biking, stunning landscapes, and traditional Cypriot culture.

Gravel Biking Paradise

Cyprus, an undiscovered gravel wonderland, invites adventurous riders to explore its hidden gems. Activate Cyprus, with its intimate knowledge of the island, offers expert-guided rides that take you through remote, off-the-beaten-path gravel trails. Traverse the Troodos mountain range, revel in the lush green forests meeting the deep blue Mediterranean waters, and experience the untouched beauty of Cyprus.

A Week of Adventure and Culture

The Bedrock GravelFest is not just about biking; it's an immersive experience that blends great rides with local culture, gastronomy, and more. Enjoy rides that challenge and inspire, complemented by visits to local cheese farms, orchards laden with fresh fruits, and wine tastings. The adventure continues with early morning Yoga sessions, traditional skill workshops, and indulging in delicious Cypriot meals.

Culminating in the Bedrock Gravel Race

The week concludes with the exciting 51-mile Bedrock Gravel Race, followed by an Awards Ceremony and a vibrant Barbecue Party with Chef Avraamis. Beer tasting by Π?βο Microbreweries adds to the festivities, creating an unforgettable celebration of gravel riding.

Accommodation Packages in Tochni

The festival's headquarters is in Tochni, a tranquil village away from the crowds, offering a picturesque atmosphere. Participants stay in traditional stone-built houses scattered throughout the village, providing an authentic experience. Accommodation ranges from small studios to two-bedroom apartments, often featuring a courtyard and a shared pool.

All-Inclusive Packages for Riders and Non-Riders

Both cycling enthusiasts and non-riders can choose from packages that include 7 nights of accommodation with breakfast and dinners. Non-cycling friends and family members are welcome to join special sightseeing tours to the town of Limassol.

Why Cyprus?

With an average of 326 sunny days per year, Cyprus offers warm weather in April, ideal for cycling, sightseeing, and sunbathing. The 2,000m high Troodos Mountains boast beautiful forests and extensive road networks. Unlike other Mediterranean destinations, Cyprus remains a hidden gem for gravel cyclists, with empty roads waiting to be explored.

Don't miss the chance to be part of this extraordinary gravel adventure in Cyprus. For detailed information and bookings, visit [Bedrock GravelFest Cyprus](https://www.activatecyprus.com/gravelfest-cyprus).

GET TO KNOW CYPRUS ON A BIKE: CYPRUS SUNSHINE EPIC

For another year, Cyprus will host Olympians and world champions, as the Cyprus Sunshine Epic is considered one of the most important mountain biking events globally. The race will take place from February 27 to March 1 in the mountainous regions of Nicosia, Limassol, and Larnaca, providing participants with the opportunity to discover the natural beauty of the island.

The communities of Lythrodontas, Kornos, and Pyrgos are eagerly welcoming prominent figures in world cycling, including Jaroslav Kulhavy, Ondrej Cink, Kate Courtney, Annika Langvad, and many others. The race includes various sections, starting from the Pyrgos Primary School and concluding at the Kornos Community Stadium.

"We are proud to be part of such a significant race. Kornos has a history in cycling, having hosted races in the past and produced Antri Christoforou, who will represent Cyprus at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. The Kornos Community Council actively supports all sports and gives young people in the community the opportunity to engage in them. We will do our best to host all Cyprus Sunshine Epic athletes, who will have the chance to explore the natural beauty of Kornos," says Mr. Michalis Savvas, Kornos Community Council President.

Lythrodontas has been supporting this important race for several years, offering hospitality to athletes and spectators. "We are pleased to welcome Olympians and world champions every year, and they, in turn, get to know Lythrodontas by cycling. It is our great joy to host such a significant race, and athletes and spectators will have the opportunity to explore the lush area of Pyrgos. The wonderful route through the pines will also pass through Stavrovouni, which falls within our community," says Mr. Lambros Loukas, Lythrodontas Community Council President.

The Pyrgos Community Council, proud to be part of this international race, emphasizes the importance of hosting such an event. "We are delighted to host all these great athletes in our community. It is very important for our community to be part of such a race. Athletes and spectators will have the opportunity to explore the green area of Pyrgos, and the beautiful route through the pines will also pass through Stavrovouni, which falls within our community," says Mrs. Stavroula Vasileiou, Pyrgos Community Council President.

The race is organized by Activate Cyprus in collaboration with the Cyprus Cycling Federation, under the auspices of the Cyprus Sports Organization. The Ministry of Tourism is the main sponsor, with additional sponsorship from OPAP Cyprus, Skoda, UNICARS, and SIXT. RIK is the media sponsor.

The event is conducted with the support and hospitality of the communities of Lythrodontas, Kornos, and Pyrgos. Additional support comes from Atlantic Insurance, Shimano, ETAP Larnaca, OPT Cycling, and Cyclo Shop.

TOCHNI BIKE CENTER: A NEW CYCLING HOTSPOT IN CYPRUS

Activate Cyprus proudly announces the complete upgrade of its Bike Center in Tochni, establishing it as the premier destination for cyclists in Cyprus. This central Bike Center, complementing the Mountainbike Center at Troodos Square in Troodos Hotel and marks Activate Cyprus as the island's pioneering company in sports tourism, bike tours, and major international events.

Strategically located in Tochni, at the heart of Cyprus, the Bike Center caters to cyclists from all over the world and is a central location for local cyclists from Nicosia, Limassol, and Larnaca, as well as those exploring the mountainous regions of Larnaca. The company welcomed the new year with a small celebration at the upgraded Bike Center, hosting prominent athletes such as Antri Christoforou, a Rio and Tokyo Olympics representative and a member of the Cyprus Olympic Team for Paris.

The venue proudly displays signed World Champion jerseys from mountain biking legends like Jaroslav Kulhavy, Jolanda Neff, Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesja, Thomas Frischknecht, Anna van der Breggen, and more. This not only enhances the cycling culture but also pays homage to the sport's global icons.

The upgraded Bike Center in Tochni transforms the area into a sports tourism hotspot. Cyclists can avail themselves of services before, during, or after a cycling tour, with rental bikes also available. The center's influence extends to the cycling culture of the region, attracting both young and seasoned bikers exploring the picturesque surroundings.

Mike Hadjioannou, Director of Activate Cyprus, expressed his enthusiasm about the completed upgrade, emphasizing its significance: "With the upgrade of the Tochni Bike Center, we are coming closer to all cyclists, no matter their level or age, as the venue will be a general meeting and service point for all Cypriot and foreign cyclists visiting our island."

Tochni's strategic location, midway between Nicosia, Limassol, and Larnaca, ensures accessibility for cyclists. Mr. Hadjioannou highlighted the positive impact on the area: "Tochni and the nearby villages will benefit from the upgraded Bike Center as a large number of cyclists will be visiting the area."

Activate Cyprus, known for organizing major cycling events like Cyprus Sunshine Epic, SKODA Cyprus Gran Fondo, and Troodos Sports & Fun Festival, along with triathlon races O3 Olympus Man and Oceal Lana Paphos, continues to be a driving force in promoting sports tourism in Cyprus.

For more information, visit www.activatecyprus.com and www.facebook.com/ActivateCyprus,

TOCHNI BIKE VILLAGE: SECLUDED AND TRANQUIL

Make a plan for the better days in Tochni. It’s secluded and tranquil.  

In 2020 life taught us that whatever plans we may make, any unforeseen reason may postpone or even cancel them. Now more than ever, we believe that all people, especially active people need to have a target in order to keep motivated, to move forward, to be alive and happy! We all need to set goals, a future sport event or challenge, a training camp or a cycling trip! We, at Activate Cyprus have put in place targets, events and training camps for you! And the most important is that we are holding it all in the ideal location! 

Why Cyprus and why in Tochni? 

Tochni is small a traditional village in Cyprus, with roughly 350 residents (less than the hosting capacity of a typical coastal hotel!).  This makes for a really quaint and tranquil atmosphere, away from the masses. The traditional, stone-build houses that will host you are scattered across the village, and they are licensed agritourism resorts. They range in sizes from studios to 2 bedroom apartments and they typically feature an internal courtyard. The apartments are divided in small complexes sharing a a private courtyard and common pool.  Essentially the only commonly used areas are the swimming pool for your time of relaxation and the small tavernas of the village.

An ordinary day here in Tochni starts with a traditional breakfast made always with fresh, locally sourced biological products, before you head out to discover the numerous cycling routes in the surrounding areas. It is always our aim to keep our cycling groups small, especially now with all the social distancing protocols we have in place.
During our activities  there will be many different routes starting from Tochni and heading out to the surrounding area. The selection will be suitable for both road or off road cyclists! With our assistance you’ll be able to adjust your group’s daily distance and difficulty level without losing the fun factor along the way. 

After the daily bike ride you are welcome to relax with a post ride coffee or drink and a snack with your friends or just enjoy the calmness of the place around the swimming pool next to your apartment. 

During the night the small tavernas of the village are ready to welcome you with delicious local food and meze, freshly cooked with love! The night always ends with a glass of a local wine!

CYPRUS GRAVEL ESCAPES #3 - FROM APOSTOLOS ANDREAS TO NICOSIA

What a better way to spend a long day on gravel bike exploring Cyprus, especially if this happens in places you have never riden before! It sounds really strange but i have never biked before in the Northeast part of the island in Karpasia peninsula either on a road bike, a mountainbike or a gravel bike! The area near Apostolos Andreas Monastery is the most eastern edge of Cyprus.

The idea for this gravel bike adventure which would start from that part of the island was in my plans for some years now! The 6th of January was the day due to the holiday of the Epiphany day!

So after a few phone calls, it was a very easy decision! With a group of 4, Kostis and Nikolas and the best bike-tours supporter Ioanna, we met at at 5:15am at Ratio cycling cafe in Nicosia. After a strong early morning coffee, we started driving to our starting point which was 2:30h away. The scenery along the way and the sunrise kept us busy taking photos, videos and of course gossiping for all things about bikes! Nikolas was telling us how impressed he was with the “battles” of the Cyclo cross titans, Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel and of course Tom Pidcock! Indeed their consecutive races during Christmas and New year holidays were very spectacular.

At around 8:30am we arrived at Hasan’s place, we got our staff and our selves ready and of course we had another coffee offered by Hasan! Now we are ready for our long trip back to Nicosia! it was a plan for 160 to 190km with more than 50% on gravel roads of which most of them where unknown to me by that time.

The first pedal strokes were on an idyllic place of Cyprus, the Golden beach. In the area there are many beaches with golden sand and crystal clear sea water which not much people know or visit due to the fact that there are no tourist services in the area! We crossed over the only tarmac road of the area and continued on gravel roads through green fields and the winter sun was keeping us happy and warm in this - not so cold - day of January. The stops for photos and some drone shots were the reason for having a very low avg speed so we decided to ride a bit faster if we didn’t want to reach home after midnight! But the area was amazingly beautiful and we couldn’t resist to make as many photos as possible.

After some short section on tarmac we got off again to gravel road that led us to Gold beach next to Rizokarpaso! Despite the fact that satellite photos on Komoot showed some gravel roads, there were none! So we had to push our bikes for about 45mins in the deep golden sand next to the Mediterranean sea! Not bad at all!

As soon as we managed to escape the sandy beaches we covered some more kilometers on tarmac before we start climbing up to Kantara castle! Amazing scenery, wide gravel roads and beautiful landscape all over the place.

At the top i was feeling already tired but i needed to be brave and keep going…we had long way to go and short time of daylight! The section from kantara to Nicosia i believe was the most amazing part of the route! Riding for long stretches  about 500 to 600 meters of altitude it was the best way to enjoy the views to coastline and the Mediterranean sea to the north of Pendadaktylos mountain range and the Mesaoria plain on the southern side of the mountain. Spectacular views even along a recently burnt area of these mountains.

Our timing to arrive on tarmac just before sunset worked fine, so we starter the last long part to Nicosia on main roads. At that point i really felt exhausted and hungry, but a short carbo-loading stop at a petrol station things got back into control again! Soon we were going around in the heart of the old city of Nicosia.     A total contrast of what was the ride for the whole day. The narrow roads of the old city are full of small bars and tavernas packed with people which are enjoying a drink and eating meze with the sounds of Greek rock music! We were jealous and we would loved to stop for a drink and a warm plate of food, but with the exhaustion of the day our only option was to ride home for a shower and dinner!

Another nice day on gravel roads was in the books and already planning the next one! Will you join us?

Mike Hadjioannou