Cyprus is a true cycling destination. The southern European island, which has a Greek part and a Turkish part, lends itself perfectly to a short or long cycling trip. For CyclingDestination, Wouter van den Boogaard was on the Greek-Cypriot part. There you will find, among other things, the INEX club, run by a number of former pros. In this story, Wouter describes his trip, the Gran Tour Cyprus, and in the meantime gives tips for your cycling holiday in Cyprus. He joins a total five-day tour, but for CyclingDestination he rides the first three days. Enjoy his story and take advantage of his tips!
Day 1: introduction at INEX Café in Limassol
On Wednesday, our adventure begins at the INEX Café in Limassol, Cyprus. Here, former pro riders Ilnur Zakarin and Vyacheslav Kuznetsov welcome us; they are the founders of the INEX Club. This is a property and community consisting of a bike shop, indoor training facilities, a bike fit area and changing rooms.
After all Gran Tour participants have ordered their specialty coffee, we are given a detailed presentation of the five-day programme. This "camp," as they call it, will cover more than 300 km and over 7,000 altimeters. Fortunately, there is a support vehicle to provide gels, bars and isotonic drinks to keep us energised along the way. For the occasion, former pro and Etxeondo ambassador Haimar Zubeldia is also joining us.
Keeping left on the road
After the briefing, the first group leaves and we cycle on the left side of the road-something that will be important to keep in mind throughout the week. The first 15 kilometres go through the city of Limassol, where the cars are surprisingly friendly. After the port with its giant ships, we follow quiet roads along the rocky coastline.
From there, we climb 250 metres to the picturesque village of Pissouri, where we enjoy a quick coffee in a panorama bar. Due to roadworks further down the road, we are brought ten kilometres ahead by the support crew-a real luxury. The last 20 km is a 700-metre climb, past the ancient town of Episkopi. The road has sections with gradients above 20%, and with temperatures of 30°C, our legs feel the first real test right away. Around three o'clock, we arrive at the newly built Minthis Golf Resort. Here we go for a nice bite to eat.
Gran Tour Cyprus - day 2: on to a new summit
The next morning we prepare in the Minthis Golf Clubhouse with a full breakfast. INEX's crew has already prepared our bikes. So we set off confidently on what will be the day with the most altimeters. After a short warm-up climb with gradients of over 10%, the first part is mainly downhill.
Challenges
The first big challenge of the day is a 10km climb with an average gradient of 6.5%, which quickly breaks up the group. In the village of Pano Panagia, we gather for coffee and biscuits before tackling the next part of the ride.
The next climb takes us to Kykkos Monastery, a beautiful complex that, as we discover, was founded in the 11th century by the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos. After a well-earned Coca-Cola and snack, we descend to Kalopanayiotis, where we spend the night.
Wonderful stay
Most of us stay at the beautiful Casale Panayiotis Traditional Village Hotel, but Haimar, Pavel and Wouter take on an extra challenge and climb 1,200 metres further to Cyprus' highest point: Mount Olympus. The last 6 km are tough for Pavel and Wouter, but they complete the climb and are rewarded with breathtaking views of the island.
After the drive, some of us visit the Marathasa Winery to taste local specialities. We end the evening with a delicious Greek-inspired dinner, overlooking the valley.
Day 3: The Cima Coppi stage to Mount Olympus
Today the most challenging stage of the Gran Tour Cyprus is on the programme: the Cima Coppi stage. Today the whole group will climb the mountain Olympus, with an altitude of 2,000 metres above sea level.
From the hotel, we climb 20 km, with an average gradient of 6.6%. The road is impressively well maintained and largely marked as a cycle route, alerting motorists to the presence of cyclists.
Pleasant temperature
We leave between 10:00 and 11:00, and thanks to the altitude, the temperature remains pleasant around 20-22°C. After arriving at the summit, we take a group photo on the peak of Mount Olympus, after which we enjoy a spectacular descent to the next picturesque village, Pano Platres.
The relatively short leg means we have time to have a leisurely lunch together and even take a walk to one of the waterfalls near the village, which adds a restful moment to the day's adventure.
Some of us book a massage to refresh our legs for the last two days of the tour. This service is available throughout the trip, provided by the INEX Club support crew.
Tips and tricks
Cycling in Cyprus is a unique experience with breathtaking views and challenging routes. The island of Cyprus is ideal for a cycling holiday. You do need to consider the following:
- Cyprus was a British crown colony until 1960. This is one of the reasons why they drive on the left on the island, instead of on the right as in mainland Europe
- So if you rent a bike, keep in mind that the brakes may be the opposite of what you are used to. So front brake on the right and rear brake on the left, or vice versa.
- Temperatures in Cyprus are very high in summer, heading towards 40 degrees. Make sure you avoid the midday hours then.
- Keep in mind that in winter, snow can be on the Olympos.
