Every cyclist sets goals. Ever since I heard about Cyclo 200k. I set myself the goal. I started training two months ago. The longest ride in my life was 140km. So I needed 60km more to finish Cyclo 200k Challenge.
I had a problem with transportation from Larnaca to Nicosia early in the morning on Sunday 19th of April. However, help came to me from Andreas from FAROS Cycling Club in Larnaca (FAROS facebook page: here). I'm very grateful for his help and I thank him again. We arrived in Nicosia at 7:15. We had confirmed participation paid entry fees. I picked up an event card and a cue sheet indicating the route and the location of the checkpoints. Cyclo 200k had 4 check points: Lefkara, Amathounta, Athienou and finishing pointin Cyclo Shop.
The challenge started on time which is very important to notice because as we know that is not usual in Cyprus. Very big and long peloton got underway to the first checkpoint Lefkara in assistance of the motorbiker who covered us on cross roads. First part of the way we rode together in one group. When the first elevations started peloton splited for three groups. Every group rode in their own tempo. Climbing was accompanied by beautiful views that were created by the sunrise. First point was in perfect place, because of the many riders; it was a good warm up before the big climbing. We filled our bottles and ate bananas.
The next "stage" was really exhausting. After Lefkara the steepest part of the route was waiting for us. The peloton split in many small groups of several people. Before starting I thought that climbing will be the hardest part of the challenge. As it turned out the hardest part was fighting with myself. Hills were very steep, the slope was above 9% . The views around roads were breathtaking. Hills in the sun and theflora on the hills made a big show! Dew rising into the sky in the valleys hiding the height at which we were.
I love nature for her law: "after uphill there is always a downhill". On downhills we must be very careful, because the slope roads ended at very tight curves. Remember about your breaks before you go on the hills because it could end badly for your life. During downhills I regained strength. Last part of the route before Amathounta was really fast, for sure it's possible ride there 70 km/h. I rode only 59 km/h because I was very careful and I wanted to go out of the way. The way guided me to the second checkpoint in Amathounta.
After this point I should leave my friends from Faros because they were riding too fast for me. The next part of the route was the hardest stage. We had 78 km to the next checkpoint and 114 km to finish. It was a flat part of the route but in legs we had something near 2500 meters of elevation after climbing. When we approached to Ziji I made a break for pee and I lost my group. Lucky enough I had seashore wind and it pushed me up! Fortunately I met them later at a shop in Kity. I didn't expect that but when we were riding through Kalo Chorio In that moment in my mind I started fighting with myself. I realized that I had only 15 km to home and maybe i should've left the challenge. I didn't give up and I got to the last checkpoint in Athienou. It wasn't so easy because before Athienou there are two high uphills. The vision of the finishing point motivated me.
The last stage was peaceful and consequent part of the route. I was riding my tempo to finish. Small climb before Dali and I rode straight to Nicosia. Last uphill before city and we were there. Only a few kilometers divided us from the finish line.
I made it!
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| Event card belonging to the 46 heroes |
I finished this challenge. I survived this crazy adventure in Cyprus. Officially I want to announce that the Cycle Shop is the best bike shop in the world because inside the shop they have a beer distributor! As everybody knows the best isotonic is not powerade or gatorade but BEER! Cheers for everyone who took the challenge and finished it! Only 46 persons survived and among those people myself! Thank you very much Cycle Shop for this unusual challenge and Faros cycling club for their hospitality.
Cyclo Shop
website: www.cyclo-shop.com
facebook www.facebook.com/cycloshop
FAROS Cycling Club in Larnaca
facebook: www.facebook.com/FarosCyclingClub
I know that photos are shuffled but I don't remember where directli I took it.
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