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Tuesday, 02 February 2010 00:49 |
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Three weeks before the Cyprus Sunshine Cup 2010 kicks off the registration list shows a lot of top riders. Among all are the two winners of the overall titles 2009: Swedish girl Alexandra Engen and Periklis Ilias from Greece.
Alexandra Engen in 2009 was a big surprise winning three stages, the Cyprus Sunshine Cup overall and wearing the LAWI leader jersey. Later in the season the friendly girl from Scandinavia confirmed these efforts by winning the silver medal both an u23 world championships and u23 European championships.
After a such successful season Alexandra Engen in the jersey of her new team Rothaus-Cube takes again the same way to prepare 2010. “My main intention is to get a good preparation and a nice start of a long and exciting season. But it would be fun to defend the title”, Engen says.
“I like the trails, the organisation and the atmosphere in the Cyprus Sunshine Cup and it gives me a lot of joy to be there”, the 21 years old talent continues.
In mens competition it was Periklis Ilias who was taking the overall title 2009. The young Greek guy has again registered for the Cup. Together with him his ISD Team will join the races on the sunny island. There are interesting names like Sergiy Rysenko (Ukr) and Christoph Bischof (Sui).
Emil Lindgren (Swe), who won two stages in last years edition, meanwhile has become father of a son, but also will stay on Cyprus for training and racing again.
There are also many riders use Cyprus and the Sunshine Cup to prepare for the Cape Epic in South Africa so the winner of 2009 Stefan Sahm and Karl Platt riding for Team Bulls. They find it suitable for this as they can have a good training camp in warm weather and races to go for high intensity.
That sounds good for Cyprus Tourism Organisation CTO which is supporting the mountainbike sport and the Sunshine Cup. The CTO expects the riders having a lot of fun on the island. Cycling and mountainbiking is the second sports tourism industry on the mediterranean island after football.
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The organizing committee also announces some changes on the course of Amathous. Start and finish will be in the Archaeological site, and the course will pass near the "Acropolis"of Amathous. It is
slightly more difficult than last year. „For the riders I think it’s a good test before the big races“, events organizer Mike Hadjioannou expects.
Incidentally all the race courses as well as many other routes soon will be available on Garmin Cyprus connect website.
He also plans a welcoming and „start of the year party“ in Limassol in the beginning of March. This is connected to the „bikers village“ concept which has become reality first time. Many international teams and riders will stay in the same area in Limassol, where are really good training conditions as well as some hotels offering extra services like bike rooms to the Cyprus Sunshine Cup riders. Additionally there will be a bike mechanic in the Central hotel in Limassol who will be serving all bikes. |
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