Share on Facebook Share on Twitter “Cycling Hellas” with the Cycling Sports Club PINEIOS, the Region of Thessaly, the Region of Central Greece, the Municipality of Tempi, the Municipality of Delphi, the Municipality of Lamia, co-organize on Saturday July 15 the cycling event with the denomination “1st Tour of Daphne ” under the auspices of Hellenic Republic Ministry of Tourism an Hellenic National Tourism Organization. Its aim is to develop the athletic, recreational and cultural tourism in our country. In parallel, to develop mass sports and cycling in one hand, and on the other to touristically develop the areas implicated and designate the local products. The cycling event (with road bicycles) is intended for long distance enthusiasts who love the history of our country, as they will cover 230 kilometres. It will start from the Valley of Tempi of Larissa and will finish at the Oracle of Delphi carrying a myth and a history. The history: According to the myth, God Apollo was in love with the daughter of Pineios Daphne. He fell deeply in love with her and started continuously chasing her. After a frantic chase and adventures, the moment that the nymph would fall exhausted in the god’s arms, with a cry of desperation asked from her father, the river Pineios, to help her. Her father transformed her to a plant, the laurel, which is found in abundance in the valley, when Apollo tried to embrace her. Thus she found herself all green and shiny in the banks of the river with her feet deeply rooted in her mother, mother Earth. Apollo bitter, cut a branch, wove a wreath and wore it to alleviate his grief for the loss of his love. He swore that “daphne” (laurel) would be the sacred tree and would forever wear a laurel wreath. Since then the laurel became the sacred plant of God Apollo with which the pilgrims were adorned, after the lustration and rituals, began in procession from the temple of Apollo in Tempi for Delphi, as the God himself did, by transferring the laurels to Delphi from the valley of Tempi. In the rituals that took place in Delphi to honour the God Apollo, the use of the laurel was to honour and commemorate the mythical nymph with the same name Daphne that the God had fallen in love with. The myth explains and justifies the relation of the plant with the prophecies of the Oracle of Delphi. According to the tradition, the oracle of Apollo listened to the rustle of the laurel leaves, Pythia herself, chewed laurel leaves or inhaled the smoke from burning laurel leaves in order to fall in ecstasy and give her prophecies, while the temple was swept with laurel bundles. The Pythian Games were festive games in Ancient Greece that took place in Delphi to honour God Apollo. They had a panhellenic range and constituted the most important event after the Olympic Games. They included music and sports competitions. The winners of the Pythian games were crowned with laurel leaves. In the same footsteps of god Apollo, the cyclists will begin from the spring of Daphne and like the ancient pilgrims will head towards Delphi currying laurels from the valley of Tempi and will deposit them to the Oracle. There the cyclists will have the chance to spend the night in hotels of the area, and the following day they will take a tour to the Oracle of Delphi and later they will all watch the Popular running race (as a small revival of the Pythian games) that we will organize in cooperation with the Municipality of Delphi and the Region of Central Greece! The winners of the race will be crowned with the laurels that the cyclists had carried! With your participation you contribute to the revival of history…!!! EVENT DESCRIPTION: Date Saturday 15 July 2017 Start: Valley of Tempi in the parking of Agia Paraskevi Larissa Start time: 7:30 am Finish: The Oracle of Delphi. Deposit of laurel branches. Course: 230 kilometres. Agia Paraskevi Tempi, Evaggelismos, Makrychori, Larissa, Farsala, Domokos, Lamia, Gravia, Amphissa, Oracle of Delphi. REGULATIONS-PARTICIPATION TERMS: * The right of participation have those who are 18 years of age and will fill the relative participation form. * The participants will race with their own exclusive responsibility. * The Organisation Committee (OC) is not responsible for any injury or damage of the cyclists, or any health problems, due to the absence of preventive medical control. The participants by submitting the participation form declare that their health condition is good and permits them to participate, and that they have recently been examined by a physician for this reason. No medical certificates will be requested by the OC. * The OC bears no responsibility for any loss or damage of materials and waives any responsibility for accident or damage that can take place before, during and after the event, among participants, or with third parties. * Furthermore, the OC reserves the right to expel any participant who demonstrates bad behaviour before, during or after the event. * It is prohibited for a cyclist to participate in the event starting with the number of another cyclist. * An expulsion will be enforced to cyclists who will throw garbage outside the feeding zones. Cycling is an ecological sport and we have to defend it in such a way. * The OC reserves the right to use photos and videos where a participating cyclist appears. * ATTENTION!!! All the participants must move to the right during the whole duration of the route and observe the Highway Code (H.C.). According to the H.C. lights and gilets are obligatory half an hour before sunrise and half an hour after sundown. In case of breakdown on the road, the cyclists stop at the right side of the road, for their own safety and the safety of other passers-by. Necessary equipment for breakdown (pump, inner tube, levers etc.). Control points will exist at the start, Lamia and finish. Keep a line for your easier service. The cyclists participating in the event and their companions accept the above rules and are obliged to observe them. DIRECTIONS TO THE PARTICIPANTS ACCOMPANYING CARS: The companions must move behind the group of the participant they accompany. In no way should they precede or obstruct the commissaire’s car preceding the race. The cars must move on the right side of the road as dictated by the Highway Code. The drivers are responsible for their vehicle and must immediately observe the suggestions and directions of the Organization Committee. During the stops / regrouping, they must stop to the right, before or after the cyclists’ stop area, in a way that does not obstruct the smooth circulation of the passing cars and bicycles. They must never precede the main group or single cyclists at a distance smaller than 50 meters. They never follow the main group or single cyclists at a distance smaller than 20 meters. They do not provide assistance to any cyclist in a way that encumbers the smooth circulation, opposes the H.C. and the ethics code for the conduct of cycling races (pulling / drafting a cyclist) or/and encumbers the position of another athlete. In case of emergency or for the provision of help, they must ALWAYS take into consideration the other cyclists and passers-by in general, taking a position in the road that does not encumber the smooth flow and circulation of the cyclists and other vehicles. It is prohibited for the drivers or companions to throw anywhere along the course any object or garbage. COURSE TECHNICAL BRIEFING: The 230 kilometres course is recorded on a roadbook and on GPS. The athletes can analyse and study the course by clicking on the link: https://flow.polar.com/training/analysis/1524427054# During all the course, support cars and refrigerator trucks for providing food and water, service by “Dalavikasbikes” in stations for mechanical support for the cyclists, commissaire no. 2 preceding the race, broom wagon, cyclists, companions, first aid vehicles, truck for the transportation of bicycles, bus, athletes’ companions who wish to accompany behind the group will be moving in a convoy. The cyclists will necessarily move together in a group until Nikaia Larissa, and then they can move freely with their own rhythm until the finish. Check points for stamping the card will exist at the start, at Farsala, at the Central Square of Lamia and at the finish at Delphi. The Check point in Lamia open at 11.30 am to 3.30pm. The Check point in Farsala open at 9.30 am to 12.30pm. The Check point in Delphi open at 2.30 am to 10.30pm. For the cyclists who for any reason abandon the course, there is the possibility to load their bicycle on the broom wagon. The athletes who finish at the organization arch must stamp the card and deposit the Laurel branch on a special area at the entrance of the Archaeological Area. FEEDING ZONES: There will be six feeding stations with water / food along the route: 1st zone for water, on the 42nd km at Nikaia Larissa. 2nd small zone for food / water on the 78th km at Farsala. 3rd small zone for food / water on the 107th km at Domokos. 4th zone with food buffet and water on the 141st km at the Lamia Central Square. 5th small zone with food buffet and water on the 179th km at Gravia. 6th zone with food buffet and water on the 230th km at the finish at Delphi. PARTICIPATION DECLARATIONS: The participation declarations open on June 7th and strictly end on Sunday July 9th. After the end of the above date no participation declaration will be accepted. The participants must fill the electronic form-declaration and with its submission they accept all the above regulations and terms of the event. ENVELOPE DISTRIBUTION: The Organization Committee will send an envelope by post to the event participants that will include the number, the participation card, the Statutory Declaration – Bike report form, the roadbook, organization telephone list and board card in hotels. NOTE: Attention!! All the athletes must write on the back of the number they will receive, their name, blood group, chronic condition, e.g. allergies, asthma, medication they might take during that period and finally contact details with a relative. PROVISIONS TO THE CYCLISTS: Commemorating medal for everyone with the event details. Commemorating diploma for everyone with the event details. The race number as commemoration. Food (bars, dairy products, bananas, baked goods, juices). Provision of medical service during the course. Mechanical support Service in all the stations (Domokos, Lamia, Gravia). Insurance coverage for personal accident during the cycling event. Broom wagon REGISTRATION: The cyclists wishing to participate, before filling the participation form must deposit the participation amount of 20 euros in the account: IBAN ACCOUNT: GR0809101080000431541710018, Bank of Thessaly HOLDER: Dalavikas Kostas NOTE: They must mention “ TOUR Of DAPHNI ” and the name of the depositor-cyclist. ACCOMMODATION: Hotels close to the start area A) 20 Euros -> accommodation for Friday and breakfast on Saturday close to the start area, in two bed or three bed rooms. “Hotel Alexiou” C’ category in Stomio. http://www.hotel-alexiou.gr/ B) accommodation for Friday and breakfast on Saturday close to the start area (50 euros single bed room, 65 euros double bed room, 75 euros three bed room). “Hotel Kouria” C’ Category in Ampelakia. http://www.hotelkouria.gr/ C) accommodation for Friday and breakfast on Saturday close to the start area (40 euros single bed room, 55 euros double bed room, 65 euros three bed room). “Hotel 9 Mouses” C’ Category in Ampelakia. For room reservation you can contact with the above Hotels. Hotels close to the finish area A)27 Euros -> dinner on Saturday, accommodation, breakfast on Sunday at Delphi in two bed or three bed rooms. Hotels C’ category in Delphi. For room reservation you can contact Mrs Mariza Tsotsa on 6936810308 responsible for accommodation until July 10. Note: Those who will stay at Delphi can select a tour in the archaeological space at Delphi. The entrance ticket bears on the participants. The guide is offered by the organization. Later on they can watch the events organized by the Municipality of Delphi. You can find information about them on the website: www.Cyclinghellas.gr . ATHLETES TRANSPORTATION: The athletes from the areas and towns of Thessaly without a companion, can park their cars on National road – intersection Gonnoi – Ampelakia, where there is a large parking area. The athletes from Athens without a companion can be transported to the hotels next to the start with the organization bus. On Sunday will be transported by bus from Delphi back to Athens. The athletes from Central Greece without a companion can also be transported, on Sunday, by bus from Delphi back at the start to take their cars. For reservation in the buses please contact Mr. Panagiotis Bourikas on time on 6983512545 until June 25. The Organisation Committee (OC) try to have for free the bus transportation. For more info regarding the transportation and schedule you will be informed of the www.Cyclinghellas.gr . ATHLETES’ AWARDS: A commemorating diploma and medal with the details of the event will be awarded to all the athletes who finish at the Archaeological area of Delphi. CANCELLATION-POSTPONEMENT-MODIFICATION: In the case of extreme adverse weather, the Organization Committee reserves the right to postpone the event. In case of cancellation the Organization Committee will return the participation amount in whole. INFO: The company Cyclinghellas has undertaken the coordination of the event, www.cyclinghellas.gr. You will find continuous notifications and details for various subjects of the event on the website. Contact numbers for questions-clarifications: * Regarding the event you can contact us on the following numbers: 2410 552815, 6944255177 , 6944226876. Contact Persons: Despoina Tsesmetzidou Dalavika, Kostas Dalavikas, e-mail: info@dalavikasbikes.gr , FB: https://www.facebook.com/cyclinghellas * Regarding the accommodation you can contact us on the following numbers: 6936810308, Contact person: Mariza Tsotsa, e-mail: martsotsa@yahoo.gr * Regarding the transfer with a bus from and to Athens and to Thessaly you can contact the number: 6983512545. Contact Person: Panagiotis Bourikas, e-mail: pankospanos@gmail.com Cyclinghealls is eager to host and offer you a rich cycling experience.
