For the second consecutive year after its revival, Heraklion will host it “PPC International Cycling Tour of Greece”hosting the 7.7km Prologue (time trial) on May 2nd which will start from the Karteros Beach Sports Center and the 1st stage of the event (187.7km) on May 3rd which will cross a large part of the Regional Unit.

THE Deputy Minister of Sports Lefteris Avgenakis, during a press conference in Heraklion, expressed his satisfaction that the “PPC International Cycling Tour of Greece 2023” after ten years of inactivity, as he said, “is again an event like the Acropolis Rally”, noting that both of these events “are the steam engine of our country’s extroversion, in matters of sports”. He added that it is an International Cycling Tour which “has nothing to envy to other big and traditional cycling tours, such as the Giro d’ Italia, and the Tour de France” and which will involve 20 teams with 120 athletes, and invited the citizens to support this top event with their presence.

Regarding the 1st stage on May 3 starting from Heraklion, it will cross a total of 187.7 km and areas such as Agia Varvara, Gergeri, Zaros, Vorizia, Kamares, Platanos, Tympaki, Phaistos, Moiras, Gortyna, Agioi Deka, Stolou, Asimi, Haraka, Pyrgos, Schinia, Arkalochori, Meleses, Archanes, Knossos, Heraklion and ending at the Venetian Port. The “PPC International Cycling Tour of Greece 2023” will cross three Regions of the country, as after Crete, it is the Peloponnese and Western Greece, while the finish will be in Ancient Olympia on May 5.

“The bicycle should enter more into our lives both as a means of transportation and as a means of entertainment, but also as a means of exercise” said Mr. Avgenakis who expressed his joy, as he emphasized since the beginning of his term at the Ministry of Culture & Sports “we see a different map being formed in our country” in terms of – as he emphasized – the popularity of sports, repeating the goal that as many children as possible are involved in sports.

“Today we are in the 40% of families that trust their children in sports. However, we are not satisfied as we would like this number to be at least 60% in order to reach the percentages of the rest of the European countries” noted Mr. Avgenakis who emphasized that this is “a bet for the next term, as long as the Greek people confirm their trust in the person of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and as long as my prime minister trusts the Ministry of Sports again”.

Vassilis Anastopoulos, member of the Cycling Greece Organizing Committee, referred to the successful presence of the Bicycle Tour last year in Crete which left the best impressions, clarifying that above all else “it is an amazing opportunity to once again advertise the beauties of the place and highlight the Cretan hospitality”.

The Deputy Regional Governor for Sports of the Region of Crete Giorgos Pitsoulis pointed out that through the television coverage “millions of viewers will be able to see what Greece means to us” while the Deputy Mayor of Heraklion Kostas Vardavas in addition to the importance of the event and the advertising for Crete, Heraklion and the country, a big bet is, as he pointed out, “the promotion of the bicycle in our everyday life as an alternative ecological means of transportation for everyone”.

The press conference was attended by the mayor of Faistos Grigoris Nikolidakis, the deputy mayor of Administration and Organization of the Municipality of Archana Asterousia Chara Jeniatakis, as well as the head of the Sponsorship Program of the “PPC Cycling Tour of Greece 2023” Pavlos Athanasoulis, who pointed out that this year’s event will be even more successful than last year’s event, which was broadcast by “42 television stations in 164 countries, which put the “PPC Cycling Tour of Greece” and the beauties of our country in 1.3 billion homes”.