The Hellenic Cycling Federation has announced the composition of the National Team of Greece, which will participate in the PPC Cycling Tour of Greece from May 2 to 6. The federal coach, Fotis Zeglis, came up with the six cyclists that he considers to be in the best competitive condition and can meet the requirements of this year’s event. In addition to the federal coaches, Fotis Zegli & Nikos Koumbenakis, the delegation will be accompanied by the National Teams Commissioner, Yiannis Papastamatakis.
The Greek team consists of the following athletes:
– Miltiadis Giannoutsos (AEOLOS)
– Ioannis Davarias (Overall Cycling Team)
– Nikolaos Michael Drakos (ASD Aries Cycling)
– Pericles Ilias (CRONOS NICAIA)
– Giorgos Bouglas (KRONOS NICAIA)
– Polychronis Tzortzakis (TALOS)
REPLACEMENTS
– Charalambos Kastradas (AEOLOS)
– Martinos Moutsios (PANATHINAIKOS A.O.)
– Ioannis Varotsos (P.O. PATRON)
“We are ready for the big challenge” declare Tjortzakis and Bouglas
“I’m excited, but at the same time a little stressed. I dare say that the PPC Tour of Greece is a target race for me, I owe it to myself to be in good shape and to fight for the best. I think my teammates too they have the same anxiety”, were the first statements of Polychronis Tzortzakis about his participation in the PPC Cycling Tour of Greece.
George Bouglas, who was absent from last year’s event, said in turn: “I was saddened that I was not able to be present in the first year of the revival of the PPC Cycling Tour of Greece due to a serious injury in the Tour of Turkey, but this year I feel ready to give my best me together with the rest of my five teammates and collect valuable points that will put us on the path to qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games”.
Our national team this season
Until now, in 2023, the Greek National Team has taken part in three international competitions. The season started with the best omens at the Tour of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates), where Tjortzakis, Bouglas, Ilias, Arvanitou, Drakos and Zeglis, put in an excellent performance, finishing 6th in the team standings.
Afterwards, our National Team took part in the three international competitions of Rhodes, completing its presence there with the participation in the International Tour of Rhodes. Giorgos Bouglas wore the red points jersey for two days, finishing in 36th place overall. Panagiotis Christopoulos (48th), Polychronis Tzortzakis (57th), Nikos Drakos (58th) and Nikiforos Arvanitou (64th) followed.
The third and last race of our National Team was Syedra Ancient City (one day in Turkey), with an amazing performance from our athletes. Polychronis Tzortzakis took the victory, Periklis Ilias climbed to the third step of the podium and Giorgos Bouglas finished in 4th place. The impressive placings of the Greek athletes (under the supervision of coach Giorgos Maniatis), brought 85 valuable points to our representative group, in the battle for qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
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