After yesterday’s impressive presentation of the 20 teams and 120 athletes participating in this year’s PPC International Cycling Tour of Greece, in the very beautiful ceremony in the surroundings of the White Tower, it’s time for the competitive action! Let’s look in detail at today’s program, which includes an individual time trial, but also a mass start race, since the first stage is divided into two legs.
Half-stage 1A (Thessaloniki – Thessaloniki, 6 km)
The PPC International Cycling Tour of Greece will start with the individual time trial, 6 kilometers long, which will be held on the beach of Thessaloniki with the starting point at Lefkos Pyrgos Square, an intermediate passage/turn around at the Concert Hall and finishing at the statue of Alexander the Great. On a completely flat course, the 120 cyclists will have the timer as their only opponent and speed as their “ally”.
The first athlete will leave the starting ramp at 9:30 am, while all the others will start their attempt one minute apart from each other. After the completion of the first leg – where the first time differences in the general classification will have been established – the award will be made to the winner (who will also wear the first blue jersey) and the leaders of the individual classifications and points.
Points of interest
km 0: Start / Thessaloniki
km 6: End / Thessaloniki
Half-stage 1B (Thessaloniki – Katerinis Beach, 92.46 km)
A few hours after the end of the timer, the cyclists will gather again in the surrounding area of ​​the White Tower, from where at 15:30 the second leg of the first race day will start, the half-stage of 92.46 kilometers, which will take them from Thessaloniki in Paralia Katerinis.
The peloton will make a counterclockwise semi-circle, to exit the Prefecture of Thessaloniki, pass for a while through the Prefecture of Imathia where the intermediate sprint straight is located (Alexandria, km 42) and enter the Prefecture of Pieria. Now heading south, the athletes, after climbing the first uphill sprint of this year’s event (Paleio Eleftherochori, km 69.3), will complete the route – probably in a mass sprint – at Katerinis Beach.
Points of interest
km 0: Start / Thessaloniki
km 42: Intermediate sprint 1 / Alexandria
km 69.3: Sprint climb 1 – Cat. 3 / Paleo Eleftherochori
km 92.46: Termination / Katerinis Beach
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