This year, four years after the revival of PPC Tour of Hellas, now integrated into the World Federation’s calendar, the race starts from the hometown of perhaps the most emblematic cyclist in the history of the sport in Greece, Kanellos Kanellopoulos, Patras (2-6)!
This coincidence is an excellent opportunity to remember the old ones and to get to know the younger ones that Kanellos Kanellopoulos is the first Greek to beat the Greek round in 1981, and remained in history as the cycling champion to revive his flight!
In the 20 editions of the event, only two Greeks have succeeded, Kanellopoulos and Vassilis Anastopoulos in 2003. He has two second places in the Greek round in 1986 (Roland Konigshofer – Austria) and in 1987 (Olaf Jentzsch – Germany).
Kanellopoulos was an athlete of the PO. Patras from 1973 to 2018!
He has been a key executive of the National Team since 1977 with over 500 entries. A unique record. His successes stand out the 15 titles in Greek championships on the road and on the track (14 individual and 1 team).
Modern Daedalus
What makes him a “world record”, however, is that in 1988 he was one of the five cyclists selected worldwide to staff an experimental flight to demonstrate engine -free aircraft capabilities.
He threw exclusively with his muscular strength for 119 kilometers from Crete to the coast of Santorini, in 3 hours 54 minutes and 59 seconds. Its performance set up a new worldwide record of distance and flight duration, with an aircraft moving with muscle strength, recorded in the Guinness Book!
Today, shortly before his 68 years, he continues his favorite sport, the one who made him one of the best Greek cyclists of all time. Of course the cycling community knows him, since for many he is a role model and rightly. It is not only his titles, but also his lifestyle and motto. “Cycling in my life is happiness …”.
The iconic Kanellos Kanellopoulos talks about PPC Tour of Hellas and Greek cycling, on the occasion of this year’s round and starting from his city of Patras, on April 1st with the presentation of 20 teams and on April 2 with the festive start of the Great Athletics!
“The round of Greece is necessary to establish and be upgraded. It is also held in different cities in Greece each year. This needs good advertising and promotion to the media so that people can learn. The slogan is “come see” but “avoid the points where the race goes through”.
I would like to emphasize that we had become known because then there was only ERT, so people were learning. Now there are many channels, the public’s interest is broken up, and some are wrong with sports properly. A picture to see, you can stay, ”says Kanellos Kanellopoulos and continues for his favorite bike.
“The bike in Greece is evolving and the behavior of the world has changed. Personally, I would recommend it as a means of transport, as long as they are careful and wearing a helmet. I believe we are a safer country and especially Athens. I would say that in the provincial cities I am a little more afraid of driving behavior. I believe that this will change gradually. ”
Kanellos Kanellopoulos stopped championship in 1993 and his last race was the round of Albania. He lives in Chalandri, is a hagiographer and a retired physical education teacher. She is married to former cycling champion Stella Varelidou and have four children, three boys and one girl.
The entire interview given by Kanellos Kanellopoulos for PPC Tour of Hellas will be published in the official racebook of the race to be presented in a few days in digital and printed form.
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
