Early-bird registration opens on September 1, 2025 at 12pm (Swiss time).
Departure and arrival
How to get there
Airports
Larnaca LCA (official airport) / Paphos PFO
Return transfers from the official airport provided by the organizer with a maximum waiting time of 90 minutes (Add-on option)
Next to the race
Architecture and heritage
From Paphos, the ancient Hellenistic capital and UNESCO World Heritage site, to the hilltop villages of the Tróodos region you'll pass through, Cypriot architecture blends Greek, Byzantine, Frankish and Ottoman influences. Roman mosaics in the House of Dionysus, Byzantine churches with medieval frescoes, and stone houses with red-tiled roofs in villages such as Lefkara and Omodos, bear witness to a rich past.
Near the Akamas peninsula, legends mingle with geography: the Baths of Aphrodite, a grotto lined with fig trees and clear water, are reputed to be where the goddess of love bathed. You'll pass through here before diving down to Paphos via the coastal paths.
Gastronomy: a cuisine of the land and sharing
You won't want to miss the mezze, a cascading array of cheeses (including the famous halloumi), grilled vegetables, marinated meats, fish, olives, hummus and tzatziki. All accompanied by a glass of zivania or commandaria wine, one of the oldest in the world.
Art, music and living traditions
Cypriot culture is also an island of popular songs, folk dances and well-attended religious festivals. In the kafenia, the village cafés, it's not uncommon to hear a lute or violin accompanying a traditional song. One of the reasons for rally timing is that you can enjoy these moments to the full if the opportunity arises.
Hospitality: an art of living
Philoxenia, literally "love of the stranger", is a central value in Cyprus. You'll be riding on gravel tracks in the west of the island, where tourism has done far less to erase traditions, and the locals welcome visitors with sincere simplicity. They'll be happy to offer you a Cypriot coffee, a homemade dessert, advice on your itinerary, or even help if you encounter a problem during a stage. This human warmth contributes to the sense of security and well-being you quickly feel on the island.
Nature: between mountains and sea
You'll ride your bike on trails that look like they were designed for gravel biking in the foothills of Mount Olympus, the island's highest peak. Further west, Akamas is home to one of the last wild regions of the Mediterranean: gorges, cliffs, secret coves and endemic flora. You'll ride on gravel tracks between pine forests, steep paths, turquoise beaches and dense forests. A sort of cyclist's paradise.
