The Bike Odyssey became a reality thanks to the work of the following people who contributed in different posts in the organization
The team:
CHRISTOS MAKRIGIANNIS
ALKIVIADIS SPAGKOUROS
IOANNA MAKRIGIANNI
TSAMOUDAKI AFRODITI
FOTIS ANTONOPOULOS
KATERINA TSOULOUCHA
APOSTOLOU STAVROS
TSOUNI SOTIRIA
ANTHIMOS KONSTANTINOS
TSOUNI MARIA
PHOTOS: AGOROS KONSTANTINOS
Important contributors:
VOLUNTEER SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM- MESOLOGGIOY
"DIONYSUS: ATHLETIC CLUB OF AMPHIKLIA
Bike Odyssey 2013: Mahindra vehicles are proving that they are made for hard work in the toughest conditions!
The hardest requirements of an mtb race was present at B.O. but the Mahindra stood up to the challenge ... Having already carry out its part of the preparation of the race, the rugged vehicles were next to us throughout the race, contributing greatly to the work of the organization. They covered a lot of posts, they faced all the difficulties at the mountains of Pindos and overcame every obstacle.
Significant contribution of Mahindra vehicles in one of the most crucial points of the race, that of rescue team transportation. The transfer of members of the rescue group and timely placement at critical points along the route was a case of reliable vehicles Mahindra.
Thanks to the confidence, assertiveness and the dynamics of these vehicles the transfer of our Messologhi Rescue team were made possible and athletes felt throughout the race safe and had total coverage.
One of the most important aspects of the organization was covered by the Volunteer Search and Rescue Team of Messolonghi city.
The team covered this demanding post of the longest cycling adventure the whole time, from Laista (start) to Amfiklia (finish). Eight days our rescuers were alongside providing us safety and their valuable services.
Many thanks to:
Three of the rescuers Xanthi, Basilis and Spiros, who supported us for eight days and were next to the athletes and organizers constantly and covered any need.
*8 days
*550 km
* 20.000 m elevation gain
On June 2nd, 2013 the first Bike Odyssey was successfully completed. The first edition of the eight-day mountain bike race, a unique event in Greece and one of the toughest races around the world is part of the history!
The unprecedented for our country organization was very successful as both athletes and the audience were happy with the result. Eight days of mountain biking in the most beautiful routes of Pindos Mountains at northern and central Greece. From the picturesque Laista to its final destination, Amfiklia city, athletes had the opportunity to cross parts of unbelievable natural beauty, go through national parks, rivers and historic villages and feel the intensity and adrenaline of one of the toughest races in the world. The route crosses on its way with 41 other mountain villages of Greece where local people greeted us with great joy.
Final results/ Bike Odyssey 2013:
View Results per race
The penultimate stage of Bike Odyssey was successfully completed. The rally started from the village "Athanasios Diakos' and kept descending towards the river "rinorema". The athletes crossed the river 2 times and started the climb to the village Panourgias. The race leading team was that of Kotopoulos- Kontelas until the first downhill path where they were overtaken by the team of the Tsoulouchas - Tsiavtaris. The last path that led towards Gravia was quite technical and ended seven kilometers before the finish. In the last few kilometers, the two preceding groups gave tough battle for first place and the final winner was Tsoulouchas - Tsiavtaris team.
Regarding the 3Day Bike Odyssey, the team of Kamporopoulos - Kalogeropoulos won with great ease.
31/05/2013
The start of the fifth stage of the race took place in rainy and cold weather, in the village of Megali Kapsi at the slopes of Timfristos mountain. Athletes of both 8day and three-day event began at 10.00 towards the village Pougkakia, rode in a stunning tree-lined dirt road (trees, chestnut) and passed through some beautiful villages (Grammeni Oksia and Artotina). From Pougkakia to the shelter of Grammeni Oksia, in a path where the trees form a natural tunnel crossing. The teams followed a steep track to the village of Grammeni Oksia where the river "Evinos" flows from, and a passage from the bridge of Evinou up a road section that lead us to Artotina.
After escaping a wave of bees (!) we left behind Artotina and started the climb to Vardousia mountains...
Bike Odyssey – 3o etap
Αργιθέα – Άγραφα
29/05/2013
Το τρίτο ετάπ του αγώνα πραγματοποιήθηκε στις 29/05/2013. Μία πανέμορφη διαδρομή 57 χλμ. τμήμα της οποίας προχωρούσε παράλληλα με τον Αγραφιώτη ποταμό, με αρκετά δύσκολα τμήματα που απαιτούσαν αυξημένες αντοχές από τους αθλητές.
Η διαδρομή που ξεκινούσε από τα περίπου 900 μ ., είχε γενικά μεγάλες υψομετρικές και εναλλαγές στη θερμοκρασία . Προχωρώντας προς τα Άγραφα το υψόμετρο έφτασε μέχρι τα 1700μ. Αν και το κρύο ήταν τσουχτερό η απόλαυση ήταν μεγάλη καθώς η άγρια ομορφιά των βουνών των Αγράφων (η νότια απόληξη της Πίνδου) δεν άφησε κανέναν ασυγκίνητο! Η φύση σε όλο της το μεγαλείο, με άγρια βλάστηση, έλατα, ψηλές κορυφές και βαθιές χαράδρες. Μικρά και μαγευτικά χωριουδάκια που συναντήσαμε στο πέρασμά μας : Τροβάτο, Λιβάδια, Πετρίλο, Κρανιά (Χάρις), Κουστέσα και Βραγγιανά . Για να φτάσουν στον τερματισμό οι αθλητές έπρεπε δε, να διανύσουν το τελευταίο ανηφορικό κομμάτι του ετάπ, μήκους 5 χλμ!
2ο ετάπ
Ανθούσα – Αργιθέα!
28/05/2013
Από το πανέμορφο χωριουδάκι της Ανθούσας ξεκίνησε το 2ο ετάπ του Bike Odyssey.
Με τον καλό καιρό σύμμαχο οι αθλητές κινήθηκαν σε μία διαδρομή που περιλάμβανε το μεγαλύτερο ασφάλτινo τμήμα του αγώνα. Περάσαμε μέσα από δύο τούνελ και από τα ενδιάμεσα χωριά: Μεσοχώρα (πάνω από το φράγμα του Αχελώου ), Βαθύρρεμα, Μεταμόρφωση, Ανθηρό, Λαγκάδι, και κοντά από πολλά άλλα χωριά της περιοχής. Ο τερματισμός στο χωριό Αργιθέα σε ένα ειδυλλιακό τοπίο δίπλα στο ποτάμι της Αργιθέας!
Στον αγώνα πό νωρίς αποσπάστηκε η ομάδα Vernon Endurance με τον Θοδωρή Κοτόπουλο να τραβάει στην πρώτη μεγάλη ανηφόρα και τον συναθλητή του Δημήτρη Κοντέλα! Ακολουθούσαν πιο πίσω οι Τσιαβτάρης – Τσουλουχάς (The Northern) και Αθανασόπουλος – Γκότσης ( Panachaiko Bike Team) με τον Αθανασόπουλο να έχει αντιμετωπίσει τεχνική βλάβη (χρειάστηκε να αλλάξει ποδήλατο). Αντωνόπουλος – Κλαπανάρα και Klipfel – Κουμενίδης ακολουθούσαν πιο πίσω.
Το BikeOdyssey είναι ένας 8ήμερος XC (Cross Country) ποδηλατικός αγώνας που διασχίζει την οροσειρά της Πίνδου. Είναι ο δυσκολότερος αγώνας στην Ελλάδα και ένας από τους δυσκολότερους παγκοσμίως.