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...

We arrived at the plateau of Vardousia at 1820 m where the view of the snow capped peaks left us dumb! In the final part of the route we descended through a forest road to our final destination, the village of Athanasios Diakos where we had a warm welcome.

Detailed results of the 5th Stage:

Vernon Endurance Kotopoulos Theodore - Kontelas Dimitris .............................. 7:07:00
1000 Dentra Samoladas Anthony - George Frangoulis ........................................ 7:12:00
Panachaiko bike team Gotsis Andreas - Constantinos Athanasopoulos Seretis .... 8:41:00
The Northern Tsoulouchas George - Tsiavtaris Michael ........................................ 9:47:00 (+2 h penalty)
Achoristoi Filoi Koumenidis Tasos - Klipfel Zak ........................................... ......... 10:20:00

3 Day Odyssey

Kampouropoulos Alexis - Kalogeropoulos Gregory ........... 6:13:00
THE WOLVES Anthony Kourtis - Savvas Angelatos ....................... 7:14:07
C DREAM Exarchos Georgios - Kenelleas Stavros............................ 9:38:00