Cyprus Sunshine Cup has fixed the dates for 2012. The European season opener waits again with three rounds for mountainbike pro riders and for the amateurs.

Even though that the 2011 season is not over yet, the organizers of Cyprus Sunshine Cup are announcing the dates for the 2012 events. The oldest and most popular mountain bike series in early spring is already under preparations for 2012. Recently the dates of the events were registered in the UCI.

The concept and the sequence are staying the same as in 2011, so that the participants can combine their training camp with their first races.

The series on the sunny island kicks off the season with the race in Voroklini near Larnaca on February 19 (category C1). Five days later the Afxentia stage race is hold in Macheras Mountains. Again the stage race is registered in SHC category, which means that riders can earn a lot of points. Not at least for some federations this is an interesting point regarding the Olympic qualification system.

The final round will be held at scenic place at the sea front between the ancient ruins of Amathous (C1).

Acclimatization for South Africa

The series ends only two weeks before the world cup season starts in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Pro riders can use the races  as a “crash test” for their winter preparation and to get into race speed. In the same time they can acclimate themselves on Cyprus for the temperatures in Pietermaritzburg.

A lot of top riders have to secure their qualification for the Olympic Games in London in the world cup races. That’s why they have to get into a perfect shape for the first world cups.

Many well-known riders are frequent participants of the series in the sunny Mediterranean Island. World’s number one Jaroslav kulhavy, Olympic Gold Medalist in Beijing 2008 Sabine Spitz, several UCI Elite Teams like Rabobank Giant, Milka Trek- Bart Brentjens, Felt Ötztal X-Bionic, Specialized Factory team, Team Bulls and many more National Teams and riders from around the world are organizing their training camps around the dates of the Sunshine Cup. In 2011 top riders from 31 different countries were on the start line of the series.

Dates Cyprus Sunshine Cup 2012

February, 19                                    Voroklini (C1)

February, 24 to 26                                    Afxentia Macheras Mountains            (SHC)

March, 4                                                Amathous-Agios-Tychon (C1)

Soon more details about the races details and information about Cyprus Sunshine Cup will be available in our website www.cyclingcy.com