by Penny Comins

The UK magazine Cycling Weekly published an article on the 2010 Tour of Cyprus in its April 22 issue. Liz Dimmock and Patrick Hawkins took part in the Tour and talk about their experience. Here are some quotes from the article: 

I enjoyed the huge climbs, charged down the wicked hairpins. 

Day one is all climbing, 1,600 metres away from seal level into the mountains. Climbing up to Machairas Monastery is a windy battle in the midday heat. Not steep enough to walk, yet long enough to make you wonder how you will last another three days. The view of the twisty road below the worshipping grounds is even better than it looks.

Liz Dimmock (32)

Highlights for me—beautiful cycling, great people, awesome support and coordination, and it was amazing to meet such a range of nationalities (16!). I also really enjoyed the opportunity to cycle with some of the elite riders, cycling in a peloton with them was great too. An eye-opener, and I enjoyed the different pace—albeit for only a short time.

Patrick Hawkins (42)

It was not like any other sportive. With the A group including commercial teams, it really did provide for some truly hardcore racing in the timed and elimination sections.