GIANT team visits Cyprus for some quality training in road cycling and mountain biking

Description

Marianne Vos :

The year 2012 has been fantastic for me, with two World titles (road
and cyclocross) and Olympic Gold in London big dreams came true.
This new season I have some new challenges, starting with my first
mountain bike race on Cyprus: the Afxentia Tour. For me it‘s great to
have the opportunity to go to Cyprus for training and racing, because
of the favourable circumstances.
The nice roads trough the mountains will make it perfect for road
training and I heard the single tracks on the mountain bike will be
spectacular. As the weather is normally good, the combination of all
these things make me look forward to the stay on the island!


Oscar Saiz (Giant technical coach)
After many years as a professional athlete and later as a trainer / coach of Giant’s elite team riders , I know the importance of a good start in the season. Cyprus sunshine cup fulfills my requirements as a coach by being early in the season , ideal climate conditions and a prestigious event that has been taken place in the International scene for yet so many years.Can’t wait to fire up the season in Cyprus!

Henk Jaap Moorlag,
The Cyprus climate in the winter and the excellent conditions for training and the highly competitive Sunshine Cup Cyprus allows for an excellent start in the year and the rest of my calendar.
Thank you Cyprus, here I come !

Fabian Giger

I‘m racing now for like 15 years and I‘m a team member of the Giant XC Pro Team for the 4th year.
My biggest achievements are the Under 23 European- and Swiss champion title in 2009 and my 5th place at the Worlds in 2012. Further, I " m currently ranked 4th in the UCI Ranking.
I am looking forward to kick off the season under the Cyprus winter sun.
It‘s nice for me to go away from the snow in Switzerland and train and race in Cyprus.
The races are on a very high level and a perfect test for the shape. Further the tracks are very nice.
Most I like the Afxentia Stage Race in the Macheras Mountains.
Luckily we are there with the whole Team and i get a good support. So I can focus on the races and hopefully make good results.

Name: Emil Lindgren
Born: 1985 in Falun, abouttwohoursnorth of Stockholm
Location: Säter, Sweden, between being on tour
Family: Fiance Anna and son Sune National Cycling Club: CK Naten, Säter
UCI-Trade Team: Giant PRO XC Team Height: 173 cm
Weight: 62-65 kg
Shoe size: 40-41
Main weapon: GIANT Advanced XTC and Advanced SL 29:er

When living in north of Europe we are forced to travel south for riding in good weather conditions. I think that Cyprus has a good structure with nice quiet roads and a spectacular mountain where MTB fits perfectly.
The Cyprus Sunshine cup is a perfect way of testing both form, bikes and also enjoying the weather.
I am looking forward so much to spending quality time in Cyprus this February and March. The beginning of Spring in Cyprus is a gorgeous time to be there- See you soon !

Jolanda Neff (Current World, European and Swiss Champion U23, riding for the Giant Pro XC Team):

This year I will start my mountain bike racing season in Cyprus at the Afxentia Race. I have never been to Cyprus before but I’m looking forward a lot to discover this island, especially because many other riders told me how beautiful the tracks are. It sounds like the events are well organized and Cyprus is a good place to ride your bike. We will go there with the whole Giant Pro XC Team and some of my teammates have been there before to start their season. Since the race is already at the end of February and the beginning of March, it is early in the season and gives you already an idea how good your winter training has been. The World Cups start only in May this year but nevertheless I can’t wait to race in Cyprus and get a first impression of my shape. This will be my second year in the U23 category and my main goals are to defend my European and World Champions title, so hopefully I can make a good start into the season in Cyprus.

Michiel van der Heijden U23 World Cup Series Winner, silver World Championships & Silver European Championships Giant Pro XC Team. Dutch Champion XC

Cyprus is for me a perfect moment to start my mountain bike season. The island has nice roads for endurance training and perfect single trails for off-road riding. The courses of the races are technical and nice, also the competition level is quite high. I’m looking forward to come to Cyprus.

From all the team greetings to our Cyprus friends and invite everybody else out there to join us , for some quality riding on the road and in the hills and mountains of Cyprus ,
Leo.

Recommended Faces and Places

• Leo Van Zeeland Cycling coach