The sixth edition of EPIC Gran Canaria has been officially presented to get underway this Friday with the previous day and on Saturday with the sports competition. Less than 48 hours before an international cycling weekend, the test is finalizing details for its starting signal today with its presentation, warming up the pedals for two days of cycling on the island.
The star event in the south of Gran Canaria, the EPIC Gran Canaria, will once again be the first event in the cycling calendar in the south of Gran Canaria with its sixth edition, which will be held on February 11 and 12, 2023. There are already more than 420 participants from around twenty nationalities registered in a new edition that is integrated into the UCI International cycling calendar and as a qualifying event in the Gran Fondo World Tour.
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The director of the EPIC Gran Canaria Riu Hotels & Resorts, Yojanán Reyes, has celebrated that the event “continues to increase in participation” with an “incredible” reception for this sixth edition. On this occasion, the poster is dedicated to Davide Rebellin who “accompanied us in all editions of this race and unfortunately is no longer with us.” The EPIC Gran Canaria Riu Hotels & Resorts once again brings together “runners with history” in addition to expanding the program with round tables and conferences on the previous day. As she has celebrated, the nutritionist and influencer Endika Montiel will begin with the conferences this Friday the 10th starting at 16 p.m. and “has filled the 150 available places in just a few hours.”
As the director has expressed, cycling is “the sport that generates the most income on the island”, so “having an event of this type allows the cyclist and not only the cyclist to get to know Gran Canaria and be ambassadors of the destination. in the world”, on a tour “through the least known island” for its promotion from sport, safety and magnificent conditions for this discipline.
This has been reaffirmed by the two-time world champion and record holder, Mario Cipollini, who has declared himself “very happy to be here for the third time”, because “Gran Canaria is a perfect island for cycling”, because “the nature of the island is a cyclist.” For the Italian athlete “it offers in just one hour a unique trip from wonderful, comfortable and modern hotels to the high mountains” in a contrast that seems “made to be enjoyed on the bicycle.” Furthermore, he highlighted that in Gran Canaria he feels “very safe” because “there is a lot of respect for bicycles, which is something that we do not have in Italy or practically anywhere in the world” and that for him it is “one of the great advantages.” of the island compared to other places to train or compete.”
One of the oldest competitors in the event has delved into the same idea, Fred Rompelberg, who broke the absolute world record for bicycle speed with 268 km/h and this weekend, at the age of 77, returns to the pedals to demonstrate that He is in the best shape and there is no age to enjoy cycling. He discovered Gran Canaria in 1972 and since then he returns every winter, some years up to 5 times. “There is no better place to enjoy cycling, the sun, a warm winter, safe roads,” he said, “there is no destination like Gran Canaria.”
The sales director of Riu Hotels&Resorts, Maurice Damen, has celebrated the arrival of this sixth edition in what he defines as “a family event” that celebrates 6 years that “has gone very quickly, from the idea to a consolidated test and success". Maurice Damen has no doubt that “it will continue to get bigger”, this year already breaking records with more than 420 registered from 18 nationalities.
The mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Concepción Narváez, has defined the race as “a classic” since “it is part of the sporting soul of the municipality.” The island of Gran Canaria and San Bartolomé de Tirajana "is the cradle of sport in general and cycling in particular" and this test "is proof of this and has made the island continue to grow in this type of sports tourism." The EPIC Gran Canaria Riu Hotels&Resorts has known how to “manage difficult times and also grow and innovate year after year.” The Sports Councilor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Samuel Henríquez, has underlined the words of the mayor, highlighting that “sports and tourism go hand in hand and there is no better place than this municipality” for it.
The Sports Councilor of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Francisco Castellano, has pointed out that the island “is perfect and so the experts and the protagonists say”, which is why he has celebrated this new edition of “a young event that has managed to be filled with professionals". This test, he said, "is in good health and will continue to open the calendar year after year in the middle of winter and show the world the many advantages for prestigious athletes with recognized careers," who have here "their second home" with safe roads, infrastructure, the best climate and also the hospitality of the Gran Canarian people.
Trophies designed in the workshop of the world's great events
The trophies of this edition have arrived from Venice, directly from the workshop of the best trophies of the great events. For the EPIC Gran Canaria, Marco Varisco has made two designs inspired by the Maspalomas Dunes and the sea, which will be delivered to the absolute leaders of the first stage and the general.
The artisan Marco Varisco follows the trade of his grandfather, his father and has continued his family's tradition in making glass with unique techniques that have led him to do private work for Bill Clinton, to exhibit in the New York museum and create the world cups and the most important sports awards. These Murano trophies have been brought directly from Venice to the Dunes of Maspalomas with a design that represents the waves of sand that he leaves in the dunes after the passage of the wind.
SEE IMAGE GALLERY IN THIS LINK
