Carlos Álamo welcomes a group of Italian cycle tourists, made up of about 80 amateur athletes and 150 tourists

 

The good weather, the quality of the roads and the difficult terrain of the island, with some very difficult stages, have become essential claims for the loyalty of the Bike Academy Davide Cassani group. This is a group of Italian cyclists, formed on this occasion by about 80 athletes - staying with their families - and who have 28 years of loyalty to the Gran Canaria winter. Over the next few weeks they will tour the island, led by former coach Davide Cassani, with former professionals among their ranks such as the 2008 road world champion, Alessandro Ballan. 

 

The Minister of Tourism of Gran Canaria, Carlos Alamo, received this Friday, February 3, a detachment of the group, at the H10 facilities in Meloneras, where the group of cyclists is staying. The meeting took place before the start of a day full of kilometers for the group of cyclists and which is part of the intense program designed for the occasion. Present at the reception ceremony was Ángel Bara, a prominent promoter and promoter of pedal sport in the Canary Islands for the last 30 years and architect of the presence of Italian cyclists in an initiative that has been in existence for 28 years, since it began in 1995. . 

 

The group of athletes led by Davide Cassani, former professional cyclist with 27 stage victories on the international circuit and Italian road cycling coach, declared himself a lover of the slopes of Gran Canaria, as he has been attracting clients to the island for almost three decades. and traveling the roads of Gran Canaria every winter. Some members of this group of cyclists indicated that it is a must-see event for them, which they look forward to, and that it has made them add 25 visits to the island. The determining factors are good weather, the quality of the roads and the immense variants and possibilities that they offer for the cycling lover. This group also has parallel activities, among which is a visit to the Agaete Valley to learn about coffee production. 

 

 

“For us it is an honor to receive such a loyal group of athletes, with a lot of level and distance under their belts, and who tell us that Gran Canaria is their favorite place in Europe to practice cycling in winter. "We take advantage of every opportunity to get closer to the client, talk to the athletes and be interested in knowing what things we can improve, and ensure that they get the best possible image of Gran Canaria as a tourist and sports destination so that they return soon," explained the counselor. Carlos Álamo. He also assured that the presence of sports proposals such as the Vuelta Cicloturista Internacional de Gran Canaria (La Cicloturista), although it could not hold its last edition, or the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels&Resorts or the Titanic among others. 

 

Among the group is also the former world champion, Alessandro Ballan and current commentator on Italian public television. He indicated that this is his tenth visit to the island with this organized group. Ballan did not hesitate to refer to days of maximum difficulty such as the climb to Pico de las Nieves. 

 

Ángel Bara, for his part, pointed out that Gran Canaria has a lot to offer European cyclists and those from around the world. “Although these days the Canary Islands are quite cold, for these Italians it is quite the opposite. They have a good weather and mountainous island, in addition to enjoying their stay next to the sea. So it is an important attraction for the cyclist,” he declared.