Stage 2 of the ΔΕΗ Cycling Tour of Greece starts from the Athens Olympic Centre (ΟΑΚΑ), the spot where lies the Wall of Nations in particular. A dazzling route which will bring together modern Greece with its ancient roots will follow, challenging cyclists to cross the mountains of Sterea until they finish in the shorelines of the Corinthian bay.

The Wall of Nations still remains a popular meeting point amongst Athenians for a long walk, as well as for pre-game warming-up or post-game celebrations. In 2004 at the Athens Olympic Games the same place served as the volunteers’ hot spot and 18 years later cycling fans will gather to send out their warm, positive and happy vibes for the beginning of the big ΔΕΗ Bike Festival @OAKA.

The Festival will be the flagship event of a series of parallel to the Tour activities. Part of the festivities are dedicated in memory of the late Marathon runner Dimitra Iordanidou, mostly aimed at improving driver behavior and making travel safer.

As far as Cycling Greece is concerned, the Festival will work as the means to develop an additional educational programme in every city the peloton will pass through.

The Athens Olympic Velodrome will welcome the pre-start of the Tour with plenty of activities and a lot of cycling ardent friends adding to the hype.

Escorted by the Traffic Police, the peloton will cover the first kilometres of the stage on their way to Attiki Odos, oriented northwest of Athens, and then they will head towards Fyli, located at the foot of mount Parnitha.

After crossing Pyli, riders will leave Attica behind and head towards Dafni and Erythres, ascending the eastern slopes of Kithairon, at an altitude of 390 metres.

Next come the city of Thebes, an important centre of Ancient Greece. Νot far away, on the southern side of Boeotia, the first intermediate sprint awaits the cyclists, at the point where in 395 BC The Battle of Haliartus, which marked the start of the Corinthian War, took place.

The route continues towards the capital of the Prefecture of Boeotia, the city of Livadia, and heading northwest, the riders will cross the mountains of Kirfi, Parnassos, and Elikonas until they reach Distomo. After a 15 kilometres ride with the Corinthian Gulf setting an iconic background, they reach the traditional town of Desfina located 680 metres above sea level.

The impressive descents of Desfina really favour a pretty fast pace. Shortly, they will find themselves at sea level passing by the thermal spring of Kirra, where they will turn right entering the final straight, passing through the Archaeological site of Ancient Kirra, and from there to the port of Itea, where the will conclude Stage 2 of the ΔΕΗ Tour of Hellas.

Thursday 28 April - Stage 2: OAKA (Maroussi) - Itea - 165 km

Route: OAKA (Bike Festival), Attiki Odos, Fili (intermediate sprint - climb), Pyli (intermediate sprint - straight), Dafni, Erythres, Thebes, Aliartos (intermediate sprint - straight), Livadia, Distomo, Desfina (intermediate sprint - climb), Itea.