A cycle tour group that formed after the fall of the old European communist bloc and is known for its epic rides throughout Europe and Eurasia is taking on a rugged New Zealand itinerary to help raise awareness about the Stellar Trust.
A group of around 40 riders from Baltic Cycle and the Polish Crotos Cycle Group will ride around 3,300km from Cape Reinga to Bluff, via the spectacularly rugged terrain of the West Coast of the South Island and then return back up the east coast of the South Island to finish in Christchurch.
The New Zealand ride may sound tough but members of the group have also completed a 12,000km, five-and-half month ride from Olympia in Greece to Beijing, a 6,000km trek from Nord Kap (the northernmost point of mainland Norway) to Greece and a 6,000km trip from Brussels to Cyprus.
New Zealand organisers, Alison and Brian Walker, estimate they've travelled over 13,000kms with the group throughout Europe and thought it was time to introduce the riders to New Zealand. The group ranges in ages from 17 – 74 with a number of the group having completed most of the big tours.
"We've seen great sites with great friends in Europe but we thought it was time to bring them to the best place in the world", says Brian. "Baltic Cycle tour leaders' Sigitas Kucas (Lithuania) and Maryla Zielinska of Crotos Polish cycling club agreed New Zealand was to be the big tour of 2011. The response was overwhelming and the 40 places were filled in no time. One Baltic Cyclist, Bob Laing from Scotland who has cycled New Zealand independently, is back again. This will be Bob's second Cape Reinga to Bluff ride."
"Alison and I were aware of Stellar Trust and admire what they do so we offered to help raise the Trust's profile through the tour. Backpacker Campervans, who already support Stellar Trust, are providing support vehicles to help the Trust get this great ride through our home patch and help get the tour off the ground. It will be spectacular."
Stellar Trust's CEO, Mike Williams, said the tour was a great way to help raise national awareness of the Trust's cause as the group would visit most of the major centres, leading tourist destinations and many small towns through heartland New Zealand.
"We're trying to "unsell" P through awareness and education campaigns and lead community groups battling against the insidious nature of this drug. This tour will reach many of those communities", said Mr Williams.
The cycle tour party will wear Stellar Trust shirts during the ride to help spread the anti-P message, while the two Backpacker provided campervans will be emblazoned with the Trust logo and carry and distribute supporting literature.
The 46-day itinerary winds down through the centre of the North Island, via the West Coast to Bluff and back up through Balclutha, Central Otago and the Mackenzie Country to Christchurch. The tour started yesterday at Cape Reinga with the Christchurch finish expected on April 7th.
People are welcome to join the riders on various legs of the tour and top triathlete Terenzo Bozzone and multisport legend Steve Gurney are joining legs in Taupo and Christchurch.
