Starting at the village square at Lythrodontas, the route turns right into the ‘Machairas’ forest, one of the most beautiful forests in Cyprus. The internationally renowned mountain bike race ‘Cyprus Sunshine Cup’ is organised every year in this area.
The route continues through the pine forest and follows a steady uphill course towards Vavatsinia village. Then the road serpentines through vineyards and groves to reach the third highest mountain peak in Cyprus, ‘Kionia’. From here, the route goes downhill to the Machairas Monastery, passing through the area where national hero Gregoris Auxentiou fought and sacrificed his life during the Independence struggle against the British colonial rule. Shortly before the Monastery you will pass the pick nick are ‘Mandra tou Kampiou’, famous for hosting one of the ‘Cyprus Sunshine Cup’ race stages.
Further, along the route, it is worth stopping by the abandoned monastery of Prophet Elias before heading down to Lythrodontas, where you started your race.
Courtesy of the CTO
