Paris-Brest-Paris: Corfu cyclist takes part in 1,219km cycling race - the oldest in the world
cycling
10 Sep 2019
/ 13:38
CORFU. Christos Moskat from Corfu was amongst the 80 Greeks and 7,000 cyclists from all over the world who took part in the legendary Paris - Brest cycling race.
Christos Moskat enjoyed the experience of taking part in one of the oldest - and most appealing - cycling events in the world. The Corfu cyclist was was amongst the 80 Greeks and 7,000 cyclists from all over the world who took part in the legendary Paris - Brest - Paris cycling race.
On 18 August he cyclists set off from the Château de Rambouillet park (55km from Paris) on the 4-day event covering 1,200km. The route covers beautiful countryside with many thick forests from Paris to Brest and back.
The event, which the organisers stress is not a 'race' as such, has a 128-year history dating back to 1891, when it was first included in the professional cycling racing calendar. In the 1950s, however, professional cyclists abandoned the Paris- Brest - Paris race as it required a lot of preparation and it was taken over by long-distance cyclists, who considered the 1,200km route a great challenge.
This year Corfu cyclist Christos Moskat accepted this challenge and experienced first-hand the unique and demanding cycling run - taking in the wonderful sights from the 'City of Light' to the northwest of France and the Brittany Port.
Along with thousands of participants in this year's event, Christos Moskat went through four days of intense emotions and tested his physical and mental limits. A lot goes through the mind of someone sitting on his bike for so many hours....
Christos told Enimerosi that sleep is not easy due to the tremendous tension and many cyclists sleep wherever they can when they are exhausted - bus stops, the road, fields, tables and chairs in restaurants - just about anywhere!
What makes the event special is the support of the French - either as official volunteers, wearing the organisation's jerseys, or as spectators who clap as the the cyclists go past and shout encouragement - giving the exhausted participants a massive boost.
In each village that the cyclists passed through the hospitality was exemplary. Christos told Enimerosi, "We passed through 190 towns and villages and there was always a table with water and sweets for us - at no cost and at all hours!"
All of these experiences help those who take part to understand what the organisers stress again and again - what counts more than the result is the experience itself.
As Christos Moskat says, "Incredible moments that remained etched in your memory. Of course, the aim is to finish in the allotted time but the experience itself is like winning all the medals!"
On 18 August he cyclists set off from the Château de Rambouillet park (55km from Paris) on the 4-day event covering 1,200km. The route covers beautiful countryside with many thick forests from Paris to Brest and back.
The event, which the organisers stress is not a 'race' as such, has a 128-year history dating back to 1891, when it was first included in the professional cycling racing calendar. In the 1950s, however, professional cyclists abandoned the Paris- Brest - Paris race as it required a lot of preparation and it was taken over by long-distance cyclists, who considered the 1,200km route a great challenge.
This year Corfu cyclist Christos Moskat accepted this challenge and experienced first-hand the unique and demanding cycling run - taking in the wonderful sights from the 'City of Light' to the northwest of France and the Brittany Port.
Along with thousands of participants in this year's event, Christos Moskat went through four days of intense emotions and tested his physical and mental limits. A lot goes through the mind of someone sitting on his bike for so many hours....
Christos told Enimerosi that sleep is not easy due to the tremendous tension and many cyclists sleep wherever they can when they are exhausted - bus stops, the road, fields, tables and chairs in restaurants - just about anywhere!
What makes the event special is the support of the French - either as official volunteers, wearing the organisation's jerseys, or as spectators who clap as the the cyclists go past and shout encouragement - giving the exhausted participants a massive boost.
In each village that the cyclists passed through the hospitality was exemplary. Christos told Enimerosi, "We passed through 190 towns and villages and there was always a table with water and sweets for us - at no cost and at all hours!"
All of these experiences help those who take part to understand what the organisers stress again and again - what counts more than the result is the experience itself.
As Christos Moskat says, "Incredible moments that remained etched in your memory. Of course, the aim is to finish in the allotted time but the experience itself is like winning all the medals!"
