Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-05 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Athens ready for 24th Cycling Tour on Sunday --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Athens ready for 24th Cycling Tour on Sunday Athens' city center will hold its 24th Cycling Tour on Sunday, welcoming 15,000 cyclists in two separate routes - the 13 klm race and the 3.5 klm race for children and people with disabilities. Mayor Giorgos Kaminis will kick off the event at 10:00 and 10:15 for the 13 and 3.5 klm race respectively on Syntagma square (in front of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier). The 13 klm race will follow the route: Amalias, Vasilisis Sofias, Alexandras, Patision (left lane), Ioulianou, Liosion (left lane), Marnis, Karolou, Karaiskaki square, Ahilleos, Thermopylon (left lane), Pireos (left lane), Stadiou, Filellinon and end at the lower side of Syntagma square. The 3 klm race will follow the route: Amalias, Vasilisis Sofias, right at the Hilton, Vasileos Konstantinou, Vasilisis Olgas, Vasilisis Amalias and end there. After the end of the general cycling event, a separate race for professional cyclists and teams from Greece and Europe, the 1ï Athens Criterium, will start at 11:45. The event is a "circuit" race of 3.5 klm that cyclists will cover 15 times at speeds that will exceed 80 km/h at specific points. The race will last one hour and end the lower part of Syntagma square.