Great weather, challenging country trails and ideal infrastructure make Cyprus the perfect place for mountain bikers… And next March, competitive riders from all over the globe will have the opportunity to prepare for gold on the island of Aphrodite.

Fifth and last round of Cyprus Sunshine Cup is looking on two duels. At Yermasogia, not far outside of Limassol, Christoph Soukup (Aut) and Andreas Kugler (Sui) are called favourites as well as in womens race Petra Henzi (Sui) and Tereza Hurikova (Cze).

Roel Paulissen took fourth round of Cyprus Sunshine Cup with a solo ride during the whole race. Czech guys Milan Spesny and Jaroslav Kulhavy were making it to the podium as second and third. In womens race Petra Henzi earned her first season victory ahead of Tereza Hurikova and Elisabeth Osl. Two times winner Sabine Spitz had a bad crash in the first lap and injured herself seriously.

After one week resting the competitors are heading to the Cyprus Sunshine Cup round four at Voroklini. In mens race the complete podium of last weeks cross country is registered but with Germanys Moritz Milatz and Manuel Fumic are new important names on the list. After two times in the same order Sabine Spitz, Tereza Hurikova and Petra Henzi were talking about another ranking but also pay attention on Elisabeth Osl and Heather Irmiger.

Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) at the final Afxentia stage prevented the triple of Roel Paulissen Bel). Out of a four man leading group the young Czech at Mantra tou Kampiou took the victory in an absolutely exciting cross-country race (43km). Swiss Andreas Kugler was able to make it on the podium as third. In the women’s race (37km) it was the same ranking as after Fridays race. Sabine Spitz (Ger) repeated her victory ahead of Tereza Hurikova (Cze) and Petra Henzi (Sui).

Second stage of Afxentia mountainbike stage race at Mantra tou Kampiou, Cyprus, a 7,4 kilometer time trial saw again Roel Paulissen (Bel) in front. He beated Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) by 29 seconds. Magnus Darvell (Swe) as third lost 3 seconds more. Womens competition showed a pretty good performance of former junior road worldchampion in this discipline, Tereza Hurikova. She was 30 seconds ahead of surprising Alexandra Engen (Swe) and 41 seconds faster than Heather Irmiger (USA).

Roel Paulissen and Sabine Spitz took the victories in 2nd round of Cyprus Sunshine Cup. While in mens race (43km) Paulissen was able to distance the two Swedish riders Fredrik Kessiakoff and Emil Lindgren, in womens race (37km) it was a hard fight between Spitz and Tereza Hurikova until the last kilometer in the area of Mantra. Petra Henzi got third place.

Macheras mountains and its single trails are waiting for the Cyprus Sunshine Cup round 2 and 3. First stage of Afxentia stage race Friday (1pm local time) in Mantra will see Germanys Sabine Spitz in her first xc-competition this year. Also the Czech national team heads to Macheras mountain. So the high level quality of the starting list increased.

Many of the world's best mountain bikers headed to Cyprus for a the Sunshine Cup #1, a sunny season opener - a 45km point to point race from Tochni to Kalavassos. Swede Fredrik Kessiakoff (Full Dynamix), who chased down Belgian former team-mate Roel Paulissen (Vredestein Cannondale) won the men's race with Switzerland's Andreas Kugler (Fisher-BME) in third. The women's competition saw a largely solo ride from American Heather Irmiger (Subaru / Gary Fisher). Belgian Maaike Polspoel (Belgian National Team) took a surprise second place ahead of Ukrainian Natalie Krompets (ISD).

The Cyprus Sunshine Cup '08 series schedule was anounced

Due to the Carnival festivities the Cyprus Sunshine Cup '08 #4 and #5 are to be changed. Now the 4th stage will take place at Voroklini and the finals are to be held at Limassol-Yermasogia. Meanwhile the organizer received the inscription of the Belgian National Team with Roel Paulissen at its head.

The road for Gold in Beijing starts from Cyprus. The first European events on the Calendar set the pace for one more exciting season. Elite European riders for many years now benefit from their participation in the first European races of the UCI calendar to test their preparation and “tune up their engines” for the world cups. This year early tests become more essential as Olympics are ahead us!!!