Your first choice for a perfect, combined, cycling & Family holiday in Cyprus
The Kantara Killer!
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One day of climbing You will want to do again!
Just a few kilometres behind the Bike Trip Cyprus Bike Base at Caesar Resort in Northern Cyprus is the Anciant Castle at Kantara. Life was tough for those who lived there many hundreds of years ago, but they had it easy compared to road bike cyclists on this ride!
Bike Trip Cyprus has designed the ultimate day climbing challenge in Northern Cyprus The Kantara Killer! Featuring three of the big climbs at Kantara Castle and three of the fastest road biking descents from the Castle, all in the same ride, this is a road bike climbers dream! Set amoungst the most stunning scenery on Cyprus, with superb, fast road surfaces & almost zero traffic, this road bike ride is the climbers challenge in the Bike Trip Cyprus day ride menu. A top road bike ride suited for fit climbers looking for KOM kudos, those looking to build climbing skills, or those just keen to enjoy riding this beautiful northern cypriot mountain. Who's tough enough?
Guided
The Kantara Killer! - Day Ride
Group size 1-4 4-8 8-12
Euros 90 45 35
88km 1771m Climb
Stage 1
Caesar resort to the Castle
Stage 1 climbs to 574m from sea level over 25km over rolling hills and steep switchbacked mountain roads taking us across the central karpaz peninsula and up the 'old goat road' to the top of the mountain ridge, along the top of the mountain right up to Kantara castle itself. The views on the Kantara climb here are spectacular, stretching right across the bay of Famagusta. The road surface on this steep climb isn't perfect, but it is very safe given we are climbing, and fine for 'skinny' road bike tyres.
Stage 3
Kaplica to the coast via Kantara Square & Mersinlik
Stage 3 starts with 6kms of sufferring for our art as we re climb the kaplica snake we just flew down at speed to an altitude of 590m from sea level. Those in need of a breather will find a warm welcome and a cold drink at the cafe at the top before once again turning the bikes downhill for the speedy descent through the tiny village of Mersinlik on smooth newly surfaced roads perfect for road cycling.
Stage 2
The Castle to Kaplica
Stage 2 descends to sea level from an altitude of 574m, with a good degree of 'up, down, up' in between. The ticket office at the Castle is the 'checkpoint' to reach, before heading back along the top of the Kantara ridge to Kantara village. It's hard to not want to stop for hours at the Castle and soak up the views that stretch right to the tip of the Karpaz peninsula and beyond, those that do will remember the views forever, those that don't will edge closer to Strava stardom! The ride then shoots down the fast, smooth surface of the kaplica snake descent through the village to the coastal road on the northern side of the Kantara mountain. This descent is amazing, stunning scenery, sharp switchbacks, almost zero cars, enjoy it, because stage 3 is looming!
Stage 4
The coast to Caesar resort via the Mersinlik heart
Stage 4 sees survivors once again turning their bikes towards the daunting wall that is the mountainside at kantara. Ascending from sea level to 439m right back up to the 'Mersinlik heart' on the summit of the mountain pass, before finally shooting down what is the best descent in Northern Cyprus all the way back to the hammocks & pool bar at Caesar resort on the coast at long beach Iskele! KOM or just a great days cycling in Cyprus, this is a cycling challenge you will want to ride again and again!