How many cities can boast sun, year-round good weather, blue-flag beaches, and a well-maintained, mostly car-free, 1250 m ascent? Kalamata has it all. Take on the local mountain race happening every September that leads you from the Kalamata farmer's market all the way to the top of the pass in the Ταϋγέτος (pronounced tie-YEE-tose) mountain range that separates Kalamata and Sparta. The ride begins with a 400 m ascent to the chapel of Ayios Sozon before descending a few switchbacks and starting the real climb, nearly 850 meters over approximately 20 kilometers, ending at the rest area "Tourisitiko", situated the top of the pass