Grooving Greece with Jeff Stuart

Born in Las Vegas, moving to Reno before studying in Davis, California, Jeff Stuart now lives in Zürich, Switzerland.

His wife hails from Greece originally and Jeff was keen to showcase some of the stunning riding in the region, in our first ever Greek collection!

With olive groves, quaint villages, and stunning Medeterrain vistas this collection will have you booked on the next flight to Athens before you know it.

But be warned, while the beauty is stunning, most of these rides fit into the hilly category and some of the climbs are brutal.

We suggest starting the series with the easy Messinian Waterfront if you’re keen to whet the appetite.

Ευχαριστώ Jeff!

ANAVASI KALAMATA KARDAMYLI

Make your way through rolling terrain to the intermediate point of Koskarakas Gorge. From there, the main part of the climb averages 4% with gradients rarely troubling. End with sweeping views of Máni and the Messinian Bay.

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18.88km
DISTANCE
00:55:22
DURATION
545m
ELEVATION

ANAVASI KARDAMYLI KALAMATA

Starting in the picturesque village of Kardamyli, climb gentle, rolling terrain up to the top of the pass separating the region of Máni from the municipality of Kalamata

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11.45km
DISTANCE
00:33:17
DURATION
432m
ELEVATION

AYIOS SOZON SWITCHBACKS

For those tackling the Taygetos challenge, this is by far the worst part. Not because it's part of the challenge, but because after ascending all the way to the pass, you have to come back over this small set of switchbacks before getting back to Kalamata. Luckily for you, you don't already have a 1200 m pass in your legs. Or do you?

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3.13km
DISTANCE
00:09:15
DURATION
140m
ELEVATION

MESSINIAN WATERFRONT

An easy, pancake-flat, mostly car-free road. Starting right next to the airport, cycle about twenty minutes towards the city itself, passing by farmland and beaches

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9.57km
DISTANCE
00:18:19
DURATION
11m
ELEVATION

AYIOS SOZON FROM KALAMATA

The first bump on the old highway from Kalamata to Sparta. Climb approximately four-hundred meters The average gradient is deceiving as there are several parts where the gradient kicks up. This recording is meant for those looking to test their fitness as it should take about twenty minutes at a steady power of 4.5 W/kg.

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7.27km
DISTANCE
00:25:37
DURATION
367m
ELEVATION

ANO VERGA

Another brute of a climb from Messinia, this ascent takes you up often double-digit gradients through switchbacks and varied terrain to some of the best views of the Messinian Bay one can get to on two wheels. The effort is most certainly difficult, but the reward makes it worth it.

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10.16km
DISTANCE
00:44:42
DURATION
689m
ELEVATION

KRISKIOS FROM THE MESSINIAN BAY HOTEL

Starting at the iconic Messinian Bay Hotel, climb to the village of Kriskios at a gentle 4% along a commonly used route for TT's by the locals.

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6.63km
DISTANCE
00:22:31
DURATION
270m
ELEVATION

TAYGETOS TOURISTIKO

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

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32.75km
DISTANCE
02:00:10
DURATION
1448m
ELEVATION