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.
18.88KM
DISTANCE
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00:55:22
DURATION
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545M
ELEVATION GAIN
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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.
11.45KM DISTANCE
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00:33:17
DURATION
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432M
ELEVATION GAIN
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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?
3.13KM
DISTANCE
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00:09:15
DURATION
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140M
ELEVATION GAIN
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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
9.57KM
DISTANCE
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00:18:19
DURATION
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11M
ELEVATION GAIN
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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.
07.27KM
DISTANCE
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00:25:37
DURATION
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376M
ELEVATION GAIN
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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.
10.16KM
DISTANCE
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00:44:42
DURATION
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689M
ELEVATION GAIN
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Kriskios from the Messinian Bay Hotel
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.
07.27KM
DISTANCE
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00:25:37
DURATION
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376M
ELEVATION GAIN
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Taygetos Touristiko
How many cities can boast sun, year-round good weather, blue-flag beaches, and a well-maintained, mostly car-free, 1250m 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.
32.75KM
DISTANCE
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02:00:10
DURATION
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1448M
ELEVATION GAIN
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