The Tour of the Winds, Italy’s first “ciclo-regata” kicks off

The first edition of The Tour of the Winds – the international amateur competition with bicycle race and sailboat race – gets underway.

The Tour of the Winds kicks off

It all started at 6 a.m. on Monday, June 27, at John XXIII Square in Santa Maria di Leuca. Here, in fact, the first cycling stage will be kicked off in the presence of the mayor of Castrignano del Capo, Francesco Petracca, and the basilica’s parish priest-rector, Don Gianni Leo.

More than 25 teams consisting of two cyclists will be present at the starting tapes, facing each other along a loop from Santa Maria di Leuca to Otranto before returning to the starting point around 1 p.m.

This will be followed on Wednesday, June 29, by the cycling stage on the island of Corfu: a short but challenging route through the ruggedness of the rocky terrain. Thursday, June 30, will again be the turn of the sailors, who, buoyed by the wind and inspired by the magical natural scenery of Magna Graecia, will return to Salento and allow the respective pair of cyclists to contest the final rush: from Leuca to Gallipoli and back on the morning of Friday, June 31.

Sports, nature and wellness, but also an opportunity for education and personal growth for the younger generation. Six high schools have joined the initiative promoted by the event’s organizing committee “Sportiness – outdoor classrooms“: Liceo Scientifico Banzi Bazoli Banzhack of Lecce, IIS Istituto Superiore A. De Pace of Lecce, IISS Istituto Don Tonino Bello of Tricase, IISS A. Vespuccci of Gallipoli, IPSSS FL Morvillo Falcone of Brindisi, IISS Technological Steam Enrico Fermi of Lecce.

Added to which, there is also the involvement of the University of Salento, which will attend the event with a boat it has in its possession, along with boats from the two nautical institutes of Tricase and Gallipoli. Students from the aforementioned institutes contributed to the unique organization and storytelling of the event through various activities, from creating the skirts for the final show, to creating a backstage video and an interactive map dedicated to the area, and coordinating school communication activities.

The Tour of the Winds – The Calendar

Below is the agenda for the event:

Sunday, June 26, 2022
7 p.m. | Crew draw

Monday, June 27, 2022
6 a.m. | Start of cycling competition Leuca – Otranto section, Otranto – Leuca
10 a.m. | End of cycling competition Leuca – Otranto section, Otranto – Leuca

Tuesday, June 28, 2022
5:30 | Start of sailing for the Leuca – Erikousa route.
20.00 – 24.00 | Arrival of boats at the port of Gouvia

Wednesday, June 29, 2022
7 a.m. | Corfu round-trip cycling competition begins
11.00 | End of cycling competition

Thursday, June 30, 2022
5 a.m. | Positioning and departure for the Erikousa – Leuca bicycle route.
20.00 – 24.00 | Arrival of boats at the port of Leuca

Friday, July 01, 2022
8 a.m. | Start of cycling competition Leuca – Gallipoli section, Gallipoli – Leuca
1 p.m. | End of cycling competition Leuca – Gallipoli section, Gallipoli – Leuca
6:30 p.m. | Concluding evening with aperitif through the courtyards of Spongano.