Hello, Cyclists!!!! My name is John Bradley. I am helping with organizing the 12th annual Desafio Internacional de Ciclismo here in Brazil. I, as an American living in Maceio, Brazil, have been assigned the position of Official Translator for all non Portuguese- speaking athletes who speak English. I am writing again, because Egberto Pedro, the event Commissioner and Organizer has informed me that several top athletes from UltraCross (for example: 2014 champions) will be given VIP treatment with their trip here, competition fees, and everything else paid for. The athletes will, most likely stay at the beautiful Iloa Resort in Bairro de Sao Miguel... a beautiful beachfront city just south of Maceio. Please contact me, John Bradley on facebook, or contact Egberto Pedro. Here is an informative piece about the race, once again..... In Brazil, every year, there is a 236 Km race from Arapiraca, Alagoas, Brazil to Maceio, Alagoas Brazil. In Portuguese, it is called Desafio Internacional de Ciclismo. It is part road race, part off-road race. In English, it is called International Cycling Challenge. Its claim to fame is that it is one of the longest races of its kind in the world. Add the fact that it takes place in the Brazilian heat of the state of Alagoas. Riders are constantly tested against the heat and the driving sea breeze, which pushes against them at every turn. The race is entering its 12th year. The 2014 Champion, Raphael Mesquita Mendes, completed the grueling marathon in just under 7 hours. He was rewarded with a Championship Trophy, and 15 thousand Brazilian reais. This is approximately 7 thousand US dollars or 5 thousand euros. In contrast to the rigors of the race, The backdrop for the event is Alagoas, itself. The Brazilian state is widely recognized as possessing one of the worlds most beautiful seafronts, full of pristine beaches and turquoise waters. Athletes can spend their down time partaking in sightseeing, snokeling, or just soaking up the sun. Restaurants offer a huge variety of dishes, with seafood being one of the features, of course. The two-day event begins on Saturday with three shorter distance races of 41, 76, and 170 km. These races are geared to athletes of varying levels of conditioning. Athletes are provided plenty of water for hydration and rehydration, as well as a plethora of delicious tropical fruits to maintain energy levels. Sunday is the featured event; The 236 km race. This race will test only the most physically conditioned athletes from Brazil, and around the world. Up to this point, there has never been an American or Canadian athlete up for the challenge. It is my hope that 2015 will change that. My name is John Bradley. I am an American, living in Maceio, Brazil, and the official translator for this event. You can see photos from the 2014 event on my facebook page. Cmon, USA and Canada.....like the band Queen said...... GET ON YOUR BIKES and RIDE!!!!! UPDATE!!!!!! The scheduled race dates are Saturday, November 1, and Sunday, November 2, 2015!!!!! I want to see some Star-Spangled banners and Maple Leafs waving this year!!!!!!!!
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 22:30:25 +0000