This morning, Juan Gil de Araujo, president of Ruta do Viño Rías Baixas, a member of Club de Producto (Product Club) of Wine Routes of Spain, presided the presentation of the second BTT Ruta do Viño Rías Baixas. The event will take place on the 22nd of October in the municipality of Arbo and expects to receive 250 fans of cycling.
The president of the non-profit organisation was accompanied by the mayor of Arbo, Horacio Gil; the director of Marketing, Communication and Tourism for El Corte Inglés Galicia, Pati Blanco and the president of the Galician Cycling Federation, Juan Carlos Muñiz. They all collaborated in carrying out this sporting event which they hope will become an event of reference in the years to come. In his statement, Gil de Araujo highlighted that this activity pursues one of Ruta do Viño Rías Baixas’ goals in leisure activities, “to link wine tourism and sports. This was how the idea came about, last year, to create this BTT race. After the registered success of its first edition, we have decided to continue the activity, taking the challenge to the sub-region of Condado do Tea, and more concretely, to the town of Arbo,” indicated the president, who thanked all those present for the support received in launching this race.
Those who wish to sign-up can do so via the website www.bttrutavinoriasbaixas.com. The price for a bib (and participating) is 10 euros, and includes all insurance, as well as two gifts for all participants: a sports t-shirt and a bottle of wine from one of the Ruta do Viño Rías Baixas’ partner wineries.
Once the race has finished, wine gift sets will be given to the eldest and youngest cyclists, as well as to the club with greatest number of participants and the athlete who has come the furthest in order to participate. These gifts include, mainly, visits to Ruta do Viño Rías Baixas’ partner wineries.
A route of 45 kilometres and medium difficulty
The second BTT Ruta do Viño Rías Baixas will consist of a 45-kilometre route of medium difficulty, which will wind its way through the partner wineries of As Laxas, Pazo Pondal and Marqués de Vizhoja and their vineyards. This race entails, in the words of Juan Gil de Araujo, “an excellent opportunity to get to know the huge wine tourism potential of Condado do Tea, with a route through winegrowing heritage”.
Ruta do Viño Rías Baixas has also thought about those accompanying the participants of this BTT race. In parallel, a hiking route will be offered, also through the municipality of Arbo, where hikers will visit, among other places, the Centro de Interpretación del Vino y la Lamprea ARBO.
Support from the El Corte Inglés group
The initiative counts on sponsorship from the El Corte Inglés group, represented at this event by Pati Blanco. The director of Marketing in Galicia highlighted that this support is part of an agreement of collaboration signed this year with the Regulatory Council and Ruta do Viño Rías Baixas, with the goal of promoting wine and gastronomical activities in the region.
El Corte Inglés will be in charge of all provisioning points, as well as other logistical matters in this second edition of the BTT race. Another step towards the common goal of placing value in the ample wine and gastronomical offering of the area.