As part of the city’s Sant Sebastià fiestas, which get into full swing tonight (Tuesday) with a series of free concerts across the city, Palma will tomorrow be staging the thirty-eighth Cycling Day. Sponsored by La Caixa bank and the town hall’s municipal institute for sport (IME), the mayor, José Hila, and the director of La Caixa’s centre for institutions, Hilari Llabrés, will officially start the event at 12 midday at the Plaça Cort by the town hall.
Bike riders will take a six-kilometre route to take in the Parc de la Mar, the Antoni Maura Avenue and C. Salvador Dalí before arriving at the sports centre at Son Moix. The local police, the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) and Palma’s sports’ volunteers will be on hand to ensure control and provide any aid if it proves necessary.
Hila says that the day is not a competitive event but one that is festive and for the family. “It is to have fun and enjoy our city on a bike.” Llabrés expressed satisfaction in the large number of participants and for the success of the first day of inclusive sport. Anyone can take part in the event, regardless of age and physical condition. Registration is free but has to be made in advance at any IME facility or at the El Corte Inglés sports department.
A novelty this year is the inclusion of riders with disabilities, who will be accompanied by a group of cyclists from the Balearic Cycling Federation who traditionally open the ride. Meanwhile, on 15 January there was the day of inclusive sport. This involved a host of international champions for adapted sports and it led to a high turnout among the public.
For the Cycling Day there will be awards from El Corte Inglés for the three largest groups of riders and there will also be a prize draw for all those who arrive at Son Moix with the bib number they have been allocated with. And at the sports centre there will be a children’s play area with bouncy castles, refreshments and a further draw.