At the closing of the 129th Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, to be held in Helsinki on 17 May 2019, a group of Council of Europe staff members and supporters will jump on their bicycles and start the long trip back to Strasbourg, seat of the Organisation.

The group of cyclists is composed of staff, former staff members as well as members of permanent representations of the Member States, all wishing to mark the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe, to recall the importance of its values as well as to promote sport and mutual understanding. They participate at their own costs, on their holiday time and under their own responsibility.

The group of approximately 20 participants will depart from Finlandia Hall on 17 May at 3.30 p.m. It will head towards the Port of Helsinki and is due to take a ferry to Tallinn at 7 pm.

The 2400km route will pass through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russian Federation, Poland and Germany to arrive in Strasbourg, France on Monday 17 June. During the final weekend, colleagues and friends are invited to join the group to carry them over the finish line on the parvis of the Palais de l’Europe at apprx. 12.30 pm on the 17^th of June

In, or nearby, the cities of Riga, Gdansk, Berlin and Fulda, a weekly rest day will allow participants to recuperate. Some will return to Strasbourg replaced by others who will join the core group of cyclists who will bike the whole trip.

Preparations for the trip have been on-going for several months: travel and accommodation logistics, physical preparation as well as preparation of equipment. This website will keep colleagues and families back in Strasbourg informed about the progress of the ride and provide an insight into the challenges and joys of what will be an exceptional experience for all those involved.

You will find in the submenu a closer look at the road and the list of participants