The 2023 ΔΕΗ Tour of Hellas Continental teams’ line-up consists of old friends and newcomers. The event is due to take place between 2-6 May and is expected to be in the spotlight of the cycling world.
Besides the participation of the Hellenic national teams (senior and U23), more Greeks will compete at the event representing UCI Continental teams; Nikiforos Arvanitou with the colours of Sofer Savini Due Omz, and Takis Christopoulos-Cheller with Xspeed United.
The Canadian team’s staff includes two more Greeks; Assistant Sports Directors Savvas Potsos and Panagiotis Marentakis who joined Xspeed United in 2023.
Here’s the UCI Continental team roster:
Abloc CT
Category: UCI Continental Team
Country: The Netherlands
Founded: 2014
Abbreviation: PVC
Official website: ridetowin.nl
Twitter: ABLOC_CT
Facebook: ABLOCCT
Instagram: ablocct
In 2023: Their campaign has been pretty good so far, with one win and six podium finishes in six races. Their sole victory was courtesy of Jesper Rasch in the 4th stage of the Tour du Loir et Cher.
In brief
The team was introduced to the cycling world as Parkhotel Valkenburg, by their then-main sponsor and switched to their current name in 2020.
The majority of their riders are Dutch with the 2019 Points world champion Jan-Willem van Schip being the most notable.
ATT Investments
Category: UCI Continental Team
Country: Czech Republic
Founded: 2019
Abbreviation: ΑΤΤ
Official website: attcycling.cz
Twitter: jsmeteam
Facebook: TopforexATTInvestments
Instagram: topforex_attinvestments
In 2023: Greek cycling fans had the opportunity to meet the members of the team in March, at the races hosted in Rhodes (Tour of Rhodes, Rhodes GP, Visit South Aegean Islands). ATT Investments enjoyed their top 2023 results in Rhodes claiming the general classification jersey with Jakub Otruba at the Visit South Aegean Islands, while Matúš Štoček ranked second in Stage 2 of the Tour of Rhodes.
In brief
It all started in 2019 in the Czech Republic, with the aim of developing the capacity of local young riders and preparing them for the pro cycling world.
This year they launched the “3 to 1” model, meaning that for every young rider who joins the club, there are three more experienced taking over his cycling training.
27-year-old Marton Dina, a member of the "golden generation" of Hungarian cycling, stands out from the team’s line-up.
ATT Investments has been using Lapierre bikes since the day they were founded, while their main sponsor is ATT Investments.
Bike Aid
Category: UCI Continental Team
Country: Germany
Founded: 2005
Abbreviation: BAI
Official website: bikeaid.de
Twitter: bikeaid
Facebook: teambikeaid
Instagram: bikeaid
In 2023: In their rare 2023 appearances they celebrated two podium finishes; a third place in the 5th stage of the Volta ao Alentejo with Pirmin Eisenbarth and a second place in the one-day Grand Prix Apollon Temple race in Turkey with Adrian Zuger.
In brief
As an organisation they were founded in 2005 in Saarbrücken, initially as a cycling NGO with the aim to help African riders develop. With more than 1,200 active members, it is one of the largest cycling communities in Europe.
The professional team is active since 2014, following the prompting of two former riders, Timo Schäfer and Matthias Schnapka. Bike Aid is the team where Eritrean Meskeb Debesay, who had a successful three-year stint at the top level with the Dimension Data jersey, emerged.
Cross Team Legendre
Category: UCI Cross Pro Team
Country: France
Founded: 2015
Abbreviation: CTL
Official website: cross-team-legendre.fr
Twitter: CX_TeamLegendre
Facebook: CrossTeamLegendre
Instagram: crossteamlegendre
In 2023: The road season has not yet started for the French Cross Pro Team. Just like in 2023, they will make their season debut at the ΔΕΗ Tour of Hellas.
In brief
They started in 2015 as a cyclo-cross team and their status remains intact ever since. In 2017, they turned professional and started participating in road races. Its members are mostly French and use Canyon bikes, the brand that set up the biggest part of the team's project. They acquired their current name in 2021.
The founder of the team is Steve Chainel, known to the cycling world for his presence at the top level with the likes of AG2R Citroen and Groupama-FDJ.
Global 6 Cycling
Category: UCI Continental Team
Country: New Zealand
Founded: 2021
Abbreviation: GLC
Official website: global6cycling.com
Twitter: global6cycling
Facebook: global6cycling
Instagram: global6cycling
In 2023: The ΔΕΗ Tour of Hellas will be their first big test during the first half of the 2023 season. Their best result so far has been Giacomo Ballabio’s second place in the Tour of Taiwan’s fourth stage.
In brief
One of the newest teams in this year's Tour of Hellas. Their professional journey in cycling began in 2021, headed by Mario Manzoni. The Italian experienced both as an athlete (stage winner of the Giro D’ Italia in 1997) and as a DS (Androni, Bardiani, etc.), has created a group of riders, including Michal Paluta, Tom Wirtgen, and Nícolas Sessler who have competed at the highest level,
The team uses Trek bikes.
Hre Mazowsze Serce Polski
Category: UCI Continental Team
Country: Poland
Founded: 2017
Abbreviation: MSP
Official website: mazowszeteam.pl
Twitter: MazowszeCycling
Facebook: MazowszeSercePolskiCyclingTeam
Instagram: mazowszesercepolskicyclingteam
In 2023: The best result in their limited 2023 appearances was a 5th place by Polish champion Norbert Banaszek in the GP Adria Mobil, a one-day event.
In brief
After the dissolution of CCC Sprandi Polkowice, they are Poland’s most powerful team.
Their initial goal was to develop young Polish riders. To cope with the 2023 high demands they were significantly strengthened, and now feature in their roster riders like Viktor Filutas, Eduard Grosu, and Norbert Banaszek.
They have been using Italian bikes Guerciotti since the first day of their establishment.
Sofer Savini Due Omz
Category: UCI Continental Team
Country: Romania
Founded: 2018
Abbreviation: GTS
Official website: giottivictoriateam.com
Twitter: team_GTV
Facebook: GiottiVictoriaSaviniDueTeam
Instagram: giottivictoria_savinidue_team
In 2023: Nikiforos Arvanitou offered them their best 2023 result to date, an eighth-place finish at the Tour of Sicily’s 3rd stage.
In brief
A team with a strong Italian community both in the administrative and in the sports department, even though their headquarters lie in Romania. The dominant figure in the technical staff and the club's mastermind is Stefano Giulani - assistant to the great Francesco Moser at Gis Gelati.
This year they dramatically changed their roster, dropping the average age of the team’s line-up which includes Greek Nikiforos Arvanitou.
Tarteletto Isorex
Category: UCI Continental Team
Country: Belgium
Founded: 2010
Abbreviation: TIS
Official website: www.tarteletto-isorex.be
Twitter: -
Facebook: wielerploeg.be
Instagram: tartelettoisorex
In 2023: They have yet to snatch a victory or a podium finish so far this season. Timothy Dupont's 4th place in the one-day race Arno Wallaard Memorial on Dutch soil has been the club’s highlight.
In brief
A typical Belgian team, made entirely of local athletes. Loyal fans, three of whom made the trip to Ioannina last year, call them Yellow Vikings.
With the acquisition of Timothy Dupont, they added experience to their roster. Greek Champion, Polychronis Tzortzakis has been with the team in 2018, and in 2019.
They use Giant bikes.
Team Medellin EPM
Category: UCI Continental Team
Country: Colombia
Founded: 2017
Abbreviation: MED
Official website: teammedellin.co
Twitter: team_medellin
Facebook: TeamMedellin
Instagram: team_medellin
In 2023: They top the list with the most wins (9) amongst Continental teams. They have won the general classification in the Vuelta San Juan with 29-year-old Miguel Ángel López, who also holds the jersey of the individual time trial champion of Colombia. In total López has five victories under his belt in 2023, while 46-year-old Oscar Sevilla has two!
In brief
It all started in 2017, with the aim of developing the young athletes of the city of Medellin. They soon became one of the most important teams in Colombia. Adding Miguel Ángel López for the 2023 season made them more powerful!
During their six-year operation, they have featured high-profile riders such as Harold Tejada (now Astana), Julián Cardona, and Jhojan García (now Caja Rural).
They use the Spanish bikes Berria.
Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team
Category: UCI Continental Team
Country: Malaysia
Founded: 2011
Abbreviation: TSG
Official website: terengganucyclingteam.com
Twitter: TSG_cyclingteam
Facebook: Terengganupolygoncyclingteam
Instagram: terengganupolygoncyclingteam/?hl=en
In 2023: They have already registered six wins this season. Four of them are courtesy of Youcef Reguigui, while Dutch Jeroen Meijers added two more, including the general classification of the Tour of Taiwan. With a total of 17 podiums, they lie third amongst the Continental teams.
In brief
For nine years, they have been the dominant force in Southeast Asia. In 2019, they topped the list of Continental teams, the club’s peak since its foundation.
The Briton well-known former rider Jeremy Hunt is the mastermind, while Algerian Youcef Reguigui is the most famous rider on their roster.
They use Polygon bikes, the team’s main sponsor.
Xspeed United
Category: UCI Continental Team
Country: Καναδάς
Founded: 2019
Abbreviation: XSU
Official website: xspeedunited.com
Twitter: XSpeedUnited
Facebook: xspeedunited
Instagram: xspeedunited
In 2023: They have yet to compete in a major cycling event in Europe.
In brief
They were first introduced as a Hong Kong-based team in 2019, although the majority of their riders came from Canada and Australia. Since 2020 they represent Canada.
Their primary goal is to work with young riders and help them evolve.
Their 2023 roster is multinational, with the 16 cyclists coming from 10 different countries, including Takis Christopoulos-Cheller, who’s not the sole Greek in their ranks. Savvas Potsos has been on the coaching staff for many years, while Panagiotis Marentakis joined them in 2023.
They use Canyon bikes like other ΔΕΗ Tour of Hellas teams.
