Josep (70 years), James (67) i Ramon (75), members of the Peña Ciclista de Cervera, they started this morning the challenge of their lives: travel the Via Cerverina on two wheels, a circular route with departure and arrival in Cervera, which links the towns where "Cervera" or one of its derivatives is part of the toponym.
in front, numbers await them that summarize the magnitude of the challenge: 3.000 kilometers, 19 route dies i 17 Cerveres.
The adventure has begun in Paeria, where the cyclists met the mayor, Jan Pomés, before starting the trip. Friends and family have also wanted to accompany them in the first moments of a challenge that they plan to complete 19 September, after crossing 12 provinces of eight autonomous communities.
Total, they expect more than 120 hours on the bike to complete a meticulously designed itinerary. "This initiative kicks off the second part of our Millennium and prepares us for its central act, the Meeting of the Beers. Josep, Jaume and Ramon will be the first to establish links on the ground with our guests, in an experience that is as symbolic as it is representative. This is how we start to warm up engines for a Meeting that will unite populations separated by hundreds of kilometers", mayor Pomés emphasized.
Along the route, cyclists will carry a Via Cerverina credential, which will be completed as they pass through the different towns. "We left home for three weeks", says Ramon, causing nervous laughter among the people who accompanied them at kilometer zero of the route.
Jaume explains that the initiative came about following the presentation of the Cervera Millennium: "Anna Llort, the commissioner, he explained that they were inviting all the Cerveras in Spain, Italy, France and Portugal. And then the light came on: we thought we could do something too. And why not by bike?? This is how we ended up preparing this route through all the Cerveres of the peninsula, sense Portugal, Italy or France”, have yours.
The initial forecast is to complete the route in 19 dies. "The reality will be 20", interrupts Ramon with humor. “In total there will be some 3.000 kilometers and about 30.000 meters of difference in level. We hope to arrive safe and sound in Cervera", Jaume concludes.
The route will allow, Besides, discover very diverse realities united by the same name: from municipalities to small aggregates of less than 100 inhabitants, some of which do not reach the 50 neighbors. The route thus aims to contribute to giving visibility to this heritage and to strengthening the links between the different territories.
The Meeting of the Beers, central act of the Millennium
the days 18, 19 i 20 September, Cervera will host the Meeting of the Cerveras, the central event of the Millennium commemoration. The initiative will bring together for the first time several towns that share the name of Cervera, also establishing links with localities in Mallorca, Portugal, France and Italy.
The Meeting was born with the desire to share traditions, and discover the elements that unite these populations. Beyond the Millennium, the initiative wants to have continuity with the consolidation of Via Cerverina and the establishment of new links and future twinning.