Two Shores Hand in Hand: A Bridge of Friendship Extending from Kaz Mountains to Lesvos
The Shores United by Sports
For centuries, the Aegean Sea has been not only a sea that separates two shores, but also a shared living space that connects cultures, people, and ways of life. Today, the developing tourism, cultural, and friendship relations between Turkey’s Edremit Gulf and Greece’s Lesvos Island are reviving this shared past.
One of the finest examples of this understanding is the “Two Shores Hand in Hand – Friendship and Solidarity Ride” event.
Held for the second time in 2026, the event was not just a bicycle tour; it evolved into a meaningful project where sports, culture, nature, and international friendship came together in a single organization.
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Much More Than a Cycling Organization
The main aim of the event was not competition.
The purpose was;
- to strengthen friendship ties between Turkey and Lesvos,
- to promote cycling culture,
- to support nature tourism,
- to introduce the natural beauty of the Kaz Mountains,
- to build new social and cultural bridges between the two communities.
The following statement used in the final remarks of the organization actually summed up the spirit of the event:
“Together with our friends from Lesvos, we united not only the kilometers but also hearts.”
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Guests from Lesvos
This year, the organization gained an international dimension.
13 cyclists from the Lesvos Cycling Club, one of Lesvos’ most active cycling communities, came to Edremit and joined the ride.
This participation was highly significant symbolically.
Because people living on both sides of the Aegean are now coming together not only as tourists traveling by ferry, but also as friends meeting at shared sports events.
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Who Organized the Event?
The organization was carried out through the joint effort of many institutions.
Official supporting institutions:
- Balıkesir Governorship
- Balıkesir Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports
- Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality
- Edremit Municipality
- Turkish Cycling Federation Balıkesir Provincial Representation
In field organization:
- Edremit Gulf Cycling Platform
- Susurluk Cycling Platform
- Cycling volunteers
played an active role.
This structure became a fine example of successful cooperation between public institutions and volunteer communities.
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How Was the Event Planned?
The event was not designed as a short bike ride within the city.
Taking into account that participants had different physical levels, three different routes were created.
- Beginner level
- Intermediate level
- Advanced level
Thus, both beginners and professional athletes were able to pedal on routes suitable for them within the same event.
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Where Did the Route Pass?
The center of the organization was Güre Beach.
The ride covered areas with natural beauty such as:
- Güre
- Kızılkeçili
- around Tahtakuşlar
- the foothills of the Kaz Mountains
- Edremit Gulf
The advanced group rode onto the forest roads of the Kaz Mountains and completed a more technical and challenging route.
Alongside asphalt roads;
- forest roads,
- natural trails,
- mountain roads,
- scenic viewpoints
formed important parts of the route.
Participants did not only cycle; they also had the chance to experience the clean air, rich vegetation, and unique nature of the Kaz Mountains.
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How Was Safety Ensured?
Safety was one of the most important issues in such a large-scale organization.
Throughout the event;
- police teams,
- gendarmerie,
- municipal staff,
- volunteer route coordinators
were on duty along the route.
Traffic was directed in a controlled manner, and water and other support were provided to participants at certain points.
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The Event Was Not Just About Cycling
During the organization, participants took rest breaks at certain points.
At the end of the event, meals were served and a friendship gathering was held.
Although the specific business where the meal organization took place was not clearly stated in publicly available sources, the social side of the event was at least as prominent as its sporting side.
Participants chatted throughout the day, took photos, and athletes from the two countries formed new friendships.
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Why Were the Kaz Mountains Chosen?
The Kaz Mountains are one of the important natural areas not only in Turkey but also in Europe.
With its clean air, oxygen level, forest roads, and cycling routes, it has become one of the important centers of nature sports in recent years.
The fact that it offers different kinds of routes for mountain biking, gravel, and road cycling played an important role in the event’s success.
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Lesvos and Cycling Culture
Lesvos Island has long been one of the destinations making significant investments in cycling tourism.
On the island;
- MTB races,
- gravel events,
- road cycling activities,
- nature tours,
- cycling festivals
are organized.
The Lesvos Cycling Club is one of the most active representatives of this culture.
Therefore, the athletes from Lesvos added significant international value to this organization.
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A New Tourism Model in the Aegean
This organization in fact presents a vision different from classic sports events.
Today, sports tourism is growing rapidly around the world.
Cyclists travel not only to compete, but also to:
- see new cities,
- get to know different cultures,
- experience gastronomy,
- spend time in nature.
From this perspective, regular cycling events to be established between the Edremit Gulf and Lesvos could create important economic value.
“Two Shores Hand in Hand – Friendship and Solidarity Ride” is not merely an organization that promotes cycling.
This event is an exemplary Aegean project where;
- sport,
- culture,
- tourism,
- nature,
- friendship
all come together in the same pot.
The strengthening of relations between Turkey and Lesvos through sports may pave the way for even larger international festivals and sustainable tourism projects in the future.
For people living on both sides of the Aegean, this organization is not just a day of cycling; it is a meaningful step taken together toward a shared history, shared culture, and a shared future.
