Goodbye to face masks. In recent years, the pandemic has led to postponements, suspensions and restrictions on participation in sporting events. It also forced organizers and athletes to wear masks until the competition started. The new situation has made it possible to relax the restrictions and to see images such as the one above, with a multitude of cyclists without masks.
The favorable evolution of the covid pandemic has allowed the island to recover part of its sporting essence at Easter, after two hard years of hibernation for promoters, clubs and athletes. Although this year has not reached pre-pandemic figures and some large tournaments such as the Ibiza International Football Friends Cup could not be held, Ibiza and Formentera have returned to live and breathe sport again, receiving thousands of visitors thanks to established and very prestigious events even at international level.
Easter packed with sport
If the previous week was already intense with the participation of almost 3.3,000 runners in the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon or with the celebration of the Spanish Sea Kayak Cup, the Easter long weekend has once again served to showcase organisational muscle with events such as the Vuelta a Ibiza MTB Scott by Shimano, with a thousand registered participants; the Ruta de la Sal, with 120 boats ready to battle it out in the Mediterranean; the Spanish Championship of the Ilca 4 sailing class organized by the Club Náutico Ibiza; or the PDV Basketball Tournament, with the participation of teams from Mallorca, Catalonia and the Canary Islands.
These events have left a host of anecdotes. The Vuelta a Ibiza mountain bike race was once again featured many well-known faces from the national sport, although the first participation by the Paralympian Ricardo Ten and his teammate Maurice Eckhard stood out from the rest. Both already know what it’s like to pedal around the island in the Vuelta Cicloturista Campagnolo, but this time the challenge was much greater as they had to cover tough trails, trialeras and ascents dotted with rocks and obstacles for their adapted bicycles.
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