Cyprus will once again host a prestigious cycling event next year as organisers gear up for the 2009 Cyprus Sunshine Cup. The event will see more renowned athletes taking part in the competition including Olympic gold medallist Sabine Spitz.  According to co-organisers the Cyprus Cycling Federation (CCF) and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), this year will see more well-known athletes take part. The event will span the district of Limassol and Larnaca. 

All the races will be Category 1 races except for the Amathounta race, which will be Category 2. The race begins on February 22nd with the last on March 15th and will see riders stream through the community villages of Tochni, Oroklini, Afxentia and Amathus. The first race will be a point to point race, between Tochni and Kalavasos. The new Afxentia stage race offers three stages with a time trial, a point to point and a cross-country race. The new course in Amathus is said by organisers to be an "attractive event" with lots of single-track, demanding parts that will challenge the riders, another plus is that the scenic views make it all worthwhile.

The upcoming competition is set to follow the new UCI rule, which puts stage races again into cross country rankings. The final race, as is the custom in the Cyprus Sunshine Cup, will take place in Oroklini. Organiser Michalis Hadjioannou said " I am sure that we will once again offer an unforgettable experience to the world champions of cycling who have chosen Cyprus as their destination as it suits their preparation demands ahead of major competitions."