More than 200 athletes from 26 countries are participating in the 20th Cyprus Sunshine Cup, which kicked off on Thursday in the village of Lefkara in Larnaca.

The Cyprus Sunshine Cup, the biggest bike race that takes place in Cyprus annually, is one of the three Hors Class (top class) races in Mountain Bike, and the only one in Europe.

Among the 200 foreign cyclists from 26 countries who are already in Cyprus is Gold Olympic medalist in mountain biking Czech Jaroslav Kulhavy (Gold in London Olympics) and the winners of the last three Olympiads from France, Germany and Norway.

This year the Cyprus Sunshine Cup celebrates 20 years.

The race takes place in and around Lefkara during the first two days, and Lythrodontas village in the Nicosia district in subsequent days. The race ends in Voroklini in Larnaca March 6. (CNA)