Founders Leg 6 · Saturday 18 September 2027

Metsovo to Kozani

Up to the highest point of the leg, then long descents across the empty mountains of northern Greece.

Distance
121km
75.0 mi
Climbing
1,684m
5,523 ft
Descent
2,128m
6,981 ft
High point
1,533m
5,031 ft

The day's digital “cloth” map

  1. Start
    0.0 km / 0.0 mi
    Aroma Dryos and Hotel Apollon, Metsovo
    A cold start at altitude. Arm warmers and a gilet are a good idea.
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    27.4 km · 17.0 mi to water stop
  2. Water stop
    27.4 km / 17.0 mi
    La Moara Hotel
    Refill bottles after the climb to the highest point of the leg.
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    34.3 km · 21.3 mi to lunch
  3. Lunch
    61.7 km / 38.3 mi
    Lunch in Grevena
    A local taverna in the town famous for its mushrooms.
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    29.3 km · 18.2 mi to water stop
  4. Water stop
    91.0 km / 56.5 mi
    Afternoon water stop
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    29.4 km · 18.3 mi to beer stop
  5. Beer stop
    120.4 km / 74.8 mi
    Beer stop, Kozani
    A cold one in the main square as we roll in.
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    0.3 km · 0.2 mi to finish
  6. Finish
    120.7 km / 75.0 mi
    Aliakmon Hotel, Kozani
    Finish in the main square, with a great selection of bars.
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Ride25 crew

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Tonight's hotel

Aliakmon Hotel, Kozani

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Route map

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  • Stops
  • Wind, km/h

Elevation

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Wind and weather

Too far ahead for a forecast yet, so these are the conditions on the same day in 2025. Winds were moderate, around 13 to 17 km/h, mostly north. Dry, about 8°C early and up to 25°C. The live forecast appears here automatically in the two weeks before the ride.

Typical conditions from Open-Meteo records for the same day in 2025. Check the live forecast on the morning.

Riding notes

  • The climb out of Metsovo takes us over 1,500 m, the highest point of the leg.
  • The descents are long. Keep warm on the way down and watch for gravel on bends.
  • Very little traffic and very few people. Stay with your group.

The country you ride through

History on the road

0 to 40 km

The Katara Pass

The old road over the Pindus mountains was the main route between Epirus and Thessaly. The modern Egnatia motorway now tunnels underneath, leaving the old road almost empty.

40 to 100 km

Grevena

Grevena is renowned for its wild mushrooms and holds a mushroom festival every year.

100 to 121 km

Siatista and Kozani

Siatista grew rich on the fur trade and has fine old mansions. Kozani is the capital of western Macedonia, known for its saffron from nearby Krokos.

Look out for

  • The view from the high point
  • Wild mushrooms on the menu in Grevena
  • The mansions of Siatista
  • Saffron from Krokos

Local heroes

Famous faces from along the route

The Pindus mountains were the setting for the Greek resistance in the Second World War. Kozani is home to a large Pontic Greek community whose families came from the Black Sea coast that the Pioneers rode along on Leg 9.

Call crew leader, Mel+44 7947 765600 Emergency112