July 23, 2009 (Toronto, ON) – Tour d’Afrique Ltd, pioneers and organizers of world-renowned transcontinental bicycle tours across Africa, Europe and Asia are gearing up once again to make bicycle history – this time in South America with Vuelta Sudamericana. Starting in Rio de Janeiro on July 26, 2009, 23 riders from 8 countries will participate in the inaugural 12,000km tour. They will travel through Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador and finish four months later, on December 6th, in Quito.

Henry Gold, Company Founder and Environmental Activist, who over the past 7 years has led hundreds of riders across Africa, Europe and Asia on similar trans-continental tours, is excited about the company’s newest challenge.

“The sheer magnitude of our events provides a unique experience for both amateur racers and expedition cyclists and continues to push the perceived limits of long distance, organized adventure cycling.” said Gold. “Traveling by bike enables you to smell strange and wonderful new foods cooking as you roll through a village,  interact with the locals, feel the temperature drop as you relentlessly climb to the top of a mountain pass and observe the changes in culture and vegetation as you cycle across the landscape.”

Vuelta will include a complete range of cycling conditions:-  extreme temperatures, mountain passes over 4200 m, open desert crossings, dense jungles and every conceivable road surface. En route, riders will visit Iguazu Falls, Mount Aconcagua, the Atacama Desert, Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu. They will cycle along the coasts of both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans and will face the Andes in between.

Tour Director, Randy Pielsticker, who has been planning the route for over two years explained that the goal of Vuelta is not to travel the most efficient line between opposite ends of a continent, but to explore and experience the diversity of South America. “By meandering across the landscape and linking a variety of cultural and wilderness destinations, Vuelta has been designed to follow the most favorable patterns of wind, heat, precipitation and daylight.” said Pielsticker.

Vuelta Sudamericana features approximately 110 cycling days, averaging 110 km each day, as well as 24 rest days. It is divided into 9 sections thus accommodating cyclists who are unable to do the entire expedition in one go. Support trucks transport the gear and equipment and an experienced crew sets up camp each night and prepares the daily meals.

Follow the expedition at www.tourdafrique.com/vueltasudamericana