Aydın Ayhan Güney:
 “Our aim to lodge the classic of world cup in Cappadocia”

Interview: Yavuz İşçen
August 2008/Ankara

Aydın Ayhan Güney is one of the doyens of mountain bike. Since 1990 he has been organizing mountain bike tours in Cappadocia as well as he took place in the organization of races in Cappadocia. Since 1993 he is one of the stakeholders of Argeus Travel Agency which is identified with mountain bike organizations. During the organization of 2007 European Mountain Bike Championships, Argeus got the compliments but of course Güney’s contribution to this organization and this success cannot be denied. Güney, who is a member of Technical Committee of Turkish Cycling Federation, has been participated in many important races on abroad as an observer. Finally he was the coordinator of the organization of 44th Prime Minister Cycling Tournament in April 2008. We would like to share our interview with him about the future of mountain bike in Cappadocia.

Peribacası M.: Is Cappadocia suitable place for mountain bike tournaments? What can you tell us if you compare Cappadocia with the other well known cycling racecourse in the world?
Aydın A. Güney: It might sound a bit exaggerated but nowhere can have a competition with Cappadocia as a racecourse. It has such a variety that last 8 years we were able to organize races in different racecourses. If we want we can easily race our racecourse number to hundreds. The racecourses of Cappadocia not only present natural beauties. While you race here you get into history and culture. For example you pass through the women baking bread in the stone owens and then you come across with the children going to school and you see the old man in his field waving hand to you and finally a 10th century church all of a sudden stand just in front of you. There is no place in the world which will provide this combination to you.
Peribacası D.: How do you evaluate the contribution of mountain bike tournaments to the tourism in Cappadocia? What else can be done in order to raise this contribution?
Aydın A. G.: Cappadocia is one of the most important touristic areas of Turkey. It needs to have more promotion both in the country and on abroad. As you know without any promotion there is no tourism. Since the mountain bike tournaments are being organized in open air rather than the closed venues, you easily catch the chance of introducing the region in a best way. All the cycling races broadcast live by air shot. These scenes are being on world TV channels. How can you make a region more introduced than this? In 2007 European Championships we launched Göreme to the whole world. I never forget the words of Eurosports reporter. In a gob smacked he said that ‘here is an incredible place, anyhow go and see it’.  If you go and ask to Eurosports for such an advertisement, you need to pay a fortune.
These issues should be examined seriously. The private sector together with the ministry needs to come together and make long term investments on this issue. Different from organizing mulberry or cherry festival, the races are needed to be organized by making strategic plans at the beginning and creating aims. Among our aims, the idea of organizing a traditional world cup in Cappadocia is at the very top. If we can manage to enable a very top level race to persist in Cappadocia, that means we take a big step for Cappadocia.

Note: This article has been published in Peribacası Cappadocia Culture and Publicity Magazine, August 2008 issue. It is under protection of the copyrights of the magazine. No part of this article may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by electronic, mechanical or other means without prior permission from the owner. www.cappadociaexplorer.com