«The Sun Trip:on the road to Astana EXPO-2017» cycling race kicks off in France

The participants' bycicles are equipped with electric motors and solar-rechargeable batteries in support of the International specialized exhibition EXPO-2017 which is themed "Energy of the Future".

Florian Bailly, the president of the "Journey to renewable energy" Association, is a mastermind of the event. Florian and race partakers want to attract the attention of people around the world to renewable energy sources, energy conservation policy and energy access for all environmental problems.

The unusual experiment involves 33 people from Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, the Czech Republic and France. Askar Syzbaev, a member of the Cycling Association of Kazakhstan, will represent Kazakhstan.

During the trip there are planned stops in the cities of Venice, Sofia, Bucharest, Odessa, Istanbul, Sochi, Baku, Atyrau and Aktobe. The end point of the journey is Astana - the capital of Kazakhstan.

Every participant chooses the route to Astana himself and the distance between the start and finish is about 6-7 thousand miles, depending on the intended path. The trip will last from 2 to 3 months. It is planned that cyclists will arrive at the destination point on 15 August 2013. The participants will be met by the residents of Astana city. After that it is planned to carry out the mass bike race about the city.

"All the participants of The Sun Trip 2013 are full of energy and effort including both experienced and novice ones, all are united by one common idea to draw attention to the use of renewable energy," said the Chairman of the Board of "NC" Astana EXPO-2017 " JSC. The Sun Trip will be unprecedented international project that will tell people of Europe and Asia about the upcoming International specialized exhibition EXPO-2017. I wish you a good trip!".

"We want to organize a new movement just the same as the Dakar, but for cyclists. And to show the possibilities to implement alternative energy", said Florian Bailly, the founder of The Sun Trip. As believed by him the choice of Kazakhstan as the destination point based on the active development of cycling sport in the country.

The project is officially supported by Herve Gaymard, the former economy minister of France and the President of the Savoy region; Michel Barnier, the member of the Commission of the European Union; Jean-Claude Killy, the Olympic champion and member of the International Olympic Committee; Nicola Ulot , TV star, a consultant of the French President on Environmental Affairs; and Alexander Vinokourov, the Olympic champion; the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in France.

Among the partners of The Sun Trip are the EDF (the French national electricity company); INES (French Research Center for Solar Energy); ADEME (the French governmental agency for the implementation of alternative energy) and others.