The Bicis para la Vida by Škoda project, promoted by the Contador Foundation and the automobile company with the support of institutions such as the Seur Foundation and the AMP Association of Pinto, among others, will be part of the Vuelta Cicloturista a Ibiza Campagnolo in 2024. Those who wish to collaborate with the project can already donate their bicycles at the Ibiza Sport shop in Sant Antoni de Portmany. It doesn’t matter what size it is or if you have forgotten it in the storage room, if it’s not perfect… They are all welcome.

Since the end of August, the organisers of the cycling tour have been collecting bicycles at their shop located at Carrer de la Soledat, 32, in Sant Antoni de Portmany, with the goal of collecting as many as possible. Afterwards, they will be set up to be collected and sent to groups at risk of social exclusion and associations that work with them, both in Spain and in locations in other countries.

Once they have been tuned up, the bicycles are transferred thanks to the Seur Foundation and the Contador Foundation team is in charge of taking them to an area in need. The last delivery in Spain took place last Saturday at the Asociación Socioeducativa para la Educación (Aseduc) in A Coruña. Hassilabied, a village in the Sahara desert in Morocco, five kilometres north of Merzouga, was the last destination outside Spanish borders.

Alberto Contador himself, who has attended several deliveries in Moroccan territory, emphasises: ‘You travel to a totally different reality in which the minuscule, what may go unnoticed in our society, here is valued in an impressive way. And seeing the children makes an impact on you, touches your heart, moves you. We are not aware of the enormous value of a bicycle in some environments. Not only to improve the attendance of children in schools, but also for something as unknown as reducing the time spent going to fountains and springs to fetch water. The bicycles that we no longer use here bring a lot to other less disadvantaged geographical environments. We are very grateful to Juanjo and the whole organisation of the Vuelta Cicloturista a Ibiza for their interest in supporting our project and for all the facilities provided’.

For the organisation, which usually collaborates with various foundations and associations through donations, this is a new opportunity to help using the loudspeaker of the Vuelta Cicloturista a Ibiza Campagnolo. ‘Social inclusion through cycling is something we work on on a regular basis, so this action by the Contador Foundation seemed perfect to us. Both Ibiza Sport and the Vuelta will try to use the event as a loudspeaker to collect as many bikes as possible. We are sure it will be a success’, says Juanjo Planells, responsible for the event.

For the organisation, which usually collaborates with various foundations and associations through donations, it is a new opportunity to help using the loudspeaker of the Vuelta Cicloturista a Ibiza Campagnolo. ‘Social inclusion through cycling is something we work on on a regular basis, so this action by the Contador Foundation seemed perfect to us. Both Ibiza Sport and the Vuelta will try to use the event as a loudspeaker to collect as many bikes as possible. We are sure it will be a success’, says Juanjo Planells, responsible for the event.

‘Bikes for Life is one of the most beautiful initiatives that we promote within the Foundation. It all started in the framework of one of the last editions of the Vuelta a España that Alberto competed in and from the very first moment both the response from the people and the welcome from the institutions and even many brands has been incredible. Since 2013 we have distributed several hundred bicycles both in Spain and in countries such as Morocco and Uganda. We knew that this project could bring a lot to many people, but the reach has been much greater and that is very comforting. And also an incentive to continue working’, explains Francisco Javier Contador from the Francisco Javier Contador Foundation.

If you have a bicycle that you don’t use and you don’t know what to do with it, you can hand it in until next October!

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