Nicknamed The Cretan Runner, George Psychoundakis was a local shepherd turned resistance fighter. Blessed with an extraordinary level of endurance but also a wry humour, he was known to cover harsh terrains at lighting speed. And our riders will be hoping do the same after two particularly gruelling stages, and an eye on the final stage.

With this in mind, this leg along the South-East coast, is short and sweet, and gives riders a chance to recover before the grand finale. It's also another opportunity to enjoy another wild and relatively secluded corner of Crete that very few tourists venture to. The shady palm lined beaches of Vai await.