--- title: "NATO soldiers cycle across Estonia in a show of unity" id: "49663" type: "post" slug: "nato-soldiers-cycle-across-estonia-in-a-show-of-unity" published_at: "2020-08-17T14:06:54+00:00" modified_at: "2020-08-17T14:06:56+00:00" url: "https://estonianworld.com/security/nato-soldiers-cycle-across-estonia-in-a-show-of-unity/" markdown_url: "https://estonianworld.com/security/nato-soldiers-cycle-across-estonia-in-a-show-of-unity.md" excerpt: "A team of Estonian, British and Danish soldiers and officers – part of the NATO battlegroup currently stationed in Estonia – cycle over 1,000 kilometres […]" taxonomy_category: - "Security" publisher: "Estonian World" language: "en-GB" author: "Silver Tambur" author_url: "https://estonianworld.com/author/silver/" --- # NATO soldiers cycle across Estonia in a show of unity ![Image](https://estonianworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PAL3460-1024x683.jpg) NATO battlegroup bicycling tour across Estonia – a 1000 kilometer show of unity Starting in Tartu on August 15, a team of Estonian, British and Danish soldiers and officers will cycle over 1000 kilometers across Estonia. Organized by NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence, the tour, called “NATO Velo” will go from Tartu to the west coast of Estonia, across the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa before riding onwards to Tallinn and Narva, where the tour ends on August 21st. “This will be a remarkable show of the unity and spirit of cooperation that is long established between the Estonian Defence Force and the British and Danish troops that make up the NATO Battlegroup here in Estonia,” says Colonel Paul Clayton, Commander of the NATO Contingent. “The added bonus is the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Estonian countryside while physically challenging ourselves.” The "NATO Velo" tour will start in Tartu on the morning of Saturday, August 15. On that first day, the team will embark on the longest leg of the tour – about 170 kilometers to Parnu. From there, the team will head across to Saaremaa, then Hiiumaa, before coming back to the mainland. The team will transit through Tallinn on Wednesday August 19. before ending the tour in Narva on Friday, August 21. Throughout the tour, the NATO Battlegroup will host “meet the soldiers” engagement events, coinciding with the cycling team’s arrival in Tartu, Parnu, Tallinn and Narva. At these events, Estonians will have the opportunity to meet soldiers from the NATO Battlegroup, see some of their equipment (from small arms to armoured vehicles), and learn about NATO and the enhanced Forward Presence here in Estonia. “The equipment and heavy armour which we bring to Estonia is an important part of our defensive role here”, says Colonel Clayton. “But it is also essential that we go out and meet the Estonian public and do our best to earn their welcome and support.” For further information By [Silver Tambur](https://estonianworld.com/author/silver/) · August 17, 2020 · [Security](https://estonianworld.com/category/security/) · 2 minutes of reading ### A team of Estonian, British and Danish soldiers and officers – part of the NATO battlegroup currently stationed in Estonia – cycle over 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) across the country in a show of unity. The tour, called “NATO Velo” started in Tartu, Estonia’s second largest town, on 15 August and continues to the west coast of Estonia, across the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa before riding onwards to Tallinn and Narva, the Estonian border town overlooking Russia, where the tour ends on 21 August. “This will be a remarkable show of the unity and spirit of cooperation that is long established between the Estonian Defence Force and the British and Danish troops that make up the NATO Battlegroup here in Estonia,” colonel Paul Clayton, the commander of the NATO contingent stationed in Estonia, said in a statement. “The added bonus is the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Estonian countryside while physically challenging ourselves.” ![Image](https://estonianworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NATOvelo-Infographic_Eng-1024x723.png) A team of Estonian, British and Danish soldiers and officers – part of the NATO battlegroup currently stationed in Estonia – cycle over 1,000 kilometres across the country in a show of unity. Throughout the tour, the NATO battlegroup will host “meet the soldiers” engagement events, coinciding with the cycling team’s arrival in various towns. At these events, Estonians will have the opportunity to meet the soldiers, see some of their equipment – from small arms to armoured vehicles – and learn about NATO and its presence in Estonia. “The equipment and heavy armour which we bring to Estonia is an important part of our defensive role here. But it is also essential that we go out and meet the Estonian public and do our best to earn their welcome and support,” Clayton said. Cover: “NATO Velo” started in Tartu. Photos by the Estonian Defence Forces. ## About The Author ![Avatar photo](https://estonianworld.com/wp-content/uploads/local-avatars/2/1572652467-bpfull-100x100.jpg) [Silver Tambur](https://estonianworld.com/author/silver/) Silver Tambur, co-founder and publisher of *Estonian World*, studied journalism at the University of Tartu and politics at Birkbeck, University of London. He has edited Estonian Public Broadcasting’s English news and contributed to *Business Sense*, *Deutsche Welle*, and *Radio New Zealand*. He is currently editor-in-chief of *Trialoog*, TalTech’s business and research portal. You can also follow him on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/SilverTambur) and like [his page on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/silvertamburpage/) . You can write to Silver at [silver@estonianworld.com](mailto:silver@estonianworld.com) .