May 26, 2021 - This weekend is surely a special one for the heart of Velebit. The Sveti Rok MTB Tour bicycle competition through the fields of Lika and the area of Velebit around Cnropac will celebrate five successful years of organization with several races, exhibitions, and a Matej Meštrović concert.
As reported by turistickeprice.hr, Sveti Rok MTB Tour is the name of the traditional, fifth in a row bicycle race through the fields of Lika and the area of Velebit around Crnopac, Tulovi Gredi and Zira. This is the first activity this year out of a total of seven that will be held under the common name ‘‘Srce Velebit’’, or ‘‘Heart of Velebit’’. Every day, as part of the Sveti Rok MTB Tour, three cycling or cycling-hiking tours with guides from the Heart of Velebit will be offered. One of them will be an easier, family route through the Lika fields, while two will be more demanding on Velebit.
Credit: Heart of Velebit
On the first day of the cycling race, on May 28, the new bike & hike Staza Malog Princa (Trail of the Little Prince) will be presented. It is intended for the most prepared, and this very difficult trail is covered by 40 kilometers by bicycle, and participants will then have another four hours of walking on very demanding terrain. Due to the complexity of the terrain and the safety of the participants, the number is limited to 30 participants.
For participants with less driving experience on difficult terrains, a light route, Suvajski bunari (Suvajski wells), with a length of about 35 kilometers with an altitude difference of 350 meters has been prepared. The third route offered on the first day of the cycling race is the Velebit šišmiši (Velebit bats), and it is a night bike ride through Velebit for participants with previous experience and equipment for night driving, who should expect 25 kilometers of forest roads.
Credit: Heart of Velebit
Tulove Grede - bike & hike is the first route in Saturday's offer of cycling. The lighter version via Mali Alan is 42 kilometers long with 2 and a half hours of ascent and descent from the top, and the more advanced one goes along the Road to Hell route through Male Jasle, 60 kilometers long with 2 and a half hours of ascent and descent from the top. The Heart of Velebit Epic is very heavy, fitness, and technically demanding. Perhaps the most beautiful route in Croatia. It is 62 kilometers long, from 553 to 1211 meters above sea level, and a descent to the starting point. Winnetou - from Lika to the sea, is medium and technically demanding, 37 kilometers long. The reward for the effort is a descent from 1050 meters to the sea, for swimming.
On Saturday, May 29, a special program was prepared to mark the first five successful years of the Heart of Velebit. A celebratory concert of the famous pianist Matej Meštrović (author of the album Sounds of Velebit) will be held for all participants at the Cvituša Excursion Site, with video recording and millennial photography with a camera and drone.
On the last day of the Sveti Rok MTB Tour, on Sunday, May 30, participants can expect Zir - bike & hike, an easy route that everyone can ride, 40 kilometers of Lika fields with springs and rivers, then the Mile vode / River Deep Mountain High, which is a difficult route of 65 kilometers and Mali Epic, a shortened difficult and technically demanding bike route. From the initial 553 meters above sea level, there is an ascent along the Master Road to 1001 meters, then to 1230 meters, followed by a descent along a forest road to 580 meters above sea level, rewarding the cyclists with a road descent to Sveti Rok through the forests and paths of Velebit.
Credit: Heart of Velebit
As part of the cycling race, Lika family farms will also present themselves. In front of Hostel Sveti Rok, there will be a sales exhibition of delicacies and souvenirs before leaving for home.
Those interested can participate for one, two, or all three days. You can find more about the cycling race and how to register HERE.
Velebit Nature Park is one of the 12 natural parks in Croatia, and you can learn more about them in Total Croatia's Guide to National and Natural Parks in Croatia, HERE. Now you can find Total Croatia articles in your language!
For more information about cycling in Croatia, go to Total Croatia's dedicated page.
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