As Glas Istre writes on the 21st of November, 2019, Israel Cycling Academy was founded back in 2015 with the aim of developing cycling in Israel. The team is made up of members of different nationalities, winning it the support of hundreds of thousands of fans from many countries, including Croatia. They are Istria300's official partner for 2020.

Cyclisme, a French magazine, described them in a recent cover story as the "United Colours of Israel Cycling Academy".

Tel Aviv's world-renowned cycling team, Israel Cycling Academy, will co-operate with the newly-launched European Cycling Event Istria300. The gathering of Istria300 cycling enthusiasts will be held in Poreč for the first time on October the 10th, 2020, with the Israeli team serving as the official partner and promoter of the event.

Although competitively successful (with an impressive 29 wins in 2019 only), they enjoy the reputation of being a friendly and open team. Istria300 event organisers Julius Rupitsch and Vladimir Miholjević aren't hiding their enthusiasm for their partners.

"There are numerous reasons why the Israel Cycling Academy team is the perfect partner for the Istria300 event," Rupitsch said.

"In October, we'll welcome a thousand highly motivated and ambitious cyclists from all over the world in Istria. The Israel Cycling Academy team is known for putting together a team that will appeal to international audiences," explained Miholjević, explaining the reasons for the cooperation. At the moment, the organisation of the team and the organisation of the events require the highest standards to be met, both for the cyclists themselves and for the sport itself.

"With this approach, we want athletes themselves and cycling itself to profit from everything to the fullest," said Miholjević.

"This is a great opportunity to work with the organisers of the Istria300 event. We'll be able to take part of the itineraries of the event and explore the unknown terrain for us,'' said Kjell Carlström, director of the Israel Cycling Academy team.

On Saturday, October the 10th, 2020 Poreč will become the mecca of international cycling. Under the slogan "Ride Your Limits" Istria offers ideal cycling conditions and striking routes along some of the most beautiful Istrian roads and spectacular locations that will provide participants with an unforgettable cycling experience.

Pre-registrations are open on the official website until December the 6th, 2019 or until the number of up to one thousand participants is reached. So far, 600 applications from 22 different countries have been received. All participants will be able to complete their registrations from December the 6th to December the 12th at a cost of 60 euros. Regular applications will be open from December the 13th. The entry fee for regular applications is 75 euros.

Click the link provided above for more information.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

October 31, 2019 - Cycling in Croatia? Croatian Auto Club has just released a new interactive map with the cycling routes across Croatia. 

A novelty on the Croatian Auto Club's (HAK) interactive map is the cycling routes that pass through Croatia as a contribution to implementing the Cycling Tourism Development Action Plan resulting from the 2020 Tourism Development Strategy. In the future, HAK wants to publish smaller routes by county, in addition to other facilities provided for cycling tourists.

The Croatian Auto Club, with the help of the Coordinating Body for the Development of Cycling Tourism in Croatia (cyclotourism.hr), wants to popularize this type of tourism, enriching its interactive map with new content.

To begin, as part of the interactive map, HAK has published EuroVelo cycling routes passing through Croatia with a brief description of each route and the ability to download the route in KML and GPX format for navigation devices.

In addition to EuroVelo cycling routes, there are also cycling routes that cross Croatian roads. The ultimate desire is to establish a national network of cycling routes.

In early 2019, cooperation with the Croatian Auto Club Information Center was initiated when they agreed to set up cycling routes on the interactive HAK map. Representatives of the Coordination Body have provided GPX tracking for EuroVelo and national cycling routes for this purpose.

This project is the result of long-term cooperation between the tourism and transport sectors and the desire to establish a national network of cycling routes as a basis for a stronger development of cycling, cycling infrastructure and, ultimately, cycling tourism.

Currently, county tourist boards are collecting data from routes for entry regarding lengths, altitudes, route markings, and developing cycling tourism infrastructure such as rest areas, services, accommodation and overnight accommodation, food and beverage service and the like.

Cycling tourism as a tourist product is a relatively young term, and it occupies an increasingly important place in Croatia and tourism. It is imperative for these tourists to navigate our roads safely, with well-marked routes, and be able to find the accommodation around them. Since 2015, when the Cycling Tourism Development Action Plan was adopted, Croatian counties have provided a variety of facilities for tourists looking for an active holiday.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Perfect weather, sunshine, the sparkling Adriatic sea, and a picturesque 118.55 kilometre-long ride adorned with Zadar's landscapes - the first Granfondo Falkensteiner Borik, an international cycling race organised by the Croatian Cycling Federation, Zadar Cycling Club and the Falkensteiner Resort Borik, was more than great, as Morski writes on the 20th of October, 2019.

''Granfondo is a category that has been held around the world for the past eight years and is the most widespread form of cycling, and many competitors can all participate at the same time. They all start at once, so this is a so-called friends and family race. We're very pleased that we brought it to Zadar and that the turnout was great for the first year,'' said Toni Dujmenović, the race's director.

The race also included the Absolute race, which was of an open international character, and was attended by professionals as well as by amateurs of all ages without any sporting licenses and competitive experience from Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany and Serbia. The start was at the Falkensteiner resort on Borik, and the race was designed to get to know Zadar County by cycling, Dalmacija Danas reports.

The competitors passed through Zadar, Kožino, Zaton, Nin, Vir, Vrse, Ljubač, Ražanac, Joviće, Radovin, Visocane, Poljica and Mazija, and then returned to the starting point of the race - Borik, through Diklo.

The first Granfondo in Zadar was supported by actresses Petra Kurtela, Mirna Medaković Stepinac and Lana Gojak, accompanied by their families.

''With cycling, we live a healthier and more free life. Such races contribute to raising awareness of the importance of cycling, and teach us how to behave in traffic and towards cyclists. In our country, people are still unfamiliar with the culture of traffic behaviour,'' said actress Petra Kurtela.

''A city bike has always been my favourite for riding around the city, and then my two little girls came. We also bought seats so when we want to ride around town, my husband and I take the girls. I used to go to college by bike and I still rode my bike when cycling around the city was not popular. I enjoy it and am glad that my twins love cycling too. It's always good to use a bicycle because it's healthier, nicer, and because you can stop at any time, play in the park and not have to worry about parking,'' said Mirna.

The winner of the women's competition is Mia Radotić, the absolute winner is Slovenian Damjan Županc, the winner in the 45 plus category is Austrian Hermann Fink, and the junior winner is Nicholas Gojković.

Make sure to follow our dedicated sport and lifestyle page for more.

As Glas Istre writes on the 11th of October, 2019, this year's Istria Granfondo Cycling Marathon will take place from October the 18th to October the 20th, and many cycling enthusiasts will arrive in northwestern Istria primarily because of it.

This is the eighth year that this popular race is being held, with a total of three races available - Granfondo Small (94 km, altitude 1,170 m), Granfondo Classic (119 km, altitude 1,650 m) and Granfondo Family & Gourmet Tour (25 km). More than 500 participants from over ten countries have registered to partake in the race ten days before its start, and the number of participants is expected to increase even further still.

Istria Granfondo is the longest-running and most popular Granfondo in all of Croatia, organised by a cluster from northwestern Istria, and it attracts numerous cyclists and recreationalists year after year without fail.

The popular recreational road cycling race will have two races - The small at 94 km, and the classic one at 119 km - and they will be held on Saturday the 19th of October.

The start and finish of both of these races will be in Umag, right next to the Stella Maris Resort, and the races will take cyclists across the coast and the picturesque inland area of northwestern Istria. The difference from last year's races is the slightly modified Granfondo Classic race track. The new elements are the ascent between Livade-Oprtalj and the segment of “strade bianche”, that is, a small part of the 3 km long trail that is completely flat with a well-trodden gravel road.

Professional cyclists are of course coming to the race, among them Josip Rumac, national champion in road cycling and the winner of the only medal at the world championships for Croatia. Josip is coming to the Istria Granfondo for the fifth time, and in 2019 alone, he has already competed in 60 professional races.

On Sunday, the Istria Granfondo Family & Gourmet Tour recreational bicycle is scheduled. The course is 25 kilometres long, and a rich accompanying program will be provided for the participants, which includes lunch, a bike balance competition, sweepstakes, music and other entertainment. The registration fee is fifty kuna, and participation is free of charge for children under twelve years of age.

Radoslav Rogina, the best-placed Croatian rider in the CRO Race cycling race, also announced his arrival at the race. Rogina is one of the most experienced Croatian cyclists and a member of the Slovenian team Adria Mobil.

This year, the race's sponsors have secured valuable prizes for the winners. The absolute winner will be taking the Bianchi Via Narone 7 Alu bike home, which will be awarded by longtime partner Keindl Sport. In addition, all participants who download their starter pack on Friday will be able to participate in a raffle and thus have the opportunity to win a Garmin Edge 530 cycling computer.

Since the start of the organisation of the Istria Granfonda, the logistics, as well as the starting and target plane of the race, have been managed by the same team as on the former Tour of Croatia and this year's CRO Race.

The first three places will be declared after the race by official protocol in as many as eleven categories for each track, and interesting and valuable prizes will be secured.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

August 31, 2019 - Bike racing through the Stari Grad Plain - ancient UNESCO heritage meets modern cycling as Biciklom kroz Bastinu returns for its 8th edition. 

One of the big growth areas on Hvar in recent years has been in cycling tourism. The sport has been given greater visibility with the marking of bike trails and a cycling map, as well as tourist agencies becoming more sophisticated in their island-hopping itineraries. 

High profile arrivals such as the Bahrain Merida cycling team for their winter training two years in a row have certainly raised awareness of the island as a cycling destination, but there are plenty of other events throughout the year where cycling is celebrated. 

Among them is Biciklom kroz Bastinu (Cycling Through Heritage) which returns for its 8th edition this weekend, bike racing through the Stari Grad Plain, a fertile UNESCO World Heritage Site cultivated by the Ancient Greeks when they sailed in from the island of Paros back in 384 BC. 

This year's event includes a cycling event for the kids, family cycling and trail biking. Full details (in Croatian) below. 

Već 8. godinu za redom S.K. HVAR LIFE organizira već poznati rekreativno-sportski događaj "Biciklom kroz baštinu" koja će svoj start tradicionalno imati na trgu Tvrdalj Stari Grad.Već 8. godinu za redom S.K. HVAR LIFE organizira već poznati rekreativno-sportski događaj "Biciklom kroz baštinu" koja će svoj start tradicionalno imati na trgu Tvrdalj Stari Grad.

Ove godine smo za Vas pripremili dječju biciklijadu, tradicionalnu obiteljsku vožnjicu, Trail utrku te biciklističku utrku u dvije kategorije po potpuno novim, atraktivnim stazama.
Svi detalji u nastavku!

BICIKLOM KROZ BAŠTINU 2019.
Program

*** Subota 31.8.2019. ***
10:00h  Obiteljska biciklijada15:30h  Trail utrka u 2 staze.Macići 10+ km (više od polovine staze u  hladu) i Teuta 20+ km ( 3/4 staze u hladu)
Nakon utrke organizirani odlazak u Jelsu na feštu vina

*** Nedjelja 1.9.2019. ***
10:00h  Dječja biciklijada na Trgu Tvrdalj Nakon biciklijade - Dječja tombola
15:30 Rekreativna utrka /  2 staze 25 i 45 km19:00h Zajednička večera za sve sudionike20:00h Proglašenje pobjednika, koncert i lutrija 

INFORMACIJE
Organizator utrke: Sport klub Hvar LifeSuorganizatori utrke: DVD Stari Grad, Turistička zajednica Stari Grad, Grad Stari Grad, Lag Škoji
Kontakt: Bariša Plenković 095 837 7369Marinko Lupi 091 502 3013
Vrsta utrke : rekreativni MTB maratonDužina staze: Sport 34 km; 750m uspona / Rekreacija 25kmPodloga: 85% macadam 15% asphalt
Start utrke: 1.9.2019. / 15:30 satiMjesto okupljanja i prijava : Trg Tvrdalj Stari Grad - prijave od 14:00Proglašenje pobjednika: Nedjelja 01.09.2018. 20:00 Trg TvrdaljKategorije: Muškarci i žene u obje kategorijeDobna granica: Minimalno 14 godina, mlađi od 14 g. mogu nastupiti isključivo uz pratnju roditelja/staratelja.

PRIJAVE
Startnina: 70 kn za prijave do 15.8.2019. / 100 kn za prijave od 15.8.Za sve prijavljene: Bogati startni paketPrijave:Za nastup na utrci potrebna je registracija na https://www.stoperica.liveAplikacija je dostupna na https://www.stoperica.live/races/120Po izvršenoj registraciji potrebno je izvršiti prijavu na utrku.
Pravo nastupa:Svi licencirani i ne licencirani natjecatelji sa ispravnim MTB biciklom.Staza nije primjerena za mlađe uzraste.Preporučena dobna granica za maloljetnike je 14 godina, uz obaveznu pisanu izjavu roditelja/staratelja. Svi natjecatelji mlađi od 18 godina dužni su donijeti pisanu izjavu roditelja/skrbnika o suglasnosti za nastup na utrci.

Nagrade:
Novčane nagrade za prva tri mjesta u kategoriji Sport za muškarce i žene.
I.  mjesto 800 knII. mjesto 600 knIII. mjesto 400 kn
Za prva tri mjesta u obje kategorije medalje i nagrade sponzora.
Opći uvjeti:Za utrku vrijede MTB Pravilnik HBS i UCI MTB pravilnik.Vozači startom utrke usvajaju ove propozicije i voze na vlastitu odgovornost. Organizator ne snosi odgovornost za djela učinjena od strane vozača prema trećim osobama. Organizator zadržava pravo promjena uvjeta utrke bez prethodne najave. Obavezno nošenje zaštitne kacige bez koje nastup neće biti dozvoljen. Maloljetne osobe mogu nastupiti uz potpis roditelja/staratelja na pisanoj izjavi (koju moraju predati kod kupnje broja) u kojoj je vidljivo da je roditelj/staratelj suglasan da dijete nastupi na rekreativnoj utrci na vlastitu odgovornost.
Napomena: Dodjela nagrada je u nedjelju 20:00 na trgu Tvrdalj u Starom Gradu.
Vidimo se :)

The new ''Podstrana walk & bike'' project includes new 363 metres of cycle paths and promenades along the left and right bank of the Žrnovnica river, 1,610 metres long.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/PD i VL native tim writes on the 20th of August, 2019, Podstrana has now got a first-class promenade and a bike path. The opening ceremony of the Podstrana Tourist Board saw the final conference of the Podstrana walk & bike project held, organised by Poslovni tjednik (Business week), Vecernji list and the Podstrana Municipality, presenting the recently completed project which was largely co-financed by EU funds.

During the aforementioned event, a panel discussion was heled which primarily focused on ''the importance of development of sports infrastructure for the development of tourism, the economy, and for improving the living standards of citizens".

The Podstrana Municipality's Mladen Bartulović pointed out the fact that the cycle path and promenade are part of a more comprehensive project for the coastline from the mouth of the Žrnovnica river to the Strožanac sports port, which has cost more than 18 million kuna in total.

"The coastal promenade project cost us 10 million kuna, of which 8.5 million kuna was received in grants from EU funds, while 1.5 million kuna was provided by the municipality, and we also withdrew this part from other funds. From the mouth of Žrnovnica to the Lav (Lion) Hotel, we got a beach, a car park, communal infrastructure for restaurants and other facilities; a children's playground, two sand volleyball courts, a promenade and a cycle path,'' said Bartulović.

This is all taking place in an area that was actually sandy beach around fifty years ago, however, the area was systematically devastated due to natural causes.

"That lasted until 2010, when we in the municipality adopted a plan for the landscaping of the area, and then in cooperation with the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Split, we prepared the project documentation. Danira Zanki explained that the projects of the Urban Agglomeration of Split were approved by the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds for the use of the ITU mechanism. Integrated territorial investment is a European Union (ITU) mechanism introduced to strengthen the role of cities as drivers of economic development.

The territorial scope of the Urban agglomeration of Split comprises seven municipalities and six cities. The Podstrana walk & bike is located in the western part of the Podstrana Municipality, and includes new 363 metres of biking trails and promenades along the left bank of the Žrnovnica river. The location of the trail is ideal for relaxation, rest and recreation, it is properly equipped with information boards, smart benches and display cabinets with charted routes.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

“Croatia - Cycling paradise with Mario Zubčić with the support of Giant Croatia” is a national project by the former Croatian mountain bike representative Mario Zubčić, the Crikvenica cycling club, the AHA! Association, and the marketing agency aha marketing d.o.o. The project aims to promote Croatia as a cycling tourism destination that attracts an increasing number of tourists, the values developed and represented by the European Union, the preservation of nature - ecology, healthy and active lifestyles, and traffic safety, reports HRTurizam on May 7, 2019. 

The voyage begins on May 9, 2019 (Europe Day) and is placed in the PPS period (preseason). The journey includes 9 stages to connect 4 extreme geographical points of the Republic of Croatia (south - rt Oštra - Prevlaka peninsula - west - rt Lako near Bašanija - lighthouse Savudrija - north - Žabnik - part of Sveti Martin na Muri - east - Rađevac - part of Ilok) and visits all counties, and 4 national and 5 nature parks to show Croatia's beauty and distinctiveness from a cycling perspective. Mario will ride between 200 to 250 kilometers each day of the trip.

The objectives of the project are to market the cycling tourism offer (create new products in the pre and postseason, "Bike & bed" standards, cycling manifestations, "Bike share" system, and more) and the general tourism offer. It also aims to brand Croatia as a desirable and exciting cycling tourism destination, educate various target groups on the need for sport, the importance of healthy lifestyles and ecology, while raising awareness of the issues of traffic safety, promoting values represented by the European Union, recognizing the need to adapt the corridor of the main state cycling routes and link it with the EuroVelo routes and environmental protection.

The project involves several participants and volunteers, and the target groups are recreational cyclists, passionate cyclists, and young people (students). Mario and his team will gather on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at noon in the center of Crikvenica.

You can find more information about the project on the official website, and you can keep track of the news on Facebook.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Croatia boasts many a stunning national park, and the stunning NP Krka is just one on a list of must-see's when in Croatia, either on the continent or on the coast. How about experiencing what NP Krka has to offer on two wheels with the national park's brand new tourist offer for cycling lovers - Krka Bike?

As Morski writes on the 26th of February, 2019, Krka National Park has expanded its tourist offer to include bicycle routes that connect some of the most beautiful parts of NP Krka, revealing its sheer natural beauty to its numerous international visitors, not to mention offering them a few brand new cycling challenges as well.

Krka Bike comprises a total of fourteen routes, including five fit for mountain bikes (MTBs), three for road bikes (Road) and six trekking routes (Track) for a more enjoyable, less challenging bike ride. Along these picturesque bike routes, vertical signaling with the appropriate markings which state the track type will be set up. For example, the R-1 mark, the M-1 mountain sign, and the T-1 trekking mark.

Krka Bike's more challenging mountain routes are designed for bicyclists in good physical condition and who possess more advanced bicycle management skills, these paths take riders along properly looked after and yet still relatively undisturbed forest paths with ups and downs which provide a higher incline.

The road routes are characterised by high quality asphalted roads and are intended for more active athletes looking for physically demanding sporting challenges. For active family outings in nature as well as for recreational cycling, there are six trekking routes, on which riders cycle along properly asphalted roads to take in NP Krka's postcard-like scenery. All the routes, regardless of their classification, are circular in shape and are designed in order to facilitate the cycling, nestled in amongst some utterly jaw-dropping scenery.

In the cooler spring months, NP Krka is a far more welcoming place than it is during the warm summer months. With less people around and less sweat to wipe off one's forehead, exploring the less developed, but no less fascinating parts of this fairytale-like Croatian national park, is a must-do.

Make sure to stay up to date following our dedicated lifetyle page.

In a global quest for new cycling destinations, the world-renowned road cycling magazine Cyclist was thrilled with the scenes of the Makarska Riviera and the climb to Sv. Jure, the highest point on Biokovo mountain. 

For this reason, Cyclist featured the experience of climbing Sv. Jure and the enchanting landscape of the Makarska Riviera in the prime section of their upcoming edition - and Croatia's stunning scenes even got a shot on the cover, reports Dalmacija Danas on January 25, 2019. 

The Cyclist magazine team visited Dalmatia in September 2018 and cycled 136 kilometers through Imotski – Kamenmost – Zmijavci – Runovići – Slivno – Zagvozd – Rašćane – Gornje Igrane – Biokovo Sveti Jure – Makarska. Editor-in-chief Peter Muir was part of the team to travel the extremely demanding route, which is best explained by the fact that the total altitude difference rises to 3100 meters.

The article in Cyclist magazine will be released in February this year and is perfectly timed to when cyclists begin to plan their travel for the upcoming spring season and summer of 2019. The spread comes out to a total of 16 pages in the most attractive part of the magazine. The headline reads “Flying High in Croatia", while the article itself is titled "Slaying the Beast".

In the editorial column at the beginning of the release, called "Ed's Letter," editor Peter Muir marks the rise to Sv. Jure as a "Must Do”, and the climb to Sv. Jure is considered one of the best articles ever published in the journal.

Cyclist magazine has a tremendous impact on the global cycling community. Its influence is undeniable, and it is said to be the world's largest cycling "decision maker" and "trendsetter". Many readers around the world call it the “Cycling Bible”.

Apart from the cycling route itself, the article will present Makarska and the Imotski region as a perennial of Croatian cycling tourism, along with its accommodation and gastronomic offer. There is no doubt that after this article is released, the area should expect an increase in the number of international cyclists. 

Hloverka Novak Srzic, director of the Tourist Board of the City of Makarska, commented on the excellent promotion for Dalmacija Danas. 

“We are very pleased to appear in this ‘Cycling Bible’ that has a global impact with great ratings of top bicyclists. I cannot say anything but that I'm glad. This is the right time to present our destination on a global scale,” Novak Srzić said. 

Makarska certainly has huge outdoor potential. 

“Absolutely. What makes Makarska unique is the blend of the sea, the beach, and the mountains. You can be in the snow on Sv. Jure or smell the fresh mountain air in the summer, and on the same day, enjoy the Mediterranean climate in the beauty of our beaches. This is a great advantage to Makarska.” 

In December, Makarska had many more visitors than a year ago.

“True, 1,500 guests more. Hotel Park was open, last year we invested in Advent. We never had concerts like Željko Bebek and Mladen Grdović before. All the investments have come back. The numbers are the ones that speak best. Next year, Valamar will have a hotel that will be open all winter, and this will be an additional trump card for Makarska and added value to winter tourism.”

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Pedestrian and cycling paths will finally connect Podstrana and Split!