January 24, 2021 – Cycling tourism in Istria has long been recognised as a niche that can enrich the overall tourist offer, extend the pre and post-season, and be an additional motive for guests exploring new destinations on two wheels. To further improve and develop cycling tourism, Istria County is preparing a Study on the quality management of cycling tourism development.

"With this study, we want to get the data we need for the quality management of the development of this product at the destination level. We want to find out how users and service providers in cycling tourism perceive this tourist product, what motivates visitors to come, product satisfaction, and what facilities are missing," explains the head of tourism in Istria County, Nada Prodan Mraković.

The Study includes users and the local population's opinions and monitors cycling tourism's impact on other activities and society.

The study's value stands at 187,500 kuna, of which 150,000 kuna was approved from the Tourism Development Fund of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport. The Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Poreč will prepare the study, which is expected to be completed this June.

When it comes to cycling tourism, the Parenzana bike-hiking trail is indispensable. In the past five years, Istria County, local self-government units, and the Ministry of Tourism invested 3,388,000 kuna in Parenzana's arrangement, maintenance, and promotion.

Photo: Facebook Parenzana

In 2020, for example, a new lookout Brkač and protective wooden fences were installed on the Grožnjan bridge and the Pirelići overpass to increase the safety of drivers and pedestrians. Investments were made in lighting the Kalcini tunnel and general regular maintenance of the route (mowing, landscaping) was undertaken.

In cooperation with Hrvatske šume (Croatian forests), trees were planted on the rest areas and lookouts of Brkač and Rakotule. At the end of the year, for the first time, ten short videos of 15 seconds each were made to promote Parenzana.

In 2021, the emphasis will be placed on the maintenance of drainage canals, of which there are about fifty on Parenzana. Besides that, regular mowing and the upkeep of signposts, info tables, lookouts, WiFi points, and the promotional campaign on social media will continue.

The plan is also to shoot a dozen more short videos that would show off the additional content at Parenzana (gastronomy, cultural content). These activities will undoubtedly further improve but also popularise the former narrow-gauge railway which used to connect the ports of Trieste and Poreč during the 20th century. Its attractiveness is evidenced by the data on over 260,000 visitors in the past three years alone.

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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.

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