250 cyclists cycle across Slovenia

A beautiful weekend offered an excellent opportunity to build fitness and overcome new challenges. The Migimigi challenge "Cycle the Slovenian Mountain Bike Trail (STKP) in one day" was completed by 250 cyclists across 41 stages. This year's, already the third event, organized in collaboration with the Commission for Mountain Biking of the Alpine Association of Slovenia (KTK PZS) and Generali insurance company, was aimed at training cyclists on proper mountain biking. Most participants confirmed they would repeat the challenge next year.



On the Migimigi challenge "Cycle the Slovenian Mountain Bike Trail in one day," groups of mountain bikers under the guidance of volunteer leaders across the country spun their pedals on individual sections of the circular trail on the same day, Saturday, September 11, which leads through all the major mountain groups, visits 112 checkpoints including 53 mountain huts, with a total ascent of nearly 50,000 vertical meters. According to the data collected so far, 250 mountain bikers participated in the Saturday event, who together covered 1,800 kilometers on various stages, the length of the circular Slovenian Mountain Bike Trail.



The Slovenian Mountain Bike Trail is and has been a project of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, born from a "crazy" idea and great enthusiasm. "It is definitely a product that must breathe into the future. Cycling is becoming an increasingly popular form of recreation, practiced by all generations. With the arrival of e-bikes, cycling has become accessible to certain vulnerable groups who previously could not physically strain their bodies; cyclists would call it 'at high revs.' Mass recreation, besides positive effects noticeable in public health – we must not neglect the economic aspect and changes in infrastructure that is more bike-friendly (mountain huts, dual-purpose trails, signage...) – brings certain negative impacts. We have in mind primarily the impact on the natural environment and coexistence with other mountain visitors, as well as the emergence of new types of accidents in the mountains. And precisely the STKP1dan project, created in collaboration with Migimigi Generali insurance, is a project through which we want to properly guide cyclists and coexist with other forms of recreation in the mid-mountains and high mountains. Above all, to teach them proper cycling on trails where it is permitted and regulated, and to preventively influence all mountain visitors from the perspective of safe mountain visits," summarized the purpose of the event by PZS expert collaborator Matjaž Šerkezi, who on Saturday led the 33rd stage of STKP from Plešivca to Naravskih ledin.



Mountain biking is becoming increasingly popular among Slovenians from year to year. Following last year's exceptional increase in recreational participants in this form of mountaineering, the event attendance was even better than the previous year. This year too, the number of participants was exceptionally good, and all praised the organization of the event and the trail equipment.



Mountain bike guide Grega Šilc led the 4th stage of STKP, which starts at Petrovem Brdu on the other side of Soriška planina. "Over Soriška planina we descended to Bohinjska Bistrica. Along the Klodičeva cycling path, we biked to Ribčev Laz and then through Stara Fužina to the upper Bohinjska dolina, where we began the ascent to planina Uskovnica. Since the mountain hut on Uskovnica is currently being renovated, we climbed to the chapel on the planina, then returned to Stara Fužina, where we ended our tour. We did 58 kilometers and overcame 1,500 vertical meters. The tour was just right challenging, so we really enjoyed it." Grega took two cycling enthusiasts on the trail.



Mountain bike guide Srečko Kavaš led the 28th stage of STKP, where participation was much better. On the stage, which mainly runs through the Slovenske gorice and goes from Gorišnica to Maribor, there were ten cyclists besides the mountain bike guide. "The stage is nicely dynamically varied. Along the entire trail, we were constantly ascending and descending with not too much elevation difference at once. The first third of the stage was more friendly to mountain bikers, as there are more forest paths; on the entire stage, there are also some singletracks that were a reward after the ascent. Along the way, we visited several sights, from Dominkova domačija (the oldest renovated house in Slovenia) in Gorišnica, to Puhov muzej, passed by the beautifully renovated Herbersteinova klet, and climbed to the top of Maistrov stolp in Zavrč. The stage ended at Hiša stare trte, where the oldest vine grows. The participants were very satisfied, it was relaxed socializing, lots of laughter, at the end we were all pleasantly tired. Judging by the feedback, mountain bikers will come again." The entire stage is 68 kilometers long with 1,360 vertical meters.



STKP1dan is just one day a year, but it opens numerous doors for other accompanying events and preventive activities for Slovenian mountain biking enthusiasts, such as preventive films for safer cycling, numerous media publications with popular articles on mountain safety, support for camps of various age groups... "And if each of us during the main mountaineering season sometimes swapped our steel horse for a bike and rode it to the starting point of a planned hiking tour, we would significantly relieve traffic in our wonderful alpine valleys, which have been overloaded with 'metal' in recent years. And just like with trash in the mountains, care for mountaineering infrastructure and nature, it all depends solely on us and each individual," added Matjaž Šerkezi and invited to join us next year at the event or set out on a cycling trail through Slovenia yourselves. But even though the Slovenian Mountain Bike Trail is not demanding, it certainly should not be underestimated, so physical fitness is essential!



More about the Slovenian Mountain Bike Trail and presentation of individual stages >>> www.stkp.pzs.si.