Cycle the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route...

Cycle the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route in one day.



Three years after the Touring Cycling Commission of the Alpine Association of Slovenia (KTK PZS) officially opened the circular Slovenian Touring Cycle Route (STKP) in June 2016, it invites to a special Migimigi challenge - on June 1, cycle the STKP in 1 day! The collective pedaling on 41 sections of the 1850-kilometer circular route under the guidance of PZS touring cycle leaders will symbolically connect mountain cyclists, present the unique route to a wider circle of recreational cyclists and express a strong desire for friendlier legislation.







The Slovenian Touring Cycle Route in its 41 stages and 1850 kilometers, leading through all major mountain groups, visits 112 control points, including more than 50 mountain huts and numerous important alpine and tourist attractions. The entire route accumulates more than 50 thousand meters of elevation gain, the highest point of STKP is Poštarski dom na Vršiču (1688 m), the lowest are Piran and Sečoveljske soline (1 m). It runs on quiet side roads, field paths, forest tracks and trails, but is not technically particularly demanding as it targets a wide range of cyclists, though strenuous in places, sometimes requiring pushing the bike, but never carrying it. The popularity of STKP is evidenced by over 2250 sold Logbooks of the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route, with 16 cyclists having completed it entirely.







The Migimigi challenge Cycle the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route in One Day will on Saturday, June 1, 2019, bring STKP closer to the wider public, who will be able to pedal on it for the first time under the guidance of experienced STKP touring cycle leaders, and further encourage nature lovers to explore Slovenia differently. "Such an extensive project as the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route could not have been realized without the effective work of a large number of dedicated people over a longer period. Through the involvement of touring cyclists from all over Slovenia, STKP acts as a connector. The event itself, STKP in one day, demonstrates the exceptional commitment of touring cyclists to our style of mountaineering, while also being an opportunity to present STKP to a wider circle of recreational cyclists," emphasizes Atila Armentano, head of the PZS Touring Cycling Commission, adding: "Given the trend of growing popularity of touring cycling, as the umbrella organization uniting touring cycling sections in mountaineering societies across Slovenia, we must ensure that touring cycling develops in the right direction, namely as a healthy recreational mountaineering activity carried out correctly, and thus also educational and nature-conserving. With this, we follow the basic principles of Slovenian and international mountaineering."







Selected STKP stages for the June 1 event are divided into two difficulty levels: nine logistically easier and 32 more demanding stages; participation in any requires a mountain or trekking bike with profiled tires. Some routes are partially adapted to rail connections to bring STKP closer to a wider circle of touring cyclists and encourage sustainable mobility. The number of participants is limited due to the number of touring cycle leaders and train capacities, so registrations are required on the website www.migimigi.si. Participation is free, but participants can contribute to the equipment and maintenance of STKP with a voluntary donation to TRR SI56 6100 0001 6522 551 at Delavska hranilnica, model 00, reference 3-10-10, purpose: STKP.







"In Slovenia, we have a very dense network of marked hiking trails for hikers, but on the other hand, very few marked trails for touring cyclists. Therefore, many touring cyclists use GPS devices in addition to maps for orientation. When we at PZS decided to prepare the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route as the backbone of the future network of touring cycle routes, we planned for GPS devices for orientation and did not intend to mark the routes. In the online guide, we prepared stage descriptions, pictorial material, maps and GPS tracks, thinking we had provided all necessary information," describes Jože Rovan, President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia and conceptual father of the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route: "Soon it became apparent that most cyclists - similar to hikers - want the routes to be marked, as some are not skilled in using GPS devices, and for all, it's easier to navigate marked trails. Therefore, for three years we have been gradually marking STKP and equipping it with directional signs. In addition to abundant volunteer work, arranging the route also requires significant financial resources, so we have partnered with interested partners, mainly from tourism. With the joint action of Adriatic Slovenica Insurance and the PZS Touring Cycling Commission, we are trying this time to present STKP to as wide a public as possible under the guidance of our touring cycle leaders."







The STKP in one day event is being prepared in collaboration by mountaineering societies or touring cycling sections and their touring cycle leaders, as well as the PZS Touring Cycling Commission, with the support of partners - Adriatic Slovenica insurance, Olympic Committee of Slovenia, Sports Foundation and Slovenian Railways. "Life is full of challenges, but the best are those that can make our lives even better. Migimigi is a community that unites all who are aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, love interesting challenges and do not close their eyes to everyday risks. It is intended for everyone ready to make some important changes in their lives, get off the couch and turn life for the better. In addition to Migimigi challenges AS safe mountaineer (ambassador Matjaž Šerkezi), AS safe cyclist (ambassador Dušan Hauptman), Shake it off (ambassador dr. Matej Tušak) and Zmigi se (ambassador Trkaj), we invite you to become a piece of the unique sports mosaic and together with us cycle the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route in one day. Live a healthy lifestyle with Migimigi!" invites Boštjan Jenko from Adriatic Slovenica insurance.







The wishes of touring cyclists for friendlier legislation are also becoming louder, highlights Atila Armentano: "Touring cycling is becoming an increasingly established and popular form of recreation in nature, but for now, the entire development of the activity rests on the shoulders of amateur touring cyclists who organize mainly on their own initiative. The state does listen to us, some initial small steps have been taken in the right direction, but we still await concrete solutions for the formal regulation of touring cycling. Regarding the legal regulation of touring cycling, touring cyclists included in PZS are very active in shaping proposals to resolve the currently extremely restrictive and more repressive than encouraging legislation."







Designing, establishing and maintaining the longest Slovenian mountaineering circuit is a major undertaking. Touring cyclists carry out all activities on it voluntarily, as they are aware of the need to participate in its maintenance and promotion, explains KTK PZS head Armentano: "The more marked and maintained routes we have for touring cyclists, the less pressure there will be on other mountaineering and forest infrastructure, the easier it will be to present Slovenia as a green tourist destination committed to sustainable development, mountaineers will be able to discover the beauties of Slovenia by bike safely and with pleasure, just as they do now as hikers. In an appropriate way, we will enable people to visit highlands also by bike."







More about the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route and presentation of individual stages >>> www.stkp.pzs.si.



More about the Cycle the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route in One Day event and registrations >>> www.migimigi.si/stkp1dan.