Event Slovenian Touring Cycle Route ZAME

The Slovenian Touring Cycle Route ZAME event attracted the most dedicated cyclists despite the poor weather.

The not very friendly weather at the weekend did not deter a good number of cyclists who set off to meet the new challenge and participated in the touring cycling sports event Slovenian Touring Cycle Route ZAME 2022, organized by the Touring Cycling Commission of the Alpine Association of Slovenia and the Generali insurance company.

The Slovenian Touring Cycle Route (STKP) is divided into 41 stages that lead through all the major mountain groups, passing 112 control points, including 53 mountain huts. The highest point of the STKP is Poštarski dom na Vršiču (1688 m), the lowest being Piran and Sečoveljske soline (1 m).


This weekend we spun the pedals for the fourth time under the guidance of experienced touring cycling guides from the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) along the cycling stages that you selected in the summer vote, and a few additional ones that the guides themselves considered worth riding. The purpose of the cycling-mountaineering trip is to present the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route (STKP) to the public and to provide first-time riding experience on it for touring cyclists who do not yet know it.

The popularity of touring cycling is growing year by year, and so is the popularity of STKP. As one of the younger mountaineering disciplines, touring cycling has already firmly established itself among the sporty active population. "In the Touring Cycling Commission at PZS, we strive for cyclists to gain correct information and experiences through various activities on how to tackle cycling in the natural mountain environment with as few problems as possible and with the greatest joy. We also know that we can only achieve the goals set in our mission with reliable partners, which is to set up a network of mountain trails suitable for touring cycling and to enable proper and especially beautiful experiences on trips under the guidance of our touring cycling guides. One such activity is the organization of the group tour STKP ZAME 2022," said Atila Armentano, head of the PZS Touring Cycling Commission.


Generali insurance company has been actively supporting the development of touring cycling since 2016. As the initiator of the event, it was the co-organizer for the fourth time. "At Generali insurance, we believe that the main purpose of touring cycling is to experience the diversity of the Slovenian landscape by bike, with an emphasis on the mountain world. This way we avoid road traffic and cycle on remote side roads, field paths, and forest tracks. In the end, we are rewarded with satisfaction from completing the demanding route. We believe that by placing directional signs along the STKP route, we have significantly contributed to safe cycling on remote side roads," added Boštjan Jenko from Generali insurance.


This year's STKP trip was aimed at educating cyclists about proper touring cycling. So what are the rules of conduct with bikes in the mountains?

Bojan Briški led the tour in the Kočevje area and due to bad weather changed the route. "We started at Travni gori instead of Hribu Loški potok. Part of the route ran along a track that was difficult to ride due to heavy rain. We got the first STKP stamp at Travni gori and the second at the end of stage 20, at Koči pri Jelenovem studencu. The weather was ideal for cycling, we completed the stage without tire damage."


On stage number 9, the guides were Simon Primožič and Barbara Benedik. "On the 9th stage we enjoyed ourselves immensely high above the Soča valley, warmed in the sun, gazed at white clouds over the ridges, and admired the last shades of green before autumn swallows it. To reach the start of the 9th stage, we had already worked up a good sweat. Due to logistics alone, we started right in the valley, at the confluence of Tolminke and Soče. At planini Kuhinja we had the obligatory break, then continued towards planini Pretovč. From there followed only an enjoyable descent to the valley with an intermediate stop to view the chapel of Sv. Duha na Javorci. At the end in the valley, we all agreed: It was fantastic!"

Tadej Kosmačin was the guide on the 30th stage from Ruške to Ribniške koče. "Despite the ice-cold morning, we set out on the stage from the upper station of Pohorske vzpenjače to Koče na Pesku. On the way, we 'collected' 4 STKP stamps and stamped them in fresh logbooks. The participants were thrilled with the executed tour in beautiful but cold weather. Especially they were impressed by the peace in the Pohorje forests and the excellent štruklji at Pesku. It was interesting that although the participants were locals, they did not know the paths and much was new to them, which is particularly pleasant when leading.


Gregor Mokotar led the tour numbered 1, which runs from Ljubljanskega gradu to Mihelčičevega doma na Govejku. "We were a group heterogeneous in fitness and technique, one participant with a trekking bike, two participants with full-suspension bikes, and the rest with front-suspension mountain bikes. During the route, we stopped several times for coffee and tea, snacks, and nice photos. Participants had the option of returning by train from Medvod, back the same way, or descent to Medvod and via Mednega back to Ljubljana. One participant returned with the guide the same way, the rest of us descended to Medvod and cycled back to Ljubljana via Mednega. There were no serious problems on the way, only adjusted the chain for one participant. The tour went smoothly, and in the end we all agreed that the tour was successful and that we will meet again at the next event."

And even though the Slovenian Touring Cycle Route is not demanding, we certainly must not underestimate it, so physical fitness is essential!