L'Etape Slovenia Village Opening and important information for participants

Saturday free of charge cycling

There are still a few free places to sign up for the Saturday bike rides. Prior registration is required. All participants of the cycling event must pick up their start number on time on the day of the event from 10:00 to 14:00 in the Kranj Municipality Hall, Slovenski trg 1.

Program L'Etape Slovenia on SATURDAY, 2. 9. 2023

• 10:00–14:00 Starting numbers pick-up and last-minute registration (free registration only possible until the quota of 500 participants is reached).
• 14:00 L'Etape Slovenia Village opening
• 14:45 Cycling festival opening
• 15:00 CHILDREN'S CYCLING
  • 15:00 START 1st group, aged up to 4 years (running bike or bicycle)
  • 15:10 START 2nd group, age 4.5–8 years
  • 15:20 START 3rd group, age 9–13 years
• 16:10 FAMILY CYCLING START
• 18:00 FINISH

Program L'Etape Slovenia on SUNDAY, 3. 9. 2023

• 7:00–8:30 Starting numbers pick-up
• 9:00 START short distance race (68 km) and long-distance race (138 km)
• 8:55–13:00 Planet TV live race coverage
• 12:00 First participants crossing the finishing line
• 13:00 Jersey awarding ceremony, 68 km
• 15:00 Jersey awarding ceremony, 136 km
• 17:00 Finish

Important information for participants of Sunday's L'Etape Slovenia

Starting numbers pick-up possibilities

Starting numbers pick-up in Hervis Sport stores from 15:00 to 20:00 hours according to the following schedule:

• Ljubljana: Monday, 28. 8. 2023 HERVIS CITY PARK LJUBLJANA
• Maribor: Tuesday, 29. 8. 2023 HERVIS EUROPARK MARIBOR
• Kranj: Wednesday, 30. 8. 2023 HERVIS SUPERNOVA KRANJ
• Novo mesto: Thursday, 31. 8. 2023 HERVIS NOVO MESTO

At the event venue in Kranj, in the Municipality of Kranj city hall, Slovenski trg 1:

• Saturday, 2. 9. 2023, from 10:00 to 18:00
• Sunday, 3. 9. 2023, from 7:00 to 8:30.

Start number pick-up is only possible in person with a valid personal document and with a QR code, which you received by e-mail.

Yellow and black starting bib

The color of the start number bib is selected according to the chosen route when registering for L'Etape Slovenia:

• Black starting bib (from 1 to 999) = longer route, 136 km
• Yellow starting bib (from 1000 to 1500) = shorter route, 68 km.

You will receive a start number that you put on your back, with a chip under the seat of your bike and on the handlebars.

Participant's goodie bag and a warm meal voucher

By collecting the start number, the participant also receives a goodie bag containing a voucher for a hot meal upon arrival at the finish line. The meal is available in a tent at the venue. In addition to the voucher, the partners of L'Etape Slovenia will also present the following:

• Garmin: cycling bottle
• Hervis: discount coupon for bike purchase
• Visit Kranj: guided City of Kranj tour coupon
• Frutabela: protein bar Frutabela
• Mlinotest: pasta, 1 kg
• Crown: discount code
• Apres Outdoor: discount code
• Krka: magnesium sample
• Klet Brda: AVIA vine can
• Pernaton: candy and sample.

Arrival at the venue and parking

We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before the start for those who have/will have already received a start number. Those who do not have this option can also pick up their start number on the day of the event from 7:00 onwards. Participants are advised to park in the Supernova Mercator Savski otok shopping center, Stara cesta 25 c, Kranj.

Start, course of the cycling event and important points throughout the route

Simultaneous start at 9:00 on Koroška cesta, arranged in lines from the start line, which is located opposite Brioni Restaurant and along Koroška cesta in the direction of Hotel Creina. The start-finish area will be marked with an arch. Important points on the route:

• Kilometer 0
  Kilometer 0 is located at kilometer 13.3 in the town Nemilje. Until the point of kilometer 0 all cyclists are behind the first official vehicle, overtaking is prohibited.
• Refreshment stations along the route
  • Jamnik
  • Križe
  • Bašelj
• Racing for the Tour the France jerseys
  • Polka dot jersey – mountain finish at Jamnik: 18,2 km and 86,2 km
  • Green jersey – sprint segment at Predoslje: 60,6 km and 128,6 km
  • Yellow jersey – fastest according to time
  • White jersey – fastest young cyclist
• The point of shorter and longer rout divide: Jelenov klanec before reaching the finishing straight:
  • The right part of the road coming to the finishing line – shorter route.
  • The left part of the road leading to the 2nd lap of the race – longer route. Changing route is also possible during the race. 

Route technical assistance

Basic technical assistance will be provided with 5 vehicles that will be deployed throughout the route. However, we recommend that participants equip themselves with a spare tube for a possible quick change of a burst tube, as technical assistance may be too far from the place where a quick change of tube is needed.

Road closure timetable

The road closure timetable where the traffic is stopped runs at an average speed of 25 km/h. If the participants of the cycling event do not reach this speed, they will be informed about this by the directors and the final vehicle. In case of possible exclusion from the official course of the event, they will have to follow road traffic rules and continue their journey independently.
To ensure safety and enable a safe event, an average speed of 25 km/h is also a condition for cyclists to be able to continue to an additional lap on a longer route. If they do not reach this speed after the first lap, they will be redirected to the finish of the shorter route. Checkpoints with an estimated timeline are:

• Gobovce: 30.9 km, approximate final time: 10:14
• Goriče: 46.9 km, approximate final time 10:52
• Finishing line crossing: 68.0 km, approximate final time: 11:43
• Gobovce: 98.9 km, approximate final time: 12:57
• Goriče: 114.9 km, approximate final time: 13:35.

Participant's photos

Sportograf is the official photographer of the L'Etape Slovenia participants. To be most satisfied with the photos please take into account:

• make sure that your starting number is visible at all times
• every time you see a Sportograf photographers smile at them
• have the biggest possible smile while crossing the finishing line.

>> Personal photos of cyclists will be available one week after the event at the following website: https://www.sportograf.com/event/8684

Safety warnings and general recommendations for health protection

We warmly recommend the following recommendations to all participants for a successful performance at the cycling event:

1. Attention! We ask for maximum concentration of cyclists on the road. The bicycle race takes place along 136 kilometers of roads. The cycling peloton will be guarded by: 5 official race vehicles, 22 policemen on motorbikes, 20 directors on motorbikes, policemen in cars, 10 ambulances, 100 guards who will be stationed on the route at dangerous sections, safety fences. The organizer makes every effort to ensure the safety of the race participants, for a true Tour de France feeling. We warn all cyclists that there is always a possibility of oncoming traffic. It is not possible to fence off the entire route. Therefore, we urge you to pay attention to what is happening on the road. Take care of your own safety and the safety of the participants in the event.
2. Make a realistic assessment of your abilities and capabilities. Be aware that form and well-being can vary daily, so assess your well-being especially carefully on the day of the event.
3. We recommend a nutritious breakfast before the competition itself with sufficient intake of your body's energy needs, vitamins and minerals and adequate hydration to replenish your reserves. 
4. Carry a water bottle with you, which should not only be water and some snacks for the journey.
5. To participate in a longer event, it is recommended that you have cycled at least 3,000 km in 2023.
6. An ambulance with a red or blue light always has priority! Whenever you see an official vehicle with its warning light on, move to the side of the road to clear the traffic for the vehicle with the warning light on. The race director will give you a clear signal if the race stops or if the cycling speed slows down.
7. When crossing the railway crossing in Podnart, cyclists are urged to follow road traffic rules. The train has priority, so cyclists must stop when the gates are down and wait for a clear path. You must never cross railroad tracks when the gates are down. Cyclists on a longer route will cross the railway twice.
8. Please ride patiently with collective responsibility.
9. Ride carefully on descents, don't overdo it and ride within your capabilities. In case of slippery roads, we ask you to be extra careful.
10. Kilometer 0 is at 13.3 kilometer in Nemilje. Until the point kilometer 0, all cyclists ride behind the first official vehicle, overtaking is prohibited.
11. Treat yourself to a hot meal upon arrival at the finish line. You received the voucher in a gift bag when you picked up your starting number.
12. Upon arrival at the finishing line, short massages for tired muscles with Pernaton cooling gels will also be provided.

Announcement of winners and awarding of jerseys in the spirit of the Tour de France

• At 1 PM for the participants on the shorter distance
• At 3 PM for the participants on the longer distance.

Good luck, cyclists! Don't forget, it's an experience, so ride at your own pace and mind your and other safety!

>> L'Etape Slovenia Village