Behind the scenes of the L'Etape Slovenia team: driving along the route
In this article, we will show the less visible side of the L'Etape Slovenia story. We will present the behind-the-scenes work and preparations for the event itself in September.
The diversity of the growing cycling "family" L'Etape Slovenia is a challenge and charm of our work, as we want to provide an unforgettable experience for participants with thousands of kilometers per season as well as for cyclists with several hundred kilometers.
Our key guideline: to provide an unforgettable experience
Our key guideline: to provide an opportunity for an unforgettable experience of the first edition of L'Etape Slovenia to all cyclists. When you ride with pleasure, you achieve sweet victories during the race at the top of every hill, you are filled with exalting emotions, you make contacts, encourage others and receive encouraging words from other cyclists. And that divine feeling of freedom on the descents! Like a big kid. Throughout, you are rewarded with beautiful views of the beautiful panorama of Gorenjska region. No worries, the sun is going to shine!
We “cycled off” a bit from behind the scenes; When planning the route, we pay great attention to the safety of all participants, setting appropriate road closures, renovating the road surface, taking dangerous sections into consideration, installing road signs and determining sections for special time-keeping zones on the route, such as mountain finishes and sprints. We are very pleased that the route was planned by our top cycling expert Bogdan Fink with the support of local experts. Mr. Fink is also the main organizer of the Tour of Slovenia.
When planning the race, we spent quite some time thinking about the start and how to classify the riders in the starting area to avoid overcrowding and pushing around. As the initial part of the route passes through the old town, we also looked at possible obstacles on this part of the route.
Then we drove along the left bank of the Sava River through Trboje, Valburga towards Vodice and Komenda. True, this time we rode and did not cycle, as we counted and recorded the number of traffic islands and other possible obstacles on the road, noted the mountain climb gradients, lane width ... We soon reached the yellowest roundabout in Slovenia to commemorate the first victory of Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de France.
The route began to ascend through Pogačar's Klanec and descend towards Kamnik. The first stop was before the start of the mountain climb Šenturška gora in Laniše. Finding the best position to measure time. The same procedure follows at the top, on the shelf below Krvavec, where a panoramic view of Kranj and Ljubljana awaits. This was followed by a descent to Cerklje, through Adergas, Visoko and Olševek, and the search for the ideal section to fight for the green shirt. The location should still remain a secret for a few weeks.
Through Preddvor and Bela, past the Brdo estate and back towards Kranj. We paid constant attention to dangerous sections and road obstacles and tried to determine suitable places for refreshment stations. We arrived in Kranj at the crossroads that separates short-distance cyclists from the ones who cycle the whole 145-km route: with the finish over Jelenov klanec for all those who will cycle on the 70 km long route and go the finish line, or those who continue the "second loop" of the route, over a narrow bridge on the right bank of the Sava River.
The latter will continue cycling through Besnica, climb Jamnik through Podblica, the home village of Matej Mohorič. Perhaps for many the most demanding climb of the route, which is guaranteed to reward all cyclists with a magnificent view. The route then descents to Kropa, continues along the varied terrain through Prezrenje above Podnart and on to Tržič. And even in this part, we kept the route terrain varied, as this event should be an experience, not a race to the finish line. The route then leads through Huda to Brezje near Tržič, across Bistrica to Loka and Retnje.
From here across Križe, Golnik to Goriče, to Trstenik. Under the mighty Storžič through Bašelj and Bela to the already known roads around the Brdo estate and on to the finishing line in Kranj. The last part of the route through Kranj has lots of bends and so it will serve as a good opportunity for many to attack. Another cherry on the cake: arriving at the finish line over Jelenov klanec. We conclude with perhaps the most traditional finish of cycling races in Slovenia.
A small tip: there is basically no time to take a break unless you take it 😊. The climbs follow one another, the rhythm of pedaling will not be monotonous, there are many opportunities for small victories.
Don't miss: Team cycling events - Networking after cycling in Kranj
We are training and we also believe, so are you. Don't miss the opportunity of team preparations with Let's go on a bike (Gremo na kolo team) and Visit Kranj and take part in our Saturday cycling gatherings - we start on Saturday, 28 May 2022. READ MORE
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Don't miss the opportunity of team preparations with Gremo na kolo team and Visit Kranj and take part in our Saturday cycling gatherings - we start on Saturday, 28 May 2022
