There were over 900 participants last year at this race in Plitvice National Park in Croatia. They must me doing something right.
With over 900 participants at the 2015 edition the Adria Bike Marathon Plitvice became the largest mountain bike event in number of participants in the region. It is a two day festival with rides, registration and expo on Saturday and race on Sunday. This year on June 18th and 19th.
Saturday
The weekend starts with bike expo. There were 20 exhibitors last year who like to surprise the visitors in the evening with small parties with food and drinks. It is a gathering of the ones living from biking and the ones living for biking.
Of course it is not all about the expo. You are in the Plitvice National Park so discovering some its beauties is the only natural thing to do.
Sunday
Race day. There are three distances to choose from. The shortest Easy is 33km with 500 vertical meters of climbing and almost anyone can do it. The Classic is 50km with 1000m of climbing. Epic, the longest one, is a true marathon with 70km and 1500m of climbing.
Metric ton
For the fun of it (and to attract heavier riders) the organizers decided to add the “tonaš” category where riders need to weight at least 0.1 of a ton. The winners gets as many liters of beer as he weights with his bike!
The race prize money (for everyone, not just the ones over 100kg) is 6000€. Early bird registration for 30€ finishes today, May 31st. From tomorrow it is 35€. Some 1000 riders are expected to turn up this year.
Who organizes it?
Adria Bike Marathon Plitvice is organized by Adria Bike Group, the organizers of 4 Islands stage race. But these are two completely different events. 4 Islands is an adventure which is catching up to the biggest stage races, while the Plitvice event is promoted as “professional race for amateurs” and is a regional promotion of mountain biking.
More info at www.adriabike.hr
Register here
Photos by Adriabike.hr
