Cycling race Parenzana
Cycling Race OL ISTRIA MTB - Cannondale Parenzana attracts many local and foreign European cyclists.
Parenzana represents the largest, international cycling event in Istria, which, in late September, is attended by all the cycling fans - whether You are road cycling or MTB fan. This three-day event combines the competitive MTB race, in which regularly perform over 400 competitors but along with which is taking place the most popular by the number of competitors, recreational cycling race for all age groups, families, tourists, children ... in which every year more and more cyclists are taking part!
Competitive MTB race was included in the calendar of the World Cycling Federation (UCI) in class 1, while at the same time is the final race which points are counted for the Croatian Cup in category XC Marathon.
The only MTB competition held in the Funtana and Vrsar, Tar and Kaštelir, with the final day taking place at Vižinada and passing through the Mirna valley, then Grožnjan, Oprtalj, Motovun until the finish again at Vižinada. The trail goes through numerous vineyards, olive groves, the sea coastline and the hills on which were situated the medieval towns. Besides that, the final race stage, for most of its part, follows the route of the former railway Parenzana.
As a novelty in 2011 is that each race stage has specificity and color of the Istrian products which dominates the area through which the race passes: Festigia wine – red, goat cheese Laguna Histria - yellow, olive oil Ol Istria - green.
In addition to recreational and competitive racing, supporting facilities of Parenzana are competition in cross country for elementary school pupils and competition for ultra-marathon and hiking tours for walkers – hikers Heart of Vižinada.
Ten kilometers of hiking trails are crossed by the mountain climbers, and some of them arrive with their pets, mainly dogs.
As a novelty in 2011 is also a participation in recreational cycling race of the representatives of the Association of the blind persons in Istrian County, who, by riding on tandem bikes, have presented the project 'Dobar dan' ('Good day'), the training of personal assistants and guides for blind people on tandem bicycles.
Description of the competition stages:
The first stage is Festigia, red color by wine and the Istrian red soil that dominates this part of the route. The race starts from Funtana through the labyrinth of vineyards 'Festigia' of Agrolaguna, then going through Vrsar's Kontija forest along the slopes of the protected nature reserve of the Lim fjord, in order to return back through the labyrinth of vineyards Festigia has passed through most of the new cycling routes of Funtana.
Second day the Laguna Histria yellow stage starts from the centre of Tar and passes firstly by campsite Lanterna, then going through by the sheep pastures of which the excellent Istrian cheese Laguna Histria has been produced and after which the race stage has been named. In addition to paragliding slopes the race stage is lowered into Mirna and going upstream over Vižinada to return back towards Kaštelir. Then goes through a number of sheep pastures and returns to the finish at Tar.
The highlight of the event takes place on Sunday, in Vižinada and along the Mirna valley, in the race that bears the name of Queen of the season, an unavoidable MTB race. Given the number of olive trees in the surroundings, this stage wears the green colour of OL ISTRIA olive oil.
At the event were predicted the longer and shorter route, length of 80.5 and 57.5 km. After a challenging downhill ride and the race through Mirna, the trail climbs to Grožnjan, where it has, in 2011, for the first time passed through the newly opened tunnel on Parenzana route, and then over the hill down towards Livade, constantly holding on to Parenzana. In Livade, the race is going nearby Parenzana museum, and then climbs up to Oprtalj, soon after which comes a demanding and difficult, at certain parts dangerous, downhill to the Health resort Istarske Toplice.
After the Health resort Istarske Toplice, two tough, long climb are followed to the Krtov Breg and to the Kal, which ultimately made the final selection among the competitors. Then the route is approaching Motovun, where it passes through an attractive Parenzana tunnel.
It’s followed by the last downhill to Mirna, and then the hard climb that ends just 10 meters before the finish line located at the old square in Vižinada.
For more information about the track and race results can be check out at the official website of Parenzana.
