Gorenjska region hosts L’Etape Slovenia by Tour de France in September!
Slovenia's capital Kranj is the start of the 3rd edition of L’Etape Slovenia by Tour de France this September 8th. The course, local support and atmosphere in the new heartland of cycling will be unforgettable!
Discover the picturesque and diverse landscape of Gorenjska, a mountainous part of Slovenia through which the L'Etape Slovenia route passes. Coming to Slovenia does not have to be stressful. In collaboration with the official event tour operator RacePace Tours, and I Feel Slovenia we have created one of the most exciting and picturesque cycling tours to date! You may choose between 3- or 8-nights package.
Gorenjska is a mountainous Alpine region in the north and northwest of Slovenia with its capital in Kranj, also the host city of L’Etape Slovenia by Tour de France for the 3rd time and, the European Destination of Excellence 2023, and recommended by the Guardian as a place to travel to as one of the “Sustainable city break – with a canyon”.
The Ride – 80km and Race – 145km long routes lead through several municipalities, and there is indeed a lot to see or at least to admire from a distance when cycling through different places. However, Kranj is only 7km away from the Ljubljana airport Jože Pucnik. Welcome to join to L’Etape Slovenia race where you will have once in a lifetime opportunity to ride –, and importantly to feel like a pro – together with Matej Mohoric, the world class cyclists and the event ambassador.
Starting and finishing in Kranj
The central venue with start and finish of L'Etape Slovenia cycling rides and L’Etape Village has a rich natural and historical beauties. Kranj, which was the first capital of the Slovenes in the 8th century, was settled as early as the Iron Age but flourished in the mid-13th century when it gained town privileges. In the 19th century, thanks to great men such as France Prešeren (his tomb is in the town cemetery, nowadays a memorial park named after him - Prešeren Grove), Simon Jenko, and Ivan Tavcar, as well as the early-established Prešeren Theatre (1902), it experienced a cultural awakening. Among the main city attractions are Khislstein Castle, Pungert, Layer's House, Prešeren's House, Main Square, Blacksmith's Shop, Kranj Grammar School (the first in Slovenia), and the city canyon of the Kokra River.
Photo: Jošt Gantar, STO.
Škofja Loka, a novelty on this year's L'Etape Slovenia route
Škofja Loka takes cyclists through one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Slovenia. High above Škofja Loka stands the beautiful Škofja Loka Castle from the 13th century, and below it, in the old town center, we find the Upper and Lower Square (with famous buildings such as the Granary, the Church of St. Jacob, the Ursuline Monastery, and the Homan House) and the Capuchin Monastery with the manuscript of the Škofja Loka Passion Play, the oldest Slovenian dramatic text.
Photo: Sašo Kocevar
A slightly flatter part to the first KOM – Šenturška Gora
In the slightly flatter part of the route through Medvode also proudly boast as the Slovenian Mesopotamia due to its unique location at the confluence of two rivers, and Vodice where Šinkov Turn Castle with its walls and the Repnje Monastery stand out. The route continuous to Komenda, a hometown of Tadej Pogacar to Kamnik which is another beautiful medieval town in Slovenia with a castle, under which lie numerous cultural and religious monuments, and nearby, even more natural beauties from Velika Planina with its famous shepherds' huts and Snovik Thermal Spa to the Arboretum Volcji Potok, the most visited botanic garden in Slovenia.
Photo: Arboretum Voljcji Potok with William Sweetlove sculpture – art event Dobre novice!
The route also passes through Tunjice, which are considered one of the many energy points in Slovenia and where there is a natural healing grove, especially known for its living water. So, breathe deeply here and provide enough oxygen to your muscles, as the route approaches the first mountain climb to Šenturška Gora. This segment is marked at 49 km and is 5.8 km long with an average gradient of 5.3%, a category of difficulty: 2. The climb is serpentine, a relatively easier way for many cyclists to overcome elevation. At the top – well deserved: the first refreshment station.
Photo: Sportida, L’Etape Slovenia 2023.
From under Krvavec to Cerklje na Gorenjskem
By climbing to Šenturška Gora you are already in Cerklje na Gorenjskem municipality, where follows a flat, a very panoramic section overlooking the entire Ljubljana Basin sheltered by the slopes of Krvavec. The descent, relatively steep and straight, with few bends, so caution is advised! The route leads to Šencur, slightly further north is Preddvor with Lake Crnjava, the Dvor and Turn Castles. A beautiful part of the route runs at the foot of Storžic, which at 2,132 meters is the highest mountain in the western part of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. The route then makes a detour past the headquarters of the Football Association of Slovenia and the ceremonial estate of Brdo pri Kranju. Nearby is the sprint segment on the Brdo–Predoslje route, at 73.5 km. The route then continues to Kranj, where the short-distance (Ride) cyclists head to the finish line, while the long-distance cyclists continue.
Photo: Sportida, L’Etape Slovenia 2023.
Podblica, a 2nd mountain climb and a place with a unique atmosphere in the spirit of the Tour de France
In the Kranj municipality area is the hamlet of Podblica, the home of our ambassador and one of the best world cyclists of today, Matej Mohoric. The climb starts in Nemilje at 93.5 km and is 6.7 km long with an average gradient of 5.9% and a 2nd difficulty category. A more demanding climb for many, as longer sections are steeper (up to 17%) and less serpentine. At the top of the climb, deservedly: the second refreshment station. Before the climb, the route passes through Besnica, where another Slovenian cycling champ and now a coach Tadej Valjavec was born.
Photo: Sportida, L’Etape Slovenia 2023.
To the end of the longer route (Race) await very picturesque places in the municipalities of Radovljica (locally known as Radol'ca) and Tržic; many boast an exceptionally rich natural and cultural heritage. Radovljica is also a medieval town with walls and a beautiful old town, famous for its resident, the playwright and historian from the 18th century, Anton Tomaž Linhart.
But the L'Etape Slovenia route doesn't pass through its city centre instead, it offers a breathtaking serpentine descent to Kropa, where the coolness of the beautiful forest, rocks, and waters can be felt even on the hottest day. The forging past has shaped today's image of the monument-protected town centre, so it is recommended to cycle here with open eyes, as the image of blacksmithing is unique.
Photo: Sportida, L’Etape Slovenia 2023.
Route will take us through Begunje, the birthplace of the Avsenik family, whose brothers founded a folk music group in the 1950s, which to this day remains the most successful Slovenian music group of all time, having sold more than 30 million copies of records and tapes. Just before the visit to the next municipality, Tržic, there is also Kamen Castle near the route, at the entrance to the Draga Valley, with picturesque ruins of the Lamberk Counts Castle on a rocky promontory.
"Under the mountains" through the towns of Tržic and the conclusion of the cycling loop with the finish in Kranj
After the last visited municipality Tržic where it is worth seeing the Dovžan Gorge, a natural monument with numerous educational trails: geological, forest, mountain, climbing, with a unique deposit of remains of fossilized plant and animal life in rocks of the ancient Earth era – Paleozoic, an old town center of Tržic, the Path of Three Bells, and the linden, over 500 years old; the cycling caravan returns to Kranj, thus concluding the journey through beautiful Gorenjska.
Photo: Sportida, L’Etape Slovenia 2023.
Before that – the route sets off from Zapuže on the famous road called "under the mountains", another part of the route that runs in the depths of the hills, below Dobrca. The climb is shorter, located at 116 km, 2.5 km long with an average gradient of 2.2%, category of difficulty: 4. When it "leans a little" at a certain height, the route rewards with beautiful panoramic views of the entire land of Carniola.
Photo: Sportida, L’Etape Slovenia 2023.
Find Out More
To find out more information about registration fees, tourist packages and L’Etape Slovenia 2024 official cycling jersey by Ale are available here à scan QR code!
Alternatively, please visit: https://slovenia.letapebytourdefrance.com. Click the button below to register now!
