It's Slovenia, but not really Slovenia. It's Italy, but not really Italy. Goriška Brda is a little bit of both. It's a 80 square kilometre Slovenian paradise which lies in Italy. Or to say it like Jure Boltar of bike tour company Terra Cycling explains: Slovenia has the shape of a chicken and Goriška Brda… Continue reading Rolling between vineyards
There still are places in Europe where the presence of us humans is almost non existent. Where you don't lock the doors against thieves but against wild animals. Places where nature is the boss. With 555 square kilometres and only 16.000 inhabitants the forest of Kocevje is such a place. It's huge, it's wild. If… Continue reading A Ride On The Wild Side
How small is Slovenia? Well, from capital Ljubljana you can ride your bike to each of its neighbouring countries in a day. Part 2: Croatia, 72 kilometres Check out the route here: https://www.strava.com/activities/388403226 The elevated landscape of the Bloke plateau and neighboring Lož Valley resemble a green sea where meadows and forested hills come in… Continue reading Cycling out of Schengen
How small is Slovenia? Well, from capital Ljubljana you can ride your bike to each of its neighbouring countries in a day. Part one: Austria, 65 kilometres. https://www.strava.com/activities/382464239 River Kokra is 34 kilometres long and in summer the water is just a few feet deep, not even reaching the knees of the fly- fisherman who… Continue reading Tuesday Touristique International, Crossing Borders
From Thursday 28 to Sunday 31 August Ljubljana hosted the World Cycling Championships for amateurs. Some personal conclusions from the championships: Amateurs take their cycling much more serious than professionals. You are never too old to: - Ride the newest and most expensive bikes - Suffer - Fall - Fight - Win - Ride fast… Continue reading In Black-and-White: Conclusions of the Amateur World Championships
The longer he is gone, the more he is remembered. Former superstar cyclist Marco Pantani (1970-2004) is and wont be forgotten, especially in his home region Emilia-Romagna. It was impossible not to love and admire a rider like Marco Pantani. His panache and his relentlessness combined with his immense talent as a rider and his… Continue reading Riding with Pantani
Last Friday I had a memorable ride with the Turkish-Dutch actress Funda Müjde in and around Ljubljana. We are both raised in Zaandam, the Netherlands, and we both share a passion; riding a bike. Below more on Funda and her adventure where I was very briefly part of.
The climb to Monte Zoncolan is 10 kilometres long and has an average gradient of 11.9%. On Saturday May 31 it was the last major climb in this year´s Giro and the toughest. All 156 cyclists who started the climb finished in time. Winner was Australian Michael Rogers, last one was Australian Michael Hepburn 29… Continue reading Monte Zoncolan – The Grande Finale of 3 weeks Giro d´Italia
From last Thursday till Sunday Slovenia's most important bicycle race was held. Here my favorite photos from my two visits to this year's the Tour of Slovenia.
One of the benefits of Slovenia is that the country is so close to Italy. For two days I have been immersed in the world of Giro d'Italia. The Italian cycling circus was the last two days close to the border of my new home country. It was an excellent opportunity to go and feel… Continue reading Giro d’Italia – Visit to ‘Slovenian’ stages 10 and 11
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