Perfect weather, sunshine, the sparkling Adriatic sea, and a picturesque 118.55 kilometre-long ride adorned with Zadar’s landscapes – the first Granfondo Falkensteiner Borik, an international cycling race organised by the Croatian Cycling Federation, Zadar Cycling Club and the Falkensteiner Resort Borik, was more than great, as Morski writes on the 20th of October, 2019.
”Granfondo is a category that has been held around the world for the past eight years and is the most widespread form of cycling, and many competitors can all participate at the same time. They all start at once, so this is a so-called friends and family race. We’re very pleased that we brought it to Zadar and that the turnout was great for the first year,” said Toni Dujmenović, the race’s director.
The race also included the Absolute race, which was of an open international character, and was attended by professionals as well as by amateurs of all ages without any sporting licenses and competitive experience from Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany and Serbia. The start was at the Falkensteiner resort on Borik, and the race was designed to get to know Zadar County by cycling, Dalmacija Danas reports.
The competitors passed through Zadar, Kožino, Zaton, Nin, Vir, Vrse, Ljubač, Ražanac, Joviće, Radovin, Visocane, Poljica and Mazija, and then returned to the starting point of the race – Borik, through Diklo.
The first Granfondo in Zadar was supported by actresses Petra Kurtela, Mirna Medaković Stepinac and Lana Gojak, accompanied by their families.
”With cycling, we live a healthier and more free life. Such races contribute to raising awareness of the importance of cycling, and teach us how to behave in traffic and towards cyclists. In our country, people are still unfamiliar with the culture of traffic behaviour,” said actress Petra Kurtela.
”A city bike has always been my favourite for riding around the city, and then my two little girls came. We also bought seats so when we want to ride around town, my husband and I take the girls. I used to go to college by bike and I still rode my bike when cycling around the city was not popular. I enjoy it and am glad that my twins love cycling too. It’s always good to use a bicycle because it’s healthier, nicer, and because you can stop at any time, play in the park and not have to worry about parking,” said Mirna.
The winner of the women’s competition is Mia Radotić, the absolute winner is Slovenian Damjan Županc, the winner in the 45 plus category is Austrian Hermann Fink, and the junior winner is Nicholas Gojković.
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