Exploring Slovenia in September 2018, thanks to a completely random coincidence, in Cerkno I’ve met quite an amazing personality of the Slovenian biking world. It was Primoz Figaro Ravnik, and I quickly caught a good contact with him because we both used to race a lot in biking competitions but currently we go ride just for pleasure. However, he and the local team decided to create an event that will connect bikers and motivate them to ride together regardless of their skills or sports ambitions.
Trans Julius is not a regular race for professional riders. It is just a sport event that is addressed to everyone who wants to get the most fun out of riding their bike. Trans Julius is 4 days spent on bicycles, in different locations of the Slovenian Julian Alps, combined with learning about local culture, tasting local food, and live music concerts. As soon as I heard about this simple but rarely seen idea, I knew that I must go there and experience it by myself! I went there with 43RIDE editor Tina (check her report here), who supported the event from the media side, and I became a rider of Trans Julius. For me this was my first start in an Enduro event, so far I’ve only competed in downhill, 4x, dual or pumptrack competitions, but it was a long time ago.
So how does Trans Julius look like from riders perspective?
Day 1 – Cerkno
The main part of Trans Julius began on Thursday 20th June in Cerkno. Riders from various countries have been coming from the early morning. Most of riders came from Slovenia, but also some groups of Italians, Austrians and Hungarians participated. In addition, individuals from France, Great Britain, Serbia and even a rider from Australia! However, the basis for the event format are timed runs on sections with downhill characteristics, ridden “on sight”. It is supposed to be more like a chill riding, and not training every corner to improve half of a second.
At the beginning, an organized shuttle bus took us and our bikes from the center of Cerkno a few kilometers away to the Bike Park Cerkno. There was a short prologue waiting for us, and then quite a long climb on the bikes to the first measured OS. “Rupnikova linia” was about 7 minutes downhill run with cool forest singles connected to the training trail of Martin Rupnik, who is the main person responsible for the trails in Bike Park Cerkno. So, apart from natural obstacles like rocks and roots, there were also some nicely profiled berms and small jumps.
Then a very nice transfer, on which we could admire a lot of views of the whole area and another OS. Labinje was definitely a more pedaling stage. The rather gentle descent ended with a typically urban section, in which we had to squeeze through the narrow streets of Cerkno. Finish line of this stage was located near the center, and it was not by accident that there was a bar where you could get nice and cold beer ;)
Next it was short break to rest and in the evening we start from the hotel for the night section. It was exactly the same OS, so Labinje again, but this time in a different atmosphere,lit only by the light of the headlamps. Due to the longest days of the year, riders started still at the end of the daylight, and due to the good time on the prologue I had the 5th number, thanks to which I still got a good visibility. However, next riders were riding this stage in darkness. When I finished in the center of Cerkno all I could see was the lights of riders coming down from surrounding hills. After whole day of riding, there was time for integration at dinner for all the riders.
The whole day passed like a cool bike trip. After each stage was completed, there was plenty of time to rest. There were no time limits, everyone goes the way they want. On the climbs we had amazing views, and the downhill sections provided a lot of excitement, and were constructed so that everyone could go down on them and have a lot of fun out of it. Everyone could not wait to see what the next day would bring.
Day 2 – Most na Soci
Second day in a morning we had to transfer by car to the Široko farm. This is an amazing place located above Most na Soci. On the side of the main tourist routes, but with amazing views of the Soca valley, and with good local food. On this day we have only one measured stage, but it is very long. It starts at the farm and ends in the valley. The weather is good, and the mood is excellent, so it’s time for OS 4.
Široko by many rider was named as the best stage of the entire Trans Julius and it is also my favorite. There was a bit of everything on this 7 minute route. We started from the field with a beautiful view. Warming up on quite steep descent on a soft surface, then some quick straight and we go into the forest. There is waiting for us a training training trail of one of the best Slovenian downhill riders. In some places it is quite tight and technically, we ride thru some roots that want to knock us down from the fastest line. Next we have a small drop, and small jumps on which you can feel nice rhythm, and thanks to the good shaped berms we can regain a higher speed back. Closer to the end the forest changes a bit and we have to ride between some rocks to finally go out on the gravel road where we reach the finish line.
A short rest and we have to climb back up on bikes. The views on the way are breathtaking and a delicious lunch awaits us! In the afternoon, the whole party is moving by an Cat train, to Bohinj, where a live music concert takes place in the evening. That evening there is also the premiere of the special Trans Julius beer, which is brewed specially for the occasion by the local brewery! The delicious bright unfiltered wheat beer was perfect for end of a really good day.
Day 3 – Bohinj
Unfortunately, the third day brought really bad weather forecasts, which is why the organizers canceled all of the timed stages. However, in the morning, we were transported by buses, so that we could have a ride at the specially prepared trail before the announced rain and storm. So we took the opportunity and went down one canceled OS in the group just for pure fun. Double Black Line is a steep trail mostly running along an old winding walking path. Despite the fairly smooth surface, a good feeling of the bike was needed to fit well in tight corners, and steepness of the terrain even on straight sections it was impossible to completely get off the brakes. The trail was demanding but also a really good one!
In order to return to Bohina, we were going by a transfer prepared in the form of a bike trip along the Sava Bohinjka river, and also we’ve visited an amazing waterfall Grmečica. Unfortunately, the coming storm was comming closer and closer, so despite the high temperatures, we gave up bathing and went back to Bohinj with the storm closing to us.
The forecasts were showing correct and at 12 am a gigantic storm with massive rain has come. But we were then already testing local schnaps together with the rest of the participants. In the afternoon the rains stopped and the music played again in the evening. Also an exhibition of biking photographs was presented, which took part in a special competition.
Day 4 – Bohinj
Sunday was the last day of Trans Julius. Fortunately, the storms went on for good and on Sunday the weather was good again. In the morning we had a long climb to the Bače pass. From there we had a start of the 5 OS with the same name. It was the longest stage on whole Trans Julius, my time there was less than 10 minutes. It began with a steep technical descent over the rocks, and next into a milder single trail, where you could go pretty fast. A short ride through a small village and we were going straight to the last forest, where amazing naturally shaped culuors awaited us.
The time measured section ended in the suburbs of the town of Podbrdo, which is exactly on the other side of the mountain than Bohinj from which we left. Here, the Avtovlak awaited us,but this time it was converted into a train carrying bicycles. Thanks to that train, we quickly return back to the Bohinj by almost 7-kilometer tunnel. The timed stages were supposed to end by a joint meeting of all competitors in the form of a mass start, but due to earlier rainstorms and a lot of mud in critical places, this stage was canceled. However, most of us, just went there anyway to simply ride and experience another cool trail in the area.
In the afternoon, we had a lunch with a pleskavica a’la hamburger and a ceremony ends the whole party. The fastest women, and the fastest guys were rewarded with special handcrafted prizes. And later the traditional Trans Julius cake came in, which of course was for every participant regardless of the result! After all, we went for a quick swim in the crisp but incredibly pleasant Lake Bohinj.
To sum up, these were really great days spent in the amazing Slovenian nature. In the end I’ve got the 7th time of the competition, but here the result was not the most important, but thing that really matters was the participation itself in this amazing event. No matter what is Your skills or equipment, the most important thing was good fun and just to spend there nice time. If you like to explore new places, new trails, and to try new flavors and meet new people with a similar bike interest, than this event is exactly for You!
On the end we would like to Thank all of organizers of Trans Julis, who made such big effort to put this event together, just for that every rider will be just happy and will smile under his helmet thru all the time. It is thanks to such initiatives that every mountain biker can feel part of a large biking family. As the main organizer of TJ Vesna told us:
Trans Julius has been working on different projects and programs for developing mountain biking in Slovenia from the first day. Main event is the most visible project, but this year we are adding another MTB event in municipality of Tržič, another mountain city in Slovenia. I am really grateful that I can see more and more local riders who want to share the values and philosophy of Trans Julius on their local trails, which is for us a confirmation that we are doing something that is an inspiration for others. For sure TJ as a main event in future will be different than the last one – changes are the only constant element if you want to move the mindset and work on crazy projects.
– Vesna Stanić
So as we can clearly see it is good to observe that team and we wish them luck and a lot of strenght in further development of new projects!
We’ve got also some short interview with point of view from the fastest guy on this year Trans Julius Tadej Razpet.
Justyna John, 43RIDE: What is you opinion about the competition formula – a bike adventure, not a typical competition?
Tadej Razpet: I attented this race precisely because it has a different way of competition. It is based on acquainted and socialising with competitors. And also getting to know new locations for cycling. Beside that, You don’t know what kind of rivalry you are competing with. Because of that, race is relaxed.
What do you think about the friendly atmosphere during Trans Julius?
All the above, you can see at race called Trans Julius. We came here to hang out and to get to know each other. This makes race more fun.
What do you think about the trails?
One thing that I missed at Trans Julius was more longer descents. Moreover, if the race had 2 or 3 more descents, it would have been more challenging. This would make race more varied.
The influence of idea for Trans Julius already can be seen clearly, as Italian team are organizing similar event on their own soil. The main principles stay the same as on TJ so 4 days in 4 different locations, and riding just for fun! So if You are interested to try out for Yourself it will happen this year at 22- 25 August in Italy, for more info check their site: transbikevaraita.com
The article was made in cooperation and with the support of Trans Julius crew and the Slovenian Tourism Organization. Thank you!
Text: Marek Chabros balkanyrudej.pl