05 Jan, 24

Registrations are open for the biggest cycling festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Blidinje BIKE Festival, the biggest cycling festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is here! Registration opens today for the fifth edition of the Blidinje BIKE Festival event, which will take place from July 12 to 14 in the Blidinje Nature Park.

 

This year too, the central part of the SKI center on Blidinje will be filled with the sound of cheering and whistling by hordes of fans, while the wheels of competitors break the macadam trails of the Blidinje approach park in pursuit of the fastest time to reach the finish line. And the most important thing, this year Blidinje BIKE Festival raste! The XCM Herzegovina race, which takes place on the last day of the festival, carries the UCI Class 1 wax category, while the Balkan Marathon Championship is also held on the same day, which means that the Blidinje BIKE Festival will receive a new Balkan champion - we will find out who is the best among 20 countries in the world!

https://youtu.be/qCff0hSgxHk

This three-day event, in addition to the MTB marathon, will also include numerous other outdoor activities, there are events for the whole family, and there will be no shortage of good entertainment in the late hours, because Saturday is also planned for a night party this year! Nothing better than a little warm up before Sunday's race.

Cycling has been such a popular activity lately, the organizers have put in a lot of effort this year, and with so many people looking forward to participating in this event again, we want to have an event in Blidinje that showcases cycling at its best. We expect more than 20 countries of the world and at the same time, we see this as an excellent opportunity to promote the Blidinje Nature Park as an excellent destination for outdoor activities at the door of Europe", said Marija Vukoja Lastvić, Visit Blidinje.

Push your pace in one or two demanding stages, cruise through dreamy routes and enjoy local delicacies – that's what makes the XCM Herzegovina race unique! We have two trails to choose from 👉 you can choose the 84 km trail with an ascent of 1,960 meters or the 53 km trail with 955 meters!? You are not a racing type, high pace and constant pressure do not interest you. You prefer a relaxed ride with friends, easy cycling exploring destinations and tasting local delicacies - we've got you covered. Regardless of your choice, an exciting event awaits you in the Blidinje Nature Park!

The "HerzegovinaBike" association, in cooperation with the Mostar Bicycle Club, the Bicycle Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Visit Blidinje association, is once again organizing the largest bicycle festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Blidinje BIKE Festival. According to the organizers, this cohesion and collaboration between various associations and institutions contribute to a high-quality event organization, receiving top ratings for the fifth consecutive year.

In the middle of the season, when the heat is at its peak, the cycling scene heads to the mountains to test their skills at the Blidinje BIKE Festival, traditionally held in the last week of July. Three days of events in the Blidinje Nature Park focus on mountain biking, recreation, educational workshops, entertainment, and much more. Hundreds of visitors are expected, with the highlight being the MTB Marathon UCI C1 XCM Herzegovina and the XCM Balkan Championship, where professional cyclists from 20 countries will compete. Additionally, there is an exciting accompanying program, including activities for the youngest bikers on the trail, family gatherings, and a party on Saturday starting at 6:00 PM, rounding out the festival weekend with a sense of fulfillment.

The Blidinje BIKE Festival traditionally starts the last week of July, and this year is no exception. Over three days of events, from Friday to Sunday, numerous visitors will have access to an exciting program. This year, the entire three-day program will be centered around cycling, including recreational rides, education for young bikers, family-friendly gatherings, and the action of professionals participating in the MTB marathon UCI C1 XCM Herzegovina, as well as the Balkan Championship featuring National Teams from 12 countries. Recreational visitors can look forward to a new bike ride route, which includes exploring famous Blidinje destinations, cycling around the lake, and visiting two renowned hospitality venues with a taste of local dishes.

And for the professionals, a special challenge awaits on the spectacular marathon track!

For the first time at the Blidinje Bike Festival, embark on the exciting XCM Herzegovina race - which this year carries the UCI Class 1 rank and includes the Balkan Championship race - and immerse yourself in the pure Herzegovinian atmosphere and true natural beauty. We are preparing for approximately 200 participants ready to choose their challenge. Pedal between the Vran and Čvrsnica mountains, next to the peaceful Blidinje lake and picturesque villages. And here's the sugar on top of this race: don't forget the usual breaks at the feed zones! At several places on the trail, a gourmet stand with refreshments awaits you. Enjoy our common passion for cycling!

PROGRAM:

Friday; July 12, 2024:

The program kicks off on Friday with the opening of the race and team office, where National Teams, teams, and participants can pick up their race packages, check into accommodation, and start exploring and getting to know Blidinje Nature Park. This is followed by a Gala dinner for sponsors and project friends, as well as a project presentation to all participants during the Gala dinner. It is important to mention that the entire team involved in organizing the project will already be on Blidinje from Friday, preparing everything for the next two days.


Saturday; July 13, 2024:

Saturday traditionally gathers cyclists around the recreational bike ride “Trail of the Hajduk,” including the youngest participants of this event, namely entire families who enjoy a well-organized program during the weekend in the Blidinje Nature Park. The recreational bike ride in this year will undergo slight changes in the trail, and besides the usual visit to famous Blidinje destinations and a ride around the lake, we have added a visit to two renowned catering establishments with a tasting of local dishes: Hajdučke vrleti Blidinje and restaurant Risovac will prepare an outdoor buffet with local Blidinje delicacies for all participants. Right after the bike ride, a presentation of National Teams participating in the Balkan Championship will take place in front of the Blidinje SKI center. The day will conclude with a DJ party and cocktail event at the Staza restaurant starting at 6:00 PM.


Sunday; July 14, 2024:

Sunday is marked by the professional MTB race UCI C1 XCM Herzegovina and the Balkan Championship, but we must not forget the “XCM Herzegovina” race, which is ridden on the short trail and is once again scored for the Premier League of BiH. Blidinje BIKE Festival will gather the best mountain bikers from 20 countries this year as well. Two routes are available to event participants:

  1. UCI C1 XCM Herzegovina and the Balkan Championship (for Elite and Masters categories): This race is on the long trail, covering a distance of 84 km with a 1,960 meters ascent.
  2. XCM Herzegovina: This race is on a short course, covering a distance of 52 km with an ascent of 950 meters.

One thing is for sure – both trails will take you through the breathtaking landscapes of Blidinje.

These are just some of the juiciest news from the Bike Festival 2024. For all information, feel free to explore web stranicu Blidinje BIKE Festival where you will find all the details and the entire program. And now, you just need to start cycling with your imagination. The long-awaited cycling event in Bosnia and Herzegovina will soon become a reality in the Blidinje Nature Park!

11 Dec, 23

Blidinje in the calendar of the World Cycling Federation

Another major recognition has come for the Blidinje BIKE Festival. The International Cycling Federation UCI has confirmed the importance of this event by including it in its calendar and giving it a very high UCI C1 race ranking.

Iako je pobirao sve pohvale i slovio za najveći biciklistički festival u Bosni i Hercegovini, nakon petog izdanja u 2023 godini, organizatori su nakon pet održanih izdanja odlučili podići ljestvicu, te pokucati na vrata Europe. I uspjeli su. Prvo je stiglo priznanje od Balkanske Federacije, a danas tu je i priznanje na svjetskoj razini. Blidinje je jednostavno lokacija koja se mora posjetiti, a Blidinje BIKE Festival je događaj koji se ne smije propustiti zaključak je.

U 2024 godini organizatori najavljuju dolazak sportaša iz više od 20 zemalja svijeta, a sigurni smo kako će se svi gosti vratiti svojim kućama sa lijepim uspomenama i ponovo u narednim godinama sa obiteljima posjetiti Bosnu i Hercegovinu, kao jednu novu i privlačnu turističku destinaciju.

Početkom 9. mjeseca dobili smo dopis od predsjednika Balkanske Federacije i vijest kako je naša nominacija da se Blidinje nađe u njihovom kalendaru odobrena, te će se na Blidinju u 2024 godini održati Balkansko prvenstvo što nas je doista obradovalo i učinilo sretnim. To znači da će Blidinje u 2024 godini ugostiti više od 12 zemalja članica Balkana koje će sudjelovati na ovom prvenstvu", said Toni Zorić, president of the HerzegovinaBike association.

No ovih dana stigla je i vijest od UCI-a, odnosno Međunarodne biciklističke Federacije koji poručuju kako je Blidinje uvršteno u UCI kalendar i nosi jako visok rang organizacije UCI C1.

“Ovo je doista velika vijest, Blidinje će u 2024 godini postati jedna velika sportska arena koja će ugostiti sportaše iz cijelog svijeta. Međunarodna biciklistička Federacija broji 199 zemalja članica i upravo sada u ovom trenutku, sportaši i timovi iz 199 zemalja gledaju u UCI kalendar i planiraju svoje aktivnosti u 2024 godini. Znamo da na Blidinje neće doći sudionici iz 199 zemalja, ali je gotovo sigurno kako će zemlje koje su našem turizmu zanimljive poput Austrije, Njemačke, Italije, Češke, Mađarske. Slovačke, Španjolske, Poljske i mnogih drugih uzeti učešće i posjetiti našu zemlju te sa sobom ponijeti lijepe utiske i vratiti se ponovo. Želimo Park prirode Blidinje, našu zemlju Bosnu i Hercegovinu predstaviti u što boljem svjetlu svim tim sportašima i pokazati im što sve imamo za ponuditi kao turistička destinacija”, dodao je Zorić.

Kada govorimo o razini događaja, Blidinje BIKE Festival u kalendaru Svjetske Federacije nosi UCI C1 rang što je jako visoka razina. Iznad imamo samo “Hors Class” događaje kao najveća razina, a tu razinu događaja dobije samo par jačih zemalja poput Italije, Francuske, Njemačke koji organiziraju događaje na doista vrhunskim razinama. No, zasigurno je kako ni mi nećemo stati na ovome i gledati ćemo u 2025 godini da opet napravimo iskorak više sa organizacijom Blidije BIKE Festivala. Biciklizam je sport koji je u velikoj ekspanziji i to je sport koji na najbolji način prezentira sve potencijale jedne zemlje, a najbliži i najbolji primjer je i CRO Race utrka koja se nedavno održala u Republici Hrvatskoj. I mi u Bosni i Hercegovini stremimo ka vrhunskim događajima, a Blidinje BIKE Festival je jedan od njih“.

Blidinje BIKE Festival je događaj koji će okupiti zaljubljenike u biciklizam i sportove na otvorenom tijekom tri dana u Parku prirode Blidinje, jednom od najljepših prirodnih lokaliteta koje Hercegovina ima za ponuditi. Volimo kazati kako je to autentični biciklistički festival za sva vaša osjetila. Festival na kojem ljudi mogu upoznati druge ljude koji obožavaju aktivnosti na otvorenom u jednoj od najljepših biciklističkih regija na svijetu. I u svom šestom izdanju u 2024 godine, tijekom tri dana tisuće sudionika, zajedno će boraviti u Festivalskom kampu u planinama Blidinja. Tijekom dana možete birati između raznih opcija i ruta za bicikliranje, planinarenje, događajima organiziranim za najmlađe ili jednostavno se opustiti i krenuti u istraživanje Parka prirode Blidije – lokacije s prekrasnim krajolicima i povijesnim znamenitostima, kao i izvrsnom gastronomskom ponudom.

Ovom prilikom organizatori se još jednom žele zahvaliti svim sponzorima i prijateljima događaja koji su do sada bili uz njih i pomažu promociju Blidinja, kao i Bosne i Hercegovine i to: Federalno ministarstvo Kulture i Sporta, Federalno ministarstvo Obrazovanja i Nauke, HT Eronet, Vlada Županije Zapadnohercegovačke, Vlada Hercegovačko-neretvanske županije, Općina Posušje, Turistička zajednica HNŽ/K, Sportski Savez Grada Mostara, Visit Blidinje, Capriolo Mostar, M-Bike Shop, LEDA Voda, Hercegovina Vino, Guma-M, restoran “Hajdučke Vrleti”, restoran “Staza”, restoran “Risovac”.

11 Dec, 23

Herzegovina will host the Balkan Championship in 2024.

The organizers of the Blidinje BIKE Festival are proud to announce that the Balkan Championship will be held as part of the 2024 edition, so that the Blidinje Nature Park and Bosnia and Herzegovina will welcome athletes and teams from more than 12 countries. This three-day event will be held in the Blidinje Nature Park, and the Balkan Championship is scheduled for Sunday, July 14.

Biographical trails, untouched nature, authentic and real Herzegovinian flavors seasoned with a little adrenaline, all this and much more will be brought to the Blidinje BIKE Festival in 2024, and the organizers will present several novelties at the event. However, the main news is the organization of the Balkan Championship as part of "XCM Herzegovina” maraton utrke.

Blidinje BIKE Festival - stands for the biggest and most beautiful cycling festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is gaining more and more importance every year, and now after its fifth edition, the organizers are going one step further in the presentation of cycling as a sport and tourism potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Rumors started circulating earlier that the organizers wanted to make a breakthrough with the organization and present the Blidinje Nature Park to a wider audience. Now, in its sixth edition, Herzegovina will host athletes and teams from more than 12 countries, and along with this news, the organizers are announcing a lot more: the formation of a race for all those on electric bikes, guided tours in the week before the start of the event, bike tours with tasting traditional Herzegovinian food and wine, demo and test rides, bicycle exhibitions, product fairs and an even richer entertainment program.

Just yesterday we received this excellent news from Mr. Emina Muftuoglu, president of the Balkan Federation, that at the meeting of the Board of Directors it was decided that the organization of the Balkan Championship in MTB Marathon should be awarded to Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are very happy about that, of course, because the Blidinje BIKE Festival is a recognized and well-known event in our country, and now this recognition crosses borders to more than 12 countries. I might sound pretentious, but this is just another step in the organization of this event, our goals are much bigger", said Toni Zorić, president of the HerzegovinaBike association.

The event is again scheduled for the third week of the seventh month, from May 19 to 21, to be exact, in the Blidinje Nature Park, the main location of good food and good life, located in the very heart of Herzegovina. Blidinje Nature Park is one of the most spectacular areas in Herzegovina, showing great natural and historical beauty and trails suitable for mountain bikers of all abilities. An area rich in history, culture and a long tradition of good food. Blidinje BIKE Festival is considered the biggest cycling festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We have registered our race "XCM Herzegovina", which is held as part of the Blidinje BIKE Festival, in the UCI calendar (UCI - the International Cycling Federation has 199 member countries), so we expect confirmation from the UCI that this event will also be included in their calendar. A big problem for us is the limited accommodation capacity in Blidinje, but we are solving that problem with the "Visit Blidinje" association, which in 2024 took on greater organizational responsibilities and became the leading partner of this event.Zorić added.

For now, the organizers point out that they plan to hold the event over three days:

  • Friday is planned for the reception and registration of athletes, guided tours to Blidinje, presentation workshops with sponsors and patrons, and educational workshops for the youngest.
  • Saturday is again scheduled for a recreational bicycle ride along the Ajduka Trail, which will take the participants, in addition to visiting the natural beauty of Blidinje, to tastings of local dishes and drinks in famous Blidinje restaurants. Also, a presentation of the teams/countries that will participate in the Balkan Championship is planned for Saturday, and the organizers are announcing more events that they do not want to reveal at this moment.
  • Sunday is scheduled for professional cyclists who will test their strength at the MTB Marathon events "UCI C1 XCM Herzegovina" and "XCM Balkan Championship".

One thing is certain, Blidinje BIKE Festival in 2024 brings a unique cycling experience that takes place in the heart of Herzegovina and brings unforgettable three days that will present Bosnia and Herzegovina to more than 12 countries of the Balkans. Many famous cyclists are already announcing their arrival, so we will have a real cycling elite to ride this race, and for everyone else who is considered unprepared for greater achievements, we can say that the event has been announced on time and you still have plenty of time to prepare !

And as additional motivation, we bring a video that best presents how the organization of this event looked in 2023.

11 Dec, 23

The fifth edition of Blidinje BIKE Festival was successfully realized

Ovog vikenda, stotine biciklista posjetilo je Park prirode Blidinje na peti po redu Blidinje BIKE Festival. Po svim pokazateljima, događaj je još jednom uspješno realiziran. Blidinje je još jednom bio poprište biciklizma i privukao mnoštvo zaljubljenika u outdoor sportove i cijele obitelji koje su uživale u događaju – Blidinje BIKE Festival. Ali ono što nas je najviše fasciniralo na trodnevnom događaju bilo je koliko malo vizije i zajedničkog rada može stvoriti toliko dobre volje i pozitivnog iskustva.

Već petu godinu za redom Blidinje BIKE Festival okuplja jako velik broj ljubitelje biciklima, prirode i aktivnosti na otvorenom. Događaj je to koji promovira sport, zdrav način življenja, te turističku ponudu Blidinja. Inače ovaj trodnevni događaj započeo je već u petak sa edukativnim radionicama za najmlađe i prezentacijom događaja, subota je rezervirana za rekreativnu vožnju “Stazom ‘Ajduka” po nekim od najljepših predjela Blidinja, dok je nedjelja bila u znaku profesionalne utrke “XCM Herzegovina 2023”.

Unatoč lošim vremenskim prognozama i nepogodama koje nas okružuju posljednjih dana, mi smo lijepo vrijeme i vjerovatno je to prva godina da smo kroz sva tri dana događaja prošli bez kiše. Planine su uvijek nepredvidive i oblaci nas znaju iznenaditi i u najvrelijim ljetnjim danima,  no ovog puta to nije bio slučaj“, kazao je Toni Zorić.

 “Rekreativna biciklijada “Stazom ‘Ajduka” ponovo je okupila onu kategoriju biciklista koji jednostavno vole guštati, uživati u dobrom društvu i biciklirajući upoznavati nove krajeve. No, ove godine osim turističkog obilaska Blidinja, našim gostima ponudili smo nešto novo, degustaciju Blidinjskih delicija. Naime,  Hajdučke Vrleti i restoran Risovac koji se nalaze na ruti rekreativne biciklijade “Stazom ‘Ajduka” su svim našim sudionicima su priredili bogatu trpezu kako bi se okrijepili i degustirali domaće proizvode. Moramo kazati kako je ovo bio pun pogodak, te kako su svi sudionici bili oduševljeniZorić added.

Nedelja je bila u znaku MTB maratona “XCM Herzegovina” koja je privukla sportaše i profesionalne bicikliste iz zemalja regije kako bi okušali snagu na stazama Blidinja. U ponudi su bile dvije staze: Mali maraton u dužini od 36 km i veliki maraton u dužini od 58 km koji je rezerviran za Elitne bicikliste i sve one koji se tako osjećaju.

A najbrži među njima bio je Posušak Ivan Soldo (BK Široki) koji je stazu dugu 58km prešao u vremenu 2 sata i 40min. Slijedi ga Marko Ćirjaković (BK Gannicus) iz Srbije sa vremenom od 2 sata i 42min, te Goran Cerović (BK Pljevlja) iz Crne Gore  vremenom od sa 2 sata i 43 minute.

Među damama koje su vozile stazu malog maratona u dužini od 36km, najbrža bila je Hena Šabanić (BK Puls) sa vremenom 2 sata i 43 minute. Drugo mjesto pripalo je Sari Srabović (BBK Daj Krug) sa vremenom 2 sata i 57 minuta, dok je Nina Vidović (BK Tempo) zaokružila postolje sa vremenom od 3 sata i 08 minuta.

U muškoj konkurenciji koja je vozila stazu malog maratona zablistao je mladi Emel Ljubuškić (BK Power Plus) iz Sarajeva sa vremenom 1 sat i 47 minuta. Filip Džido (BK Tempo) zauzeo je drugo mjesto sa tri minute zaostatka, dok je treće mjesto pripalo Ivan Vukadin sa vremenom 1 sat 51 minuta.

Već vidno umorni, možemo kazati kako smo sretni što je iza nas još jedno uspješno izdanje Bldidije BIKE Festivala. Iza nas zapravo i jeste jedan veliki festival biciklizma i sretni smo što smo u mogućnosti već dulji niz godina da promoviramo Park prirode Blidinje i Bosnu i Hercegovinu kroz najbrže rastuću granu turizma. Na kraju možemo se zahvaliti svim našim prijateljima i pokroviteljima koji omogućuju ovaj događaj, našim sudionicima koji su ovog vikenda posjetili Blidije, te ih pozvati da nas posjete ponovo u 2024 godini“, zaključio je Toni Zorić.

Ovom prilikom organizatori se još jednom žele zahvaliti svim sponzorima i prijateljima događaja koji pomažu promociju Blidinja, kao i Bosne i Hercegovine i to: Federalno ministarstvo Kulture i Sporta, Federalno ministarstvo Obrazovanja i Nauke, HT Eronet, Vlada Županije Zapadnohercegovačke, Vlada Hercegovačko-neretvanske županije, Općina Posušje, Turistička zajednica HNŽ/K, Sportski Savez Grada Mostara, Visit Blidinje, Capriolo Mostar, M-Bike Shop, LEDA Voda, Hercegovina Vino, Guma-M, restoran “Hajdučke Vrleti”, restoran “Staza”, restoran “Risovac”.

Aktivnost podržana kroz projekat: AID 012003 – NaturBosniaHerzegovina: Zaštićena područja i održivi razvoj, finansiran od strane Italijanske agencije za razvojnu saradnju (Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo – AICS) i implementiran od strane Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli (CISP).

Kompletne rezultate sa utrke XCM Hercegovina možete pogledati HERE.