STAGE 3

KRK. ANCHOR FREE

A new route on Krk kicks off the weekend of 4Islands Epic racing with the legendary ferry start.

The race’s hallmark feature, Stage 3’s beginning at sea – technically – is entirely unique in mountain biking and cycling. Once the ferry’s horn sounds for the teams to get underway they climb, on asphalt, out of the Valbiska port and into the densely wooded interior. Sweeping along the bike path, at high speed, the Krkanian Wailing Wall will loom up fast and disappear in the forest once more. Being well positioned near the top of the first climb, 1.3 kilometres in, is essential for teams who thrive on the trails. After turning south the race passes through Poljice, continues to climb briefly then descends steeply and climbs again toward Strigar peak. There a true singletrack highlight awaits, the James Bond Trail, which descends all the way down to sea level at Uvala Karkadol. The outskirts of the city of Krk then beckon, but the route only flirts with the historic old town, as it climbs seemingly endlessly for the next 32 kilometres. Small downhills provide moments of respite from the climbing, which is largely gradual except for the steep pitch towards the Canyon Trail. Coming 60 kilometres into the stage it requires energy and skill to conquer, but is a beautiful segment of the route too. From the bottom of the Canyon Trail it is onwards and upwards once more, on tarmac, to the Moon Plateau. Plato Mjeseca as it is known in Croatian provides fast and fun racing which help the closing kilometres tick by in now time at all. Then its straight down a final singletrack to Baška and the finish line for both Stage 3 and 4.