Fuzzecl - Istria300

Photo FinisherPix

For 2024, I set myself the goal of riding the Istria300 route. A demanding and beautiful road cycling event through Croatian Istria, starting and finishing in Poreč. Through the summer, I tried to build the best form I could, knowing that this would not be just a long ride, but a full day of focus, pacing, climbing and staying sharp inside fast-moving groups.

I was joined by Rajko, which made the whole experience even better. We started together, worked through the fast opening kilometres together, managed the difficult middle section together and eventually reached the finish in Poreč in a really good mood, with tired legs but without any major problems.

Ride overview:

// Location
Istria, Croatia

// Distance
300 km

// Elevation gain
5,275 m

// Total time
11 h 05 min

The start was at 7:00 in the morning. Because I registered quite late, I ended up in the last starting block, which meant there were a lot of riders ahead of us. The plan with Rajko was simple: ride the first hour hard, move through the field and try to catch faster groups as early as possible.

In reality, that first part was even faster than expected. For the first 90 kilometres, we averaged over 35 km/h. It was nervous, intense and full of small decisions: when to move up, which group to follow, when to spend energy and when to stay hidden in the wheels. It felt less like the start of a 300-kilometre day and more like a race where you had to be alert from the first minute.

Everything started to change on the climb to Skitača. The group split apart, the heat became more noticeable and the rhythm finally became a little more honest. The descent after Skitača was one of those sections where you really had to stay focused. The road surface and the corners demanded respect, especially after such a fast and crowded opening part of the day.

Photo FinisherPix

Because of the early rush and all the chasing, we skipped the first feed station. That created a bit of panic around refilling bottles, but we managed to solve it later. Around Pazin, at roughly 150 kilometres, the route split between the shorter 200-kilometre course and the classic 300-kilometre route. Up to that point, everything had been flying. We were still in a group, moving well, and then suddenly we turned right and found ourselves almost alone.

That was one of the key moments of the day. The pace dropped, the road became quieter and the ride changed from group racing into something much more personal. Smaller groups came from behind later, but when I tried to jump onto one of them, I quickly felt that it would cost too much. We decided to stay with our own rhythm.

The hardest part of the route was still ahead. Several steep climbs, some over 15%, came at a point where the legs were already carrying many hours of effort. There were a few small crises, but nothing dramatic. Just those normal moments on a long ride when the body starts asking questions and you have to answer with patience, food, water and a steady pace.

The final part of the route somehow brought everything back into place. The descent towards Lake Butoniga was beautiful and gave me a real boost. From there, we still had two main climbs left. We climbed Oprtalj surprisingly well considering the full day already behind us, filled the bottles at the top and moved on towards the last climb.

Bajkine also went better than expected. After that, it was mostly downhill towards Poreč. The energy came back again, and for the first time in a while, I felt really strong.

The organisation of the event was excellent. Many road sections were controlled or closed, and riding fast through roundabouts and intersections without traffic made the final kilometres feel even more special.

Photo FinisherPix

We reached the finish in a great mood. Tired, but happy. No crashes, no mechanical problems, no major mistakes. About 30 minutes after we finished, the rain started, so the timing could hardly have been better.

// It was also special to race in the colours of Roletarstvo Medle and proudly represent the company again.

// There was also one small but important story behind this ride. About a month before the event, I noticed a suspicious bubble on the front wheel of my road bike. I ride No Limited Pro Race wheels, so I sent a few photos and videos to their team. Their response was fast and professional. They asked me to send both wheels to their service in Poland, repaired the issue and returned them in time for Istria300. Everything was solved smoothly and without complications, which gave me even more confidence in the wheels and in the people behind the brand.

Istria300 became one of my first truly long and race-like experiences on a road bike. Not just a test of endurance, but a day of speed, patience, teamwork and learning how to stay calm when the road keeps changing.

Photo FinisherPix

Ride supported by

Roletarstvo Medle