Kruševo - Debar departs in Kruševo, the highest town in the Balkans. The mountainous start means the riders will have to conquer over 1000 meters of altitude before they have even raced 30 out of a total of 101 km. After that it’s time for a long descent in the direction of Kicevo, out of the Buševa mountains.
The sleepy town of Kicevo will then be shaken up by the presence of a speeding mass of coloured jerseys and r...
Read moreKruševo - Debar departs in Kruševo, the highest town in the Balkans. The mountainous start means the riders will have to conquer over 1000 meters of altitude before they have even raced 30 out of a total of 101 km. After that it’s time for a long descent in the direction of Kicevo, out of the Buševa mountains.
The sleepy town of Kicevo will then be shaken up by the presence of a speeding mass of coloured jerseys and rattling bikes. The circus won’t be in town for long however, as a turn westwards on the Kicevo ring road marks the start of a long stretch of false flat that brings the peloton to the edge of Mavrovo National Park.
Mavrovo houses the highest peak of the country, Mount Korab, located on the Albanian border, as well as the Medenica peak of the Bistra massif. With peaks like these, the riders will be likely to see a few sports enthusiasts going the other way during the climb, since the area is renowned for its skiing facilities.
The biggest challenge of the day again suits the winter resort aesthetic, because the false flat stops pretending at 40k from the finish line. The border between Kruševo and Debar has to be crossed vertically. The 10k steep climb of 650 meters is tough on the legs, but the 15k descent will be even tougher on the minds.
After that, most riders will be exhausted, but they won’t be done yet. The strongest of the day will have to fight for victory on the beautiful road leading into Debar. The clear blue water of the artificial Debar Lake must be tempting after 100k of racing. The finish profile includes a small climb followed by a relatively flat last kilometre. Climbers with a small punch are sure to impress.
