Epic rides Labin

Labinšćina is rich in excellent cycling locations. The Skitača area is actually a peninsula (within the larger peninsula, Istria), named after a small place at the very end of the peninsula. The hamlet of Skitača got its name from the wanderers who used to roam around there. And that's exactly where we'll be wandering with our bikes. The start is at the foot of the town of Labin, and after a few kilometers through typical Istrian settlements, we find ourselves on the first ascent. Fortunately, the starting point is at an altitude of 291 meters, so the climb doesn't start from zero. After about 10 km, we climb to what we can call the "plateau" of this peninsula, where you will understand what we were talking about in the text above, but you won't be quite convinced that you're in Istria. A beautiful, well-groomed gravel road runs through the middle of the peninsula, a paradise for gravel bikes and all those who love the sound of gravel under fast wheels. Then, at one small bump, a WOW view opens up! In the distance, Učka and Rijeka, Cres on the left, behind it Velebit, straight ahead the azure sea, and on the right, Kamenjak with a view to the other side of Istria. Locals say, 'You can see Venice from there after a bora wind,' maybe the Earth is indeed a flat plate. In the village of Skitači, there's a feed zone, followed by a descent to the more gentle and populated side of this peninsula, riding through interesting landscapes, villages, with a view of old houses and new vacation villas that emerge here, but much less than in the already popular coastal destinations. 45 kilometers and 710 meters of ascent, a fantastic story to open another season of Epic Rides. The start and finish are near the old town of Labin, and the cuisine and wine (oenology and gastronomy) here are quintessential Istria – read phenomenal.