The most difficult race, the track that has the ISF certificate. Real sky race with sections where you can't do anything but 4x4. Technical sections, long climbs.
Think carefully, this is a real challenge, sharp time limits await you.
Think carefully, this is a real challenge, steep time limits await you. A total of 33.6 km with 2,300 m of ascent and descent. The start is planned for May 25 (Saturday) 2024 from the Jabučka ravništa (Stara Planina hotel) at 8 a.m., an hour after the start of 64 and 100 km races. The road takes you along the ski track over Babin zub, and a 2.5 km of ascent will greet you at the start. The descent also goes along the ski track next to the Plaža bar. There is no more control point at that location.
After that you will enter the ski trail that leads downwards to the left, sheer. At the end of the ski trail Konjarnik you will reach the asphalt, but you’ll turn into the forest immediately. There will be a spring at this section, our advice is to use it.
Exiting the conifer forest you will come to a pass from where you will have a magnificent view of Žarkova Čuka, Dupljak and very steep slopes and you’ll go down to Kozarnica where CP-1 will be set at the 8th km (here the time limit is 9:45AM). Continue along the macadam path which will at some point turn into steep and narrow paths, winding between conifers. The longest climb is ahead of you (960 m of ascent) after which you will reach Žarkova Čuka where CP-2 will be set (12th km). There you will have water. The time limit is 11AM (3 hours from the start).
From there, take the macadam road to Midžor and then turn left, onto the steep and narrow path towards Vučje Jame. From there you’ll go to the peak of Dupljak (the only peak over 2,000 mamsl, besides Midžor) where you’ll come across a slightly more difficult terrain with rocks.
At Dupljak (2.034 mamsl) CP-3 will be set at the 18th km of the race. No water and no aid station there. Control point only! Here the time limit is 12:30PM – 4 hours and 30 min from the start.
After that you will go down again towards Vučje Jame approaching Midžor along the border path. There is again a harsh and serious climb after Dupljak.
CP-4 will be set at Midžor (2.169 mamsl) at the 23rd km. Water, fruits and sweets are 1,5 km from there below the Tupanar peak. No refill.
From there you will go down towards Žarkova Čuka and Plaža along the macadam road, where CP-5 will be set at the 29th km. Here the time limit is 3:15PM – 7 hours and 15 min. from the start. At CP-5 – Plaža you’ll have water and sweets.
Then you’ll turn towards the mountain lodge. So, you do not go down the ski trail that you came along. On the way you’ll come across a spring where you can refill (recommended if the weather is hot). Very soon you’ll reach an asphalt road and a parking lot. Follow the markings (there will be a “live crossroads”, a volunteer directing you further) above the hotel and the lodge. You’ll go straight through the rocky groove of Babin Zub, where you’ll have a minor technical section. Once you reach the top you’ll see the finish line (the hotel), so just go along the ski trail to the finish gate – Jabučko Ravnište (Stara Planina Hotel).
Time limits:
CP-1 – Kozarnica 9:45 (1 hour and 45 min from the start)
CP-2 – Žarkova Čuka 11:00 (3 hours from the start)
CP-3 – Dupljak 12:30 (4 hours and 30 min from the start)
CP-5 – Plaža 15:15 (7 hours and 15 min from the start)
Finish – Jabučko ravnište 4:00 PM (8 hrs from the start)
ITRA 2 points, course ranking (mountain 8), profile, map, details, GPS track for 2024: https://tracedetrail.fr/fr/trace/trace/238204
As you can see, the time limits are serious. Make sure you bring plenty of water and food with you.
Mandatory equipment: astro-foil, rain/wind jacket, mobile phone, glass and whistle. Penalties of 30 minutes for not having them. If more than two items are missing - disqualification. We recommend trekking poles, but you cannot leave them at the check points. We especially recommend a GPS device with the race route! You must be semi-autonomous (water, gels, etc.).
All additional information about the race will be presented through the final email, the race guide (Race Guide 2024) and at the technical meeting on May 24, 2024, Friday a,t 9:00 p.m. at the Stara Planina hotel (one of the conference rooms).
Start packages pickup - race office to the Stara Planina hotel on May 24, 2024, Friday from 6 to 11 p.m. Packages must be picked up in person and for this race a medical certificate is mandatory, not older than one year.
Applications open at the beginning of December 2023, and close on Thursday, April 25, 2024. at 4 p.m. (this means that payments must be made by then). In the start package, the runner receives a unique finisher's medal and a cotton T-shirt, and the early registration period lasts until 10.1.2024. The registration fee is 4,200 dinars until that date (35 euros). After that date, the registration fee is 5,400 dinars (45 euros).
Applications can be submitted through rka.rs portal. The participant minibus is not organized. trka.rs.
Each participant must wear their starting number in the visible place, frontally. So, between the chest and hips. It can be placed on the jacket or shirt, but must not be covered by the jacket! You must not fold it because the chip will be broken. The loss of the starting number means automatic disqualification. Should you have any complaints, contact us at skyrunning.serbia@gmail.com within 48 hours after the race. After this time no complaints will be taken into consideration.
The recommendation for accommodation for all runners on the 34 km is up on the Jabučka ravnista, near Babin zub in the mountain lodge (4 km from the start), in the Stara Planina hotel, private houses or in the camp above the start in the forest. If you decide to go to the village of Crni Vrh, you must provide your own vehicle, because the village is 10 km from the start/finish of your race. If you choose a camp, it can be cold at this altitude at the end of May, so bring winter equipment.
Weather forecast link – https://www.yr.no/place/Serbia/Other/Babin_Zub/long.html https://www.yr.no/place/Serbia/Other/Babin_Zub/long.html
Award ceremony: Stara Planina hotel, Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the start/finish gate. In case of bad weather, it will be held in the hotel lobby. The first three places in the male and female categories receive prizes.
The race will be scored within the Skyrunning League of Serbia and Montenegro for 2024. You can find all the information at the following link: https://www.skyrunning-serbia.com/rezultati/. https://www.skyrunning-serbia.com/rezultati/The race will also be the only one from Serbia as part of the Alpe Adria Trail Cup for 2024. More on everything soon. http://alpeadria-trailcup.com

Alpe Adria Trail Cup

Get ready for the 11th edition, the oldest and most difficult trail race in Serbia! See you at Stara planina!