13th Grintovec Mountain Race 2011
Kamniška Bistrica (Slovenia), Sunday 24 July 2011
Mount Grintovec (2558m)
Due to bad weather the course will be shortened this year! In 2011, the finish will be on Kokrsko sedlo ("Kokra saddle", 1793m).
The Gorski tek na Grintovec in Slovenia forms part of the WMRA (World Mountain Running Association) Grand Prix, which consists of six races in five European countries.
The mountain race to the summit of Mount Grintovec features a particularly tough route. The course is just 9.6 kilometres long but it includes an elevation gain of almost 2000 metres.
As the course is very steep most participants walk most of the race. However, it's not allowed to use trekking poles.
The start is at an elevation of 600 metres at the "Dom v Kamniški Bistrici", a restaurant at the end of the steep Kamniška Bistrica river valley, located 36 kilometres to the north of Ljubljana's city centre.
The route takes runners into the wilderness of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. At first, competitors run on dirt roads and trails through dense forest, which clears at around 1600 metres above sea level.
The second half of the route runs through an unspoilt and spectacular high alpine landscape. Participants run on a mixture of trails, and finally across a vast scree field.
From the finish on the top of Grintovec (2558m), participants have to walk back to the mountain hut on the Kokra saddle (Kokrsko sedlo, 1793m) to pick up their personal clothing. As there's no road or cable car they have to walk all the way back down to the start as well.
In 2010, the event did not take place. The winners of the last edition in 2009 both came from the Czech Republic. Robert Krupicka won the men's race in a time of 1:17:05, Anna Pichrtova was first woman in 1:32:48. The course records are held by New Zealand's Jonathan Wyatt (1:15:43) and Anna Pichrtova (1:31:50).
Country: Slovenia
Venue (Map): Kamniška Bistrica (Kamnik 13km, Ljubljana 36km, Klagenfurt 95km, Trieste 129km)
Date: 24 July 2011 (Sunday)
Race distance: 9.6km (+1957m)
Start: 9.00 Dom v Kamniški Bistrici (601m)
Finish: on the summit of Mount Grintovec (2558m)
Entries: by phone, fax, e-mail or online (from 10 July until 22 July 2011); late entries on the day until 8.00am
Entry fees: 15 euros (until 22 July 2011), 20 euros (until 26 July 2011)
You get: a present, transport of personal clothing to the mountain hut on the Kokra saddle, a warm meal after the race
Prizes: prize money to the first 15 men and 7 women; prize money for a new course record; medals and product prizes to the first 3 in each category
Award ceremony: 15.00 (Dom v Kamniški Bistrici)
Number of finishers 2009: 187 men, 25 women
Event website: www.kgtpapez.si
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.
The climb from the Kamniška Bistrica valley to the Kokra saddle (at ca. 1700m above sea level).
The mountain hut on the Kokra saddle (Kokrsko sedlo, 1793m).
The route at ca. 2000m above sea level.
