Most of the participants of this fourth event this year, out of a total of six to be held under the title South on Two Wheels, organised by the tourism boards of the Istrian south, took the longer route for adults 25 kilometres long, while around 30 cyclists, mostly small children, went down the shorter 13 kilometre route, Glas Istre reports on June 18, 2016.
The merry procession, within which fames cycling veteran Bruno Bulić could be seen, started in front of the parish church, while organisers created a route that avoided paved sections as much as possible.
“We will ride mostly on forest trails, maintained, in the shade. We start from Šišan, head to Jadreški, across Muntić to Nezakcija, where refreshments have been prepared. Then under Valtura to Budava, then back again to Šišan. In general, 90 percent of the route is off road,” commented at the start Zoran Milinković from the Sports Recreation and Creativity Šišan Society, one of the organisers of this event.
South on Two Wheels is held in the pre- and post-season, every time in a different region. Until now, along with the Šišan event co organised by the Ližnjan Tourism Board, events have been held in Medulin, Fažana and Vodnjan, while the next event in September will be held in the Marčana and Barban area and near the end of October in Pula. All cyclists who participate in four or more events get a t-shirt and participate in the tombola at the final event in Pula.
The expected return, with an easy going tempo, was expected in three hours. Cyclists in full gear (children had to wear helmets) were escorted by police officers, local fire fighters, medical team... Ahead of the start policemen educated participants on safety in traffic, while many tested “drunken glasses” that bend the driver’s perception as if under influence of opiates. Upon their return to Šišan, where organisers prepared a wild game stew, cyclists joined the party late into the night, as part of the fair that occupied the village for two days.
