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Among the Giants 7: Durmitor quest (preview)
It is the most wonderful time of the year, and we are not referring to Christmas. A new edition of Among the Giants is just around the corner and we considered it convenient to publish a preview of the event so you can prepare for what’s coming. The dates are July 31st – August 4th, and the destination is one you may have never heard of.
With six editions in our back, each one in a different European country, we were forced to think outside the box if we didn’t want to repeat our destination. Multiple valid places are located in or around mountainous regions, but the ATG bar is high and it took several internal discussions to come up with a final decision.
Once there was an agreement, we started checking with the local authorities about the feasibility of organizing a cycling trip there, and they were enthusiastic with our pitch, as no one had ever expressed such strong interest in promoting active tourism in the area. Nowadays, this country is trendy because of its beautiful coastline, but we are mainly interested in exploring its hilly parts.
Location
We are talking about Montenegro, and more concretely the Durmitor National Park. The Balkan country features rugged terrain, ideal for outdoor sports, and many of the highest mountains are located in Durmitor, which is one of the five national parks. There are 48 peaks above 2.000 meters of elevation, although the highest road tops at 1.907 meters.
Over three days of riding, we will discover what the region has to offer. Planned by us and validated by locals, the routes average 130 km and 3.000 meters of elevation, which is a challenging task. For better or worse, we have checked online every single meter of the roads so there will be no surprise factor for us, but we are confident that the participants of the event will be positively surprised by the beauty and good state of the terrain.
Sedlo Pass, Piva Lake, Tara Bridge, Susika Lake and Durmitor Road are supposed to be the main highlights of our itinerary, and although we could already introduce you to those jaw-dropping spots, it is better to write about them once we are back from this eye-opening experience, adding our own point of view and ranking them with all the other magic places that Among the Giants has brought us to.
Base camp
Our accommodation is located in Nadgora, deep in the national park. We will be sleeping at 1.500 meters so we should enjoy mild temperatures that will allow us to explore the surroundings of the house after the rides. We may even go for a hike! We couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw this accommodation popping up during our search, and we can’t wait to spend some quality off-bike time there together with the participants.
We are also looking forward to enjoying some of the best Montenegrin culinary delights thanks to the Montenegro National Tourism Organisation, and ending the last riding day on a high with a delicious dinner at Or’o, one of the best restaurants in Zabljak. Last year’s after-party was one of the highlights of the trip so, if there are energies left, we will try to improve it!
Involved brands
Among the Giants would be nothing without its participants, and this year a nice set of brand ambassadors and individual riders will join us in Montenegro for what is expected to be an eye-opening experience.
The industry needs brands like Angry Pablo, which promote community building over pure racing, and redefining the border between cycling and lifestyle. There is a perfect match with the values that Among the Giants transpires, so we are expecting fruitful conversations with the ambassadors of the British brand during our time in Montenegro.
The likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Tao Geoghegan Hart raced on Condor bikes in their youth, and now it is our time to squeeze the lightweight features of these frames, designed in London and produced by hand in Italy.
We are pleased to announce that, for the fourth year in a row, ENVE will be part of Among the Giants. When we saw their new Fray for the first time, we knew that Montenegro and its changing surfaces would be the perfect testing ground for this versatile bike. ENVE will be represented by our friends from Velodrom Barcelona and we cannot wait to conquer the peaks of the Durmitor National Park with them.
Regardless of the surface types we will face in Montenegro, Fulcrum has us covered. The Italian brand will put different wheelsets on display, including the recently launched Sharq all-road wheels and the lightweight Speed model, which is perfect for all the climbing that lies ahead.
Giordana is well known for offering cycling apparel that works in perfect concert with the human body, giving riders the ability to perform at their highest possible level. Even if performance is not the priority in Among the Giants, wearing the kit of the Italian brand will surely make a difference in both speed and comfort.
Last year Hammerhead played a key role in helping us pace climbs like the Angliru, and since then they have launched a new version of the Karoo, which we are eager to put to the test over the coming days.
Saddle sores can put any cycling trip in jeopardy, but with Posedla by our side, we can forget about any potential discomfort and focus on the experience. You will spot some 3D-printed saddles from the Czech brand within the group, and we will let you know the difference it made in our ride feeling.
Media team
Every year the media team makes sure that each of the participating brands receives the quantity and quality of content they expect. They follow us during the day and create content not only about the riding part but also the casual moments at the accommodation, and at the end of the day, they join us for dinner and tell us the funny moments they experienced from their point of view. David from Fluke Visuals will again be in charge of everything video-related, and Albert aka Brazo de Hierro is back on board to delight us with his photo skills.
What’s to come
Each edition of Among the Giants presents its own challenges, both for riders and organizers. This year is no exception and after overcoming all the logistical hurdles characteristic of an event of this magnitude, now it is time to tackle the peaks of the Durmitor National Park. Make sure to keep an eye on our social media channels as over the coming days we will be posting live reactions to our experience in Montenegro. After the trip, an extensive recap article will follow, and not long after we will be able to unveil the official video of the event.
