About the 2025 race route
Every year we aim to deliver a completely different experience for Race through Slovakia participants. In the third edition, by popular demand, you will need to put significantly more work into planning your route between the mandatory segments.
Many times you will have to decide whether to climb a few hundred extra vertical meters to take a shorter line, or detour around the hills. Gravel shortcuts may also factor into your decision making. If you clear them without a puncture or a crash, they can speed you up and shorten the distance. If you run into technical issues, they can cost you dearly. If using a ferry across the Danube fits your route plan, you may do so.
We have also prepared the most demanding course so far. For most riders on the long loop this will mean approximately 1,050 kilometers. The short loop is hardly “short” anymore, since riders will cover about 50 kilometers more than in 2023, with the total distance close to 700 kilometers.
The sense of adventure will be amplified by spending many more kilometers outside Slovakia. Along with Poland you will also visit Hungary.
You can download GPX files for the mandatory segments on our Google Drive. If any segment changes before the start, we will inform you.
Routing and Navigation Partner
1,000 km
RTSK ’25 #1 Schoneweg Parkour
The opening kilometers will be escorted by the municipal police to ensure a safe transit through the city.
Riders will then climb Pekná cesta toward Biely kríž and descend to Limbach. You will weave through the vineyards to the edge of Pezinok, where everyone continues on their own route toward Banská Štiavnica.
RTSK ’25 #2 Banská Štiavnica Parkour
The first real test on the route will be planning a solid line to the second mandatory segment. The rolling terrain around Nitra will sap some energy, and before the first serious climb to Sitno a few smaller hills will warm you up.
The climb to Sitno will test everyone. The asphalt is far from ideal and the multi-kilometer ascent ends with gradients close to 20 percent. With luck you will be rewarded with fine views.
After a cautious descent you will climb again into Banská Štiavnica and then turn south toward Esztergom.
RTSK ’25 #3 Visegrád Parkour
Those pushing through the night will experience the start of the first night in the quiet hills of the Duna-Ipoly National Park.
Others who schedule this section for daylight will enjoy views of the Esztergom Basilica and the river meanders beneath Visegrád Castle. They will also have a slightly easier transfer thanks to the ferry across the Danube. Night riders will need to use one of the few bridges in the area to continue toward Bükki National Park.
RTSK ’25 #4 Bükki Nemzeti Park Parkour
Hungary is often said to be flat. If you share that view, this segment will change your mind.
We prepared two climbs in Bükki National Park. Despite the respectable elevation gain, both should be enjoyable. Traffic is light, the scenery is pretty, and the gradients are not excessively steep.
The bigger challenge will likely be planning an efficient transfer to the next mandatory segment.
RTSK ’25 #5 Przehyba Parkour
This mandatory segment hides three challenges. First is plotting a route from northern Hungary. Second is the segment itself. Third is finding the most efficient line to Ťatliakova chata.
Some of you will eye a gravel descent into the valley, while others will prefer returning on asphalt. Approach Ťatliakova chata via the eastern or the western side of the Tatras? That is another planning decision you must solve.
RTSK ’25 #6 Ťatliakova chata Parkour
Ťatliakova chata sits in the heart of the Roháče mountains at 1,374 meters above sea level. It is one of the few mountain huts you can reach by bike. To start this segment you must first climb up to it.
From there, the final 60 kilometers await to the finish at Chata Pečivár.
Finish at Chata Pečivár
The finish is at Chata Pečivár above the village of Jakubovany. Everyone who reaches the finish can rest, take a shower, and, if desired, stay overnight. Accommodation is in four-bed rooms with shared male and female showers and restrooms. We will be very happy if you decide to stay with us in the beautiful Liptov area, share your stories from the road, and recover. The price is 25 € per bed including breakfast. We hope many of you will take this option so we can strengthen bonds within the cycling community.
The hut has a capacity of 40 beds and it may happen that during the third and fourth nights it will be fully occupied by organizers and riders. Even if beds are full, you will be able to settle in the common areas with your own sleeping bag, sleep warm and dry, use the showers, eat, and rest.
650 km
RTSK ’25 #1 Schoneweg Parkour
The opening kilometers will be escorted by the municipal police to ensure a safe transit through the city.
Riders will then climb Pekná cesta toward Biely kríž and descend to Limbach. You will weave through the vineyards to the edge of Pezinok, where everyone continues on their own route toward Banská Štiavnica.
RTSK ’25 #2 Banská Štiavnica Parkour 650 km
The first real test on the 650 km route will be plotting a solid line to the second mandatory segment. The rolling terrain around Nitra will sap some energy, and before the first serious climb to Sitno a few smaller hills will warm you up.
The climb to Sitno will test everyone. The asphalt is far from ideal and the multi-kilometer ascent ends with gradients close to 20 percent. With luck you will be rewarded with fine views.
The Štiavnica segment for the shorter route is slightly modified, with the start and finish trimmed.
RTSK ’25 #3 Bükki Nemzeti Park Parkour
Hungary is often said to be flat. If you share that view, this segment will change your mind.
We prepared two climbs in Bükki National Park. Despite the respectable elevation gain, both should be enjoyable. Traffic is light, the scenery is pretty, and the gradients are not excessively steep.
The bigger challenge will likely be planning an efficient transfer to the next mandatory segment.
Finish at Chata Pečivár 650 km
The finish for 650 km participants is also at Chata Pečivár above Jakubovany. Riders on the shorter route do not have to complete the entire mandatory segment from Ťatliakova chata. It is sufficient to ride directly to the finish from the Bükki Nemzeti Park parkour.
Everyone who reaches the finish can rest, take a shower, and, if desired, stay overnight. Accommodation is in four-bed rooms with shared male and female showers and restrooms. We will be very happy if you decide to stay with us in the beautiful Liptov area, share your stories from the road, and recover. The price is 25 € per bed including breakfast. We hope many of you will take this option so we can strengthen bonds within the cycling community.
The hut has a capacity of 40 beds and it may happen that during the third and fourth nights it will be fully occupied by organizers and riders. Even if beds are full, you will be able to settle in the common areas with your own sleeping bag, sleep warm and dry, use the showers, eat, and rest.
Prohibition on using the so-called southern corridor
To enhance participant safety we are officially banning the so-called southern corridor, meaning the main roads between Rožňava and Zvolen. Specifically these are European route 58 (E58) and First-class road 16.
Avoid this main corridor when planning your route. Southern Slovakia lacks continuous motorway connections, which makes this corridor heavily burdened by truck and car traffic and presents a high risk to cyclists.
The only exception on the main corridor is when you use a short stretch up to 2 km to connect two alternative lower-class roads.
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