Poreč is a small town with an incredible amount of charm and rich history. The fact that the Venetians and the Romans were already here can be seen in every corner of this coastal town. A walk through the charming old town will take you back to the times gone by and tempt you with many great photo motifs for Instagram and the like. Coffee and cake in one of the pretty cafes will quickly recharge your batteries for the next day of training.
Strategically and practically, Poreč is the best place in Istria to tour with your road bike in as many directions as possible. Four exits offer a good selection of quiet roads that quickly lead into the hinterland and are perfect for a leisurely warm-up and cool-down of any tour.
It’s up to you, because from Poreč everything is possible, from 30 to 300 kilometer laps. For those who want to take it easy, there are some short and beautiful road bike tours in the Poreč area – without having to ride roads several times. But also those who prefer long rides can get their money’s worth in Poreč, because you can cycle on mostly very small roads both to the north-east up to Slovenia and all the way to the south down to Pula and further.
In addition to cycling, Poreč offers many other sporting opportunities. The kilometer-long, beautiful promenade, for example, is perfect for running and walking, swimming in the sea or in hotels with 25m pools, stand-up paddling and water sports of all kinds. Many football and tennis courts, fitness centres, ball sports halls and a 400m athletics track round off the town’s training facilities. There is also a good selection of athlete-friendly hotels. Valamar [Link: www.valamar.com], for example, offers bike storage, washing stations and self-service areas in several hotels. A real paradise for athletes!
If you are familiar with the Istrian cuisine, you’ll gladly cycle the extra kilometre or two to be able to really dig in in the evening. From truffle specialties to dishes with fresh fish and homemade pasta – Istria is a paradise for gourmets! Whether it’s tasty home cooking in the rustic typical local eateries (konoba) or more upscale cuisine with a Mediterranean ambience in the harbour of Poreč – the options are various and very tasty! Valamar, the official hotel partner of the Istria300 and the IstriaBike road bike and triathlon camps are also known for high quality and good food – let yourself be convinced!
Barbara Tesar tells you why you can’t miss Poreč as a road bike enthusiast. The Austrian is a former professional triathlete and cyclist and has been organising road cycling and triathlon camps in Poreč with her company www.IstriaBike.com for 16 years. She knows the most beautiful spots of the Istrian peninsula and knows from her own experience what is important for the athletes.
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