Komoot opens applications for the komoot Women’s Slovenia Rally

For Immediate Release

Potsdam - March 14th 2023 - The komoot Women’s Rally bikepacking event is back for the second time in 2023, and the fifth time since it launched in September 2021. The Slovenian edition of these bikepacking adventures will see participants ride an original route designed by a woman. 

• Komoot launches the komoot Women’s Slovenia Rally route preview, designed by a woman

• Komoot Women’s Slovenia Rally is now open for applications until March 24th
• The komoot Women’s Rally events aim to connect, unite, and break down the barriers in adventure cycling by making adventures by bike more accessible to women of all backgrounds

Earlier this year, 50 women participated in the komoot GranGuanche Women’s Rally – they rode across four Canary Islands, along volcanic tracks, and over breathtaking passes. As always, the rally was led by ultra-endurance bike rider and racer Lael Wilcox, the woman who has been the driving force behind these rallies alongside komoot since day one. 

Lael wasn’t leading a group of pros, she was pedaling beside women from all over the world who had two fundamental things in common: They had a bike and had come together for this adventure. 

This was the fourth komoot Women’s Rally to take place after the launch of the first event in 2021, which brought together women from different backgrounds and abilities to ride the Torino–Nice Rally route. It was such a success that Lael and komoot did it again the following year, adding another rally in as well. In 2023, there will be three komoot Women’s Rally events.

With the idea of riding a route created by a woman, Leal Wilcox and eight other women set out on a Slovenia recce in summer 2022. One of their party was Beatrice Mezzena Lona, a Trieste-local, Slovenia enthusiast, and experienced route-builder – having crafted the 2022 Trans Balkan Race route. After a fantastic ride, Bea went home to draft a second version that Lael and wife Rue Kaladyte rode the following week.

"We had a spectacular time – from the rugged mountains in the north, to lush valleys, forests, castles, wine country and caves, we loved it!" says Lael. "There are still a couple of sections we need to work on to make them super enjoyable and achievable for every rally rider, so we’re aiming to publish the final route in May." 

Applicants can expect the route to be very similar to the Slovenia Rally Route Collection preview. Participants can take short cuts, 'long cuts’, detours, and replan whichever sections they fancy while on the rally – "it’s your adventure as much as ours." says Lael.

Key Route Facts

• Distance (estimate) ~ 664km 

• Elevation (estimate) ~ 14,930m 

• Terrain ~ Paved, unpaved, gravel 

Applications are open for the Slovenia Rally from 14th to 24th March. Further information on how to apply can be found in the komoot Collection, and the successful applicants will be told by email on 7th April.

Each komoot Women’s Rally is limited to 50 participants to keep a community feeling and to not overwhelm the often rural villages the routes pass through. This year, there are two more komoot Women’s Rally events coming up: 

• Slovenia: September 16th -23rd — OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

• Tucson, Arizona: November 11th - 18th 

Follow the Women's Rally komoot profile and @komoot instagram profile for more information on upcoming events and registration dates.

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Media kit including komoot map of the Slovenia rally route : https://newsroom.komoot.com/en/media_kits/228789

Here you'll find how to embed a komoot Tour online: https://www.komoot.com/b2b/embed