06/09/2026
Balkan Boulevard 2026
Tough stages to start in Slovenia including the iconic Vršic Pass (1.611 m) and the Mangart (2.055 m).
The Vršič Pass is the highest mountain pass in Slovenia located in the heart of the Julian Alps. The pass is famous for its exactly 50 sharply numbered hairpin bends. 24 bends on the way up, followed by another 26 on the descent into Trenta. A unique characteristic of the northern side is that the sharpest turns are still paved with the original cobblestones. The rest of the road is fully asphalted. The pass has a rich and tragic history. It was built between 1914 and 1916 by Russian prisoners of war to serve as a military supply route for the Austro-Hungarian army during World War I. In March 1916, a massive avalanche killed over 400 of these prisoners.
