The Bike at Poreč: 90 km of Rollers, Steady Watts, and Watch Out for Funtana

The Big Picture

90 km out-and-back on roads fully closed to traffic, including a section on the expressway. You ride through the Istrian hinterland among vineyards and olive groves, with three aid stations along the course. No major climbs: the profile is a string of rollers and long false flats. On paper it's a fast bike leg. But two variables deserve attention: the real elevation gain and the tarmac around Funtana.

Elevation Gain: The Sources Don't Agree

Let's be upfront: the numbers are all over the place. The official course sheet says 680 m of climbing. The race page summary lists 750 m. Athlete reports mention over 650 m. An older profile published by PJAMM comes in around 1,000 m, with a max gradient of about 5.2%. The gap between 650 and 1,000 m is not a detail: it changes your time estimate and your gearing choice. What to do: calibrate your pacing on the actual course during a recon ride, not just a downloaded GPS file. If recon isn't possible, build your plan on the higher number. A pacing plan that holds up with 1,000 m of climbing works fine with 680 too.

Pacing: Steady Watts, No Surges

With a max gradient around 5.2% and long stretches of false flat, this is not a race for punchy watts. You need stable aerobic power. Keep the watts constant and let the speed fluctuate: on the false flats, the temptation to push to "hold your average" is the fastest way to torch the run that follows. The course is an out-and-back: whatever you feel on the way out, you'll get back, reversed, on the return. Time benchmarks (estimates, not official data): 3:15 for a comfortable finisher, 2:50 for a mid-pack goal, 2:35 for a fast split, 2:20 to chase the top spots in your age group.

Tarmac: Memorize Funtana

Reports flag poor tarmac in the Funtana area: potholes and bumps. The expressway section, on the other hand, is good. Three practical consequences. First: conservative tire pressures — don't pump to the max to gain two watts and lose control over the potholes. Second: bottles and gels firmly secured, because the bumps will spit them out. Third: hands firmly on the bars in the rough section. If you do a recon, memorize where the worst potholes are: in the race, surrounded by other athletes, you'll see them at the last second.

Wind: Hard Facts Are Scarce

Let's be honest: the wind and speed ratings on the course sheet are rough judgments — concrete data on wind in Poreč in mid-October is scarce. On an out-and-back, though, the usual rule applies: if you hit a headwind on the way out, don't burn matches defending your average — you'll get it back on the return. If you have a tailwind going out, keep something in the tank for the ride home.

On-Course Traffic

According to reports, athletes are well spread out on the course: no unmanageable pelotons, race traffic is manageable. Fully closed roads take cars out of the equation: you can use the whole road in the corners — with good judgment.

What to Do Now

• Build your power plan on the highest reported elevation figure, then adjust after your recon.
• Test 2.5 hours at steady power on rolling terrain in training, followed by a short brick run.
• Choose tire pressures suited to rough tarmac and check that your bottle cages and gel storage can handle the bumps.
• If you arrive a few days early, ride the Funtana area and note the trouble spots.