GranFONDO Belgrade

[sir fly]

Have you ever been to Belgrade?
The GranFondo's a nice opportunity to experience our hilly countryside and visit the city.

I'm happy the wheels started turning here.

 

[Stingray34]

Belgrade's a great place with nice people - that much I know - how are cyclists treated there, especially the lycra-clad kind?

 

[sir fly]

Generally, the level of cycling culture's low.
Cycling's been stigmatized as a typical capitalistic product in our communist society after the WW2 and as such wasn't desirable and supported like some other sports. Thus the roots of cycling culture haven't reached deep in our lifestyle, habits and competitive sport.
After the fall of communism and the breakup of Yugoslavia, wheels started turning faster, but not fast enough to catch the pace of well developed mainstream sports. And there was a problem of low standard during the nineties.
Situation is improving in this century, cycling is starting to attract more and more people and in accordance with that drivers of motorized vehicles are getting used to their presence. Especially in the communities where there are cycling clubs and attractive terrains.

In the city of Belgrade, like in any other crowded city I suppose, you can experience all kinds of situations. But my impression is that drivers are more tolerable as the time is passing. Also, it helps to know the streets and roads where the risk is lower.
In the area where GranFONDO will be held, usually there's not that much traffic, and there's plenty of quiet roads, so the ride is less stressful than in the urban area. Majority of the lycra-clad rides on that roads and similar roads across the rivers.