THE ROUTE
Route Overview
The course is a 300 km loop starting and finishing in Novo mesto, with 7,000 m of elevation gain. Around 70 % of the surface is gravel or unpaved, with the remainder consisting of quiet paved connectors.
Climbs are long and sustained rather than steep and technical, while descents are fast and stable on loose gravel. Riders should be fully prepared for extended remote sections with limited services.
Difficulty & Preparation
Riders should be ready for extended remote sections with limited services, consistent climbing, and variable surfaces. Efficient pacing, proper gearing, and reliable equipment are essential.
Recommended Setup
Gravel tyres 40–50 mm
Low climbing gears for sustained gradients
Adequate hydration and resupply planning for remote stretches
Route Highlights
Novo mesto
Novo mesto is the center of Slovenia’s Dolenjska region. With its historic old town, charming streets, and stunning surrounding hills and forests, it’s the perfect base for the Green Border Gravel.
Kočevski rog
Kočevski rog is the wild heart of the course: deep spruce and beech forests, long uninterrupted gravel drags, and a real sense of remoteness where you ride by rhythm and patience.
Gorjanci
Gorjanci brings the backbone climbing and ridge-line riding—steady gradients, cooler air under the trees, then openings where the views stretch across the border.
Žumberak
Žumberak changes the feel again: classic karst hills and quieter villages, with smoother, faster gravel and constant small rises that chip away at the legs. The route’s high point is Sveta Gera, before the loop settles back into the forest corridors.
