History of the Club
The Slovenský kras Cycling Club (SCK SK), based in Gemerská Hôrka, is a voluntary association founded at the end of 1998. Its goal was to develop cycling tourism in the Slovenský kras region and the historical Upper Gemer area, where no marked cycling routes existed at that time. The club was officially registered in April 1999.
The initiative came from Ing. Július Slovák, that time director of the Tourist Information Center in Rožňava. Founders included Zuzana Tömölová and Ing. Zoltán Tömöl, with professional support from JUDr. Juraj Hlatký head of the Slovak Cycling Club in Piešťany. The first trail markers were Otokár Dudáš and Ladislav Ambrúž.
Key Milestone (Year 2000)
In 2000, the first section of the Slovenský kras Cycling Route was opened between Gemerská Hôrka and Silica. This marked the beginning of organized cycling tourism in the region. The project connected 56 municipalities, 2 regions, 4 districts, 2 countries, and 3 national parks.
Main Goal
The club aimed to connect natural, historical, and cultural attractions through marked cycling routes. Within a year, a full cycling network plan was created and approved, despite challenging initial conditions.
Annual Cycling Events
These cycling routes became the foundation for four regular annual events:
- May: CYKLOKRAS – Cycling Kras
- July: KARSTVELO
- August: GEMERSKÁ ŽUPA NA KOLESÁCH – Gemer Region on Wheels
- September: ZLATÝ KRAS – Golden Kras
Today, CYKLOKRAS, KARSTVELO, and ZLATÝ KRAS have become international events.
Additional Activities
- Cross-border cooperation with Aggtelek National Park began in 1999
- Organization of international cycling tours and opening “green borders” for cyclists before the Schengen Area existed
- Connection of Slovak and Hungarian cycling routes
- Training of tourist guides in cooperation with Hungarian partners
- Creation of cycling maps, promotional materials, and club jerseys
- Participation in tourism exhibitions since 2001
- Development of educational trails and local infrastructure projects
Focus
All activities emphasize discovering natural, cultural, historical, and gastronomic attractions of the region, often with a cross-border and international dimension.
More informations
More information about current events you can find on Slovak part of our website https://karstvelo.sk/