4Islands MTB Croatia

[babse]

anyone gone to 4island MTB? 

Saw on IG it started today with a few local voices.

[BMCfan]

Reviving babse old thread

 

I wanna enter the race and would like some input from peeps that done it before. I am torn between hotel and boat accomodation. the boat experience sounds cool, but is it worthwhile?

 

I recollect that @Kylie done a write up, but cant find it. I might be mistaken

[JarradVZ]

Also considering this one.

[lukelockie]

Can confirm that this event is incredible!

The logistics of the event behind the scenes are absolutely nuts as you have to travel between islands before you actually do some of the stages.

I was in the hotel when I did it and have had some mates who were on the boats. Will try detail my experience versus their feedback:

 

Hotel:

Rooms were decent, food was great, vibe was excellent. It felt more inclusive because we got to mingle with everyone and not just the peeps on the boat. There is some stress on moving mornings as you need to check out of the hotels, catch busses to the ferry ports, board the ferries and then sail to next islands before racing, then jumping onto a bus, heading to the next hotel for the night and then repeating. What was epic was the chance to meet people from all over the world and share race stories over a cold beer.

 

Boats:

Once in a lifetime type of experience (the more you spend, the better the boat and the greater the experience). Far less hassle as you essentially wake up at the next island, jump off the boat, head to the startline, race, then return to the boat after. Rinse and repeat. Mates' feedback was it was definitely worth spending the bucks on being on a boat if you are going with a group as the people on the boat are who you will spend your evenings and mornings with and you tend to miss out on the vibe of the race village and the hotel lobbies. 

 

The riding:

The riding is unreal! Climbs are steep, you'll experience more rocks than you've ever seen in your life, and the views will take your breath away. If you're going to do this event once and only once, forget about doing it as a race. Rather embrace the magnificence of the experience, meet some new people, soak in the beauty, and enjoy it

 

Tips:

Make sure your transfers from airport to the first island are sorted as well as the transfer back.

Pack some warm gear as it can get VERY cold in the mornings and evenings (as well as on the bike)

If you can, pack a spare chainring as you may want to drop a size for one or two of the days.

Enjoy the free beer and coffee at the end of each stage.

Be fitter than I was.

[BMCfan]

 

4 minutes ago, lukelockie said:

Can confirm that this event is incredible!

The logistics of the event behind the scenes are absolutely nuts as you have to travel between islands before you actually do some of the stages.

I was in the hotel when I did it and have had some mates who were on the boats. Will try detail my experience versus their feedback:

 

Hotel:

Rooms were decent, food was great, vibe was excellent. It felt more inclusive because we got to mingle with everyone and not just the peeps on the boat. There is some stress on moving mornings as you need to check out of the hotels, catch busses to the ferry ports, board the ferries and then sail to next islands before racing, then jumping onto a bus, heading to the next hotel for the night and then repeating. What was epic was the chance to meet people from all over the world and share race stories over a cold beer.

 

Boats:

Once in a lifetime type of experience (the more you spend, the better the boat and the greater the experience). Far less hassle as you essentially wake up at the next island, jump off the boat, head to the startline, race, then return to the boat after. Rinse and repeat. Mates' feedback was it was definitely worth spending the bucks on being on a boat if you are going with a group as the people on the boat are who you will spend your evenings and mornings with and you tend to miss out on the vibe of the race village and the hotel lobbies. 

 

The riding:

The riding is unreal! Climbs are steep, you'll experience more rocks than you've ever seen in your life, and the views will take your breath away. If you're going to do this event once and only once, forget about doing it as a race. Rather embrace the magnificence of the experience, meet some new people, soak in the beauty, and enjoy it

 

Tips:

Make sure your transfers from airport to the first island are sorted as well as the transfer back.

Pack some warm gear as it can get VERY cold in the mornings and evenings (as well as on the bike)

If you can, pack a spare chainring as you may want to drop a size for one or two of the days.

Enjoy the free beer and coffee at the end of each stage.

Be fitter than I was.

Thanks for the info !!!!

 

Exactly what i'm looking for!

[Kylie]

1 hour ago, BMCfan said:

Reviving babse old thread

 

I wanna enter the race and would like some input from peeps that done it before. I am torn between hotel and boat accomodation. the boat experience sounds cool, but is it worthwhile?

 

I recollect that @Kylie done a write up, but cant find it. I might be mistaken

I did it this year, it but I didn't get around to a story for it! We did the budget version (hotel package) and logistically that is a little more challenging than the boats. There is a fair bit of packing up and bussing and ferries, whereas the boats you unpack once and your 'hotel' takes you from Island to island.

 

If I were to try and klap another international Epic, personally I'd go for Swiss Epic over 4Islands, but it is still an absolutely incredible experience, and you won't regret it!

[BMCfan]

Thanks @lukelockie and @Kylie!

I did it, i entered!

Now to get all the logistics in order. Like a kid with a new toy excited!! 😎

 

Hopefully there are a few more hubbers going to get the the discussion and motivation going ...

[Kylie]

1 hour ago, BMCfan said:

Thanks @lukelockie and @Kylie!

I did it, i entered!

Now to get all the logistics in order. Like a kid with a new toy excited!! 😎

 

Hopefully there are a few more hubbers going to get the the discussion and motivation going ...

Congratulations! I'm sure there will be a crew of saffas, we had a great contingent this year. Enjoy every minute of it 

[BMCfan]

Its getting real ...

 

 

Which other hubbers are going

[samson99]

Definitely one on my bucketlist. and now that i live in Ireland, a bit cheaper.

Good luck at @BMCfan

 

looking forward to the race reports

Edited March 19, 2025 by samson99

[M L]

Any other MTB stage races in Europe anyone can recommend? Seems there are a few options not too ridiculously expensive (4 Islands Croatia, Alps Epic (France), Andorra Epic, Appenninica Italy, etc?)

 

[SeanScalpel]

@BMCfan, how was it?

Would appreciate some detailed feedback if possible - considering it for 2026 👏🏻

[BMCfan]

18 hours ago, SeanScalpel said:

@BMCfan, how was it?

Would appreciate some detailed feedback if possible - considering it for 2026 👏🏻

@SeanScalpel by detailed feedback you mean how many beers were consumed?? 😉

 

Yoh i dont know where to start! Everything was amazing!!! I took the feedback form @lukelockie and @Kylie in consideration when i entered and opted for the entry level boat option with transfers to and from Zagreb before and after the race, and was pleasantly surprised by the experience! Everything worked like clockwork and are VERY well organized. 

 

I had a Cape and Swiss Epic under the belt. I LOVED the Swiss Epic and really wanted to go back, but decided to do a 3rd series event. Like i said before, i was pleasantly surprised. But as Luke alluded too, do not underestimate the terrain. The slogan 'Conquer the rocks' are spot on.

 

NOT A RACE REPORT, but rather a sharing of my experience

My partner and i flown out the Thursday before the event and decided to spent the weekend in Zagreb. On the flight there we met Sergeij, who was flying home. He gave a lot of info and even met up with on Saturday for a few beers and a tour. And we went hiking with him on Sunday morning. The people of Croatia is amazing! On Monday we got on the transfer and arriving at the race Hotel there was a huge (more like moerse!) storm on the island. Wind over 60km/h and a lotta rain, i really thought we were not be able to ride. hahaaa. Registration was seamless and the Hotel was buzzing as everyone was hiding from the storm and worrying about the start

 

The Prologue on Tuesday was scheduled for a small remote island and was cancelled as the boats couldnt leave the harbour. The Prologue then started right at the Race Hotel. Low and behold it at least stopped raining, but the wind was still pumping. I had a rude awaking form the off, as the adrenalin was pumping, i made a rookie error and cut a wet tarmac corner. Front wheel slid out and i was doing a slide which would make a 10 year old birthday party slide look amateurish. With my race flashing by me just 1km into the race, i got up relatively unscathed. Confidence now 0 i continued soldiering on in the cold and not 5km further the rocks conquered my tire! With a sore wrist, cold and wet hands and endless bombs i eventually broke the valve 1.5km to go and had to ride to the finish on a flat tire.

After the prologue we boarded our boat. The poor Slovenian team on our boat didnt know what hit them, as the rest of the occupants were all Saffas. And man, did we all had a jol the entire week, including the Slovenians!!!

Unfortunately the boats could not sail due to the weather and we were bussed of to the start of Stage 1 and 2, with my bad luck surely out of the way after the prologue, the rest of the Stages went well. My partner met his bad luck with the rocks somewhere is stage 3 i think, but we got through that as well! Its hard to compare the routes to anything ive ever done. The views are amazing, the terrain tough, but rewarding. Even the downhills were technical and they took us up climbs i never thought id do! (We went up one cobble climb, i prayed all the way up. It was steep, cobbled all the way and long. At one stage i tought is Cape Epic is TDF of MTBing, this must be  the Paris-Roubaix of MTBing)

 

Its probably not Cape Epic tough, but it also aint no W2W. 

Will i do it again, a million time yes.

 

But i digress, @SeanScalpel, you are more than welcome to send me a PM if you want more detail or have questions.

 

 

 

[ChrisF]

That sounds LEKKA !!!

 

 

Friends have done a Croatia island hopping holiday, think it was 2022.  Renting bikes on each island.  EPIC !!!  Following their dayly photos was an absolute blast.

 

They are going again in a few weeks time.