The training week of the Erasmus+ CycleUp project (Mobility for Sport Staff) has just come to an end, involving ASD Trekkify, which enabled seven volunteers from the organisation to take part in an intensive learning experience in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) region of Germany. The mobility aimed to develop and exchange knowledge and competences on the design and management of cycle tourism routes. For the implementation of the activity, Trekkify collaborated with another ENOS member organisation, Mountain Bike Forum, which hosted the mobility.
The week began with a visit to Mountain Bike Forum, followed by an inspiring presentation from Absolut GPS, the organisation coordinating the five Stoneman routes. Stoneman is an outdoor route concept – primarily designed for mountain biking, gravel cycling and cycling enthusiasts – created as a cycle tourism challenge along signposted routes, typically through mountainous areas. It offers structured cycling experiences that combine sport, tourism and the promotion of local territories.
The insights shared by representatives of Mountain Bike Forum and Absolut GPS on the development and management of internationally recognised cycling experiences provided valuable inspiration for our future work.
The participants then took on the Stoneman Miriquidi challenge. Stoneman Miriquidi is a permanent cycling route through the Ore Mountains region between Germany and the Czech Republic, which cyclists can complete independently by collecting stamps at official checkpoints along the route. The Trekkify team successfully completed the challenge in three days, covering 176 km with 4,597 metres of elevation gain, while riding through the breathtaking landscapes of the Erzgebirge.
To conclude this remarkable experience, the participants joined a technical study visit along part of the Blockline route, finishing at Blockhausen, the iconic open-air sculpture park. Blockline is a cycle tourism product developed in the Ore Mountains region, consisting of a network of mountain bike and gravel routes designed primarily for families, beginners and recreational cyclists, with a strong focus on visitor experience and destination enhancement.
This was a unique opportunity to discover another outstanding cycle tourism product and to learn more about its approach to route design, storytelling, visitor experience and destination development.
Throughout the week, participants explored how the Erzgebirge region has successfully transformed its natural and cultural heritage into high-quality cycling experiences capable of creating value for local communities while promoting sustainable tourism.
The knowledge and inspiration gained during this mobility will support Trekkify in further developing its expertise in cycle tourism and contribute to the design of innovative and sustainable cycling experiences within its local context.