LEG 8: THE ONE TO THE TOP
This leg deserves the title of “Queen stage”, not only because it's the longest trekking stage, but also because it will take teams from sea level all the way to the top. But that's not all; it will guide teams through so many awe-inspiring locations.
The ascent begins at Zavratnica Cove, a place that offers a perfect blend of turquoise sea and grey stones of Velebit, which is home to 129 protected plant species and a shipwreck from World War II. And that's just the beginning, the course will lead teams to the mountain Velebit and the Premužić trail (hint: an old friend). When viewed from above, Velebit resembles a stone giant, a massive boundary between land and sea. It's a mixture of karst dolines, mountain crests, sinkholes, ridges, rounded and sharp peaks, marked by captivating biodiversity and beauty.
However, many will describe the mountain in a way that goes beyond biology, geography, or speleology. They'll say that the mountain has called to them, having that in mind perhaps 58 kilometers isn't long enough.