25.1.2021

Elite skiers will race at Jizerská 50, we are now trying to arrange a permission for the race for amateur skiers

Five thousand registered skiing enthusiasts who regularly set out on the course of ČEZ Jizerská 50, a part of the Worldloppet series, are waiting for the decision of the Czech Ministry of Health to see if they can take part in the race this year. There is enough snow this year. The 54th edition of the race is endangered by the government restrictions related to COVID-19.

The organizers already have one piece of good news from the Ministry. If specific conditions are met, the race for professional skiers as part of the international Visma Ski Classics series can take place. This means that ČEZ Jizerská 50 fans will have the chance to watch the best long-distance skiers on their TV screens.

Elite skiers from Scandinavia, Italy, Russia, Germany, but also from the Czech Republic will compete in the Friday Benzina Sprint and the Sunday ČEZ Jizerská 50 while Czech TV channel ČT Sport will broadcast the events live during the weekend of 12th to 14th February. Thousands of other participants, who see Jizerská 50 as part of their sports calendar, still have to wait.

The organizers had to make a really hard decision at the end of last year when they closed registrations earlier than originally intended. Instead of traditional 8 thousand registrations, the numbers stopped at 5 thousand. This decision was based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Health so that there was a greater chance that with this number the race could take place. And in what format? The most likely scenario is a system of individual starts where each participant reserves their specific starting time online for one of the days between 5th and 13th February.

There would be a reserved parking space waiting for them in Bedřichov (after prior reservation) and a starting time slot for a skiing course of the original length. There would be a timer, a refreshment stop observing the measures, and medals waiting in the finish. The access to the Jizerská cross-country trail for other visitors would be limited so that all the current government restrictions and hygienic measures could be observed. Participants of all the 54th ČEZ Jizerská 50 races would be given priority. In the end, the representatives of the Ministry will decide if this really is how it will be. The organizers of Jizerská 50 are having intensive negotiations with them at the moment.

The decision should be reached in a matter of days.