31.1.2025

ČEZ Jizerská 50 ONLINE: Route change! Affecting races of 10, 25, 30, and 50 km depending on current snow conditions

The snow situation in the Jizera Mountains is much better than at the same time last year, and the 58th edition of ČEZ Jizerská 50 will take place. In the coming days, temperatures on the race routes will be freezing; however, some areas do not have enough snow for races to be held on standard tracks. Most competitors will thus experience a unique premiere! Which races are affected, and what will the new routes look like?

The current weather forecast promises temperatures below freezing, but no significant snowfall is expected. Therefore, we cannot rely on standard routes and have had to resort to the best possible alternatives. The start and finish of all races will be at the stadium in Bedřichov, with all the comforts this venue provides. The changes do not affect Jizerská 17, ORLEN Sprint, T-Mobile Corporate Relay, and Mini Jizerská Dr. Max children's races. The ČT Jizerská 10, Jizerská 25, and Volkswagen Bedřichovská 30 will be run on altered routes. The final route of Sunday’s ČEZ Jizerská 50 will be announced next week, with two possible course options under consideration.

All changes, including new route maps, can be followed online on a special page:

https://jiz50.cz/en/aktualne

Thursday, February 6

The changes on the first race day will be minimal. While the shorter Jizerská 17 remains unaffected, the longer Volkswagen Bedřichovská 30 has been slightly modified due to a problematic section between Točna and Krásná Máří. The final route will be approximately 25.5 km long, leading from the stadium to Nová Louka, then turning right at Blatný rybník and continuing along the Josefodolská přehrada to Kristiánov. From there, it follows the Magenta Trail to Točna and Gregorův kříž, where competitors turn right and circle the entire Černá Nisa Reservoir before returning to the finish via the Vládní cesta.

Friday, February 7

The program will proceed as planned without changes.

Saturday, February 8

The first weekend program starts with Jizerská 25, which will also be adjusted due to the section near Krásná Máří. The 22.5 km route follows the same path as the 30 km race, except that at Blatný rybník, it turns left directly towards Kristiánov and then continues to Točna. ČT Jizerská 10 will turn left at Nová Louka by Šámalova Chata, passing Gregorův kříž around the Černá Nisa Reservoir and returning near Melzerův pomník via the Vládní cesta. The new 11.7 km route with an elevation gain of just over 200 meters is ideal for beginner skiers, allowing them to explore previously undiscovered parts of the area.

Sunday, February 9

We still believe that with a bit of luck and a lot of effort, it will be possible to hold the ČEZ Jizerská 50 on almost the standard course (excluding Olivetská Hora). The key section is the area around Krásná Máří (Točna - Tetřeví Bouda), which we will strive to restore for the race. Without this route, it would be impossible to return safely from Rozmezí to the finish, as a steep climb or descent could cause collisions, and safety is our top priority. Everything will depend on snowfall, without which the standard course will not be possible. We are prepared for this scenario with a safe alternative race route.

The shortened variant has been carefully chosen to be as long as possible while also ensuring an enjoyable profile for all participants. From the stadium, it leads to Nová Louka, then turns right at Blatný rybník towards the Josefodolská Přehrada, crossing Hluboký Potok to Chata Věčného Mlčení, descending from above to Kristiánov. It then continues to Točna, then via Hřebínek to Gregorův Kříž, where competitors turn right to circle the entire Černá Nisa Reservoir. The starting field then returns via Melzerův pomník and Vládní cesta to the finish. This alternative route is 30 km long with an elevation gain of about 500 meters and is the best possible option given the current snow conditions in the Jizera Mountains.

The elite race would be completely separate from the public race, creating two independent competitions. The elite race would start early in the morning and extend to the eastern part of the Jizerská Magistrála, eliminating collision risks. The public race would begin immediately after the elite race within a designated time limit, allowing most participants to sleep in, with transportation adjusted accordingly! The awards ceremony would also be more attractive, held twice: once for the elite winners and once for the public race winners.

The final decision will be announced next week based on the latest snow conditions.

The entire organizational team of Jizerská 50 is doing everything possible to ensure that all registered participants fully enjoy the 58th ČEZ Jizerská 50 and will continue to provide regular updates on the situation.