The Jizerská padesátka is a 50 kilometres long cross-country ski race which is held every year in the

Jizera Mountains Jizera Mountains (), or Izera Mountains (; ), are part of the Western Sudetes on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland. The range got its name from the Jizera (river), Jizera River, which rises at the southern base of the Smrk (Jizera), ...

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

. It debuted in 1968 became part of Worldloppet in the year 2000.

History

Source: The beginning of the race goes back to the year 1968, when a group of mountain climbers of TJ Lokomotiva came with an idea of undertaking a race in the

. They became the forerunners of what is nowadays known as the ‘Jizerská 50’. The first race was held on 20 January 1968. There were 52 competitors who participated in the race from Bedřichov to Kořenov and back. The winner was Josef Driml of TJ Lokomotiva

Liberec Liberec (; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 108,000 inhabitants, making it the fifth largest city in the country. It lies on the Lusatian Neisse River, in a basin surrounded by mountains. The city centre is well preserved and is pr ...

. In 1970 the members of the Peru expedition participated in this race. Unfortunately, they were all buried by an avalanche under

Huascarán Huascarán (), ( Quechua: Waskaran), Nevado Huascarán or Mataraju is a mountain located in Yungay Province, Department of Ancash, Peru. It is situated in the Cordillera Blanca range of the western Andes. The southern summit of Huascarán (Huasc ...

four months later. The fourth year of the race and all next years were therefore held in the memory of these brave men who died in Peru on 31 May 1970 during an infamous expedition. The race became very popular and in 1978 nearly 8,000 competitors participated in the race. In past few years the track was changed, which was a lucky step in order to increase popularity and the value of the race. The Jizerská 50 is considered to be a very well organized race. In 1999 it was included in the

Worldloppet Ski Federation The Worldloppet Ski Federation is an international federation of long distance cross-country skiing events whose aim is to promote cross-country skiing through ski races. The federation was founded on 10 June 1978 in Uppsala, Sweden. Locations M ...

and in 2003 it was for the first time held as a part of FIS Marathon Cup.

Track

The race starts at the Bedřichov stadium and goes through Nová Louka, Kristiánov, Rozmezí Knajpa, Kasárenská road (along the Jizera river), Hraniční road, Vlašský hřeben, Bunkr, Jizerká, Pyramida, Bunkr, Promenadní road, Smědava, Knajpa, Na Čihadle, Štolpišská road, Krásná Máří, Hřebínek, Bílá Kuchyně, Olivetská hora, Vladní, U Buku and finishes again at Bedřichov stadium.

Doping Tests

The first six men and six women to finish the race are subject to testing for the proscribed performance-enhancing substances. The others are tested only in the event of clear suspicion.

Results

The result calculations are performed by a provider of modern technology for measuring the individual times of all participants. Every competitor is provided with a measurement chip before the start of the race. Participants are required to affix the chip to their left ankle in order to detect their precise time. If the race is completed without the measurement chip, the participant is disqualified.

Provision of the race

The race is held by the Race Ski Club Jizerská padesátka. The Race Ski Klub Jizerská padesátka members are responsible for the entire organisation of the race. The participants of the race can refresh themselves at 6 refreshment stations along the track. Medical care is provided by the mountain rescue service of the Jizera Mountain region.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jizerska Padesatka Cross-country skiing competitions Cross-country skiing competitions in the Czech Republic January in sports Recurring sporting events established in 1968 1968 establishments in Czechoslovakia Ski marathons