Marathon Franja was first organized on the 22nd July 1982 and has since grown to become the biggest Slovenian road cycling event. Organizers back then decided to name it after World War II hidden hospital (now protected as a war monument) which the marathon passes on its way, thus paying tribute to the bravery of medical personnel, taking care of wounded Partisans and allied armed forces. 700 cyclists took part in the first edition of the race and most of them on non-racing bicycles. At that time, not even an entire route was paved- there was a 7 km long non-paved part (from the top of Kladje to Sovodenj) that caused a lot of punctures.

From start, through the city of Ljubljana until Brezovica, the marathon is ridden in a controlled, closed fashion. In Brezovica (Prigo) there is a fly start (at the beginning of the slope), after the first car passes over the timing carpet. During the ride, roads will be closed for all participants who are not more than 60 minutes behind the leading group. At the end of the last group, there will be a vehicle of the organizer, accompanied by a police car and will signal to the participants that they are more than 60 minutes behind the leading group. Those participants will be considered outside the mobile road block, and will have to respect the traffic regulations strictly and ride on the right side of the road.