BICYCLE STAGES
The bicycle routes will pass through some of the most unique roads: from asphalt to poor dirt trails, some of which can hardly be called roads. Despite this, you will be able to bike even the lowest quality roads of which there are relatively few. Most of the roads have hard surfaces and are easily riden, even in the pouring rain.
Road conditions vary from flat to hilly. The elevation change is up to 35 meters.
On the route maps the roads will be marked with seven signs: asphalt, wide gravel roads, narrow gravel roads, dirt roads (no maintenance), trails, paths, and seasonal or overgrown roads/paths which are marked in green. The color indicates that these roads are impassable by bike. In reality the on-the-ground travel speed will not always correspond with the road classification. Some of the dirt roads allow for faster and easier travel than a few of the wide gravel roads which are often riddled with potholes.
The gravel may puncture tires. In several places along the roads you will pass landfills where the risk of tire puncture is especially high. On one stage in particular, the stage of “underground travel”, located in the abandoned military field, you will find a lot of leftover debris on the ground. The only guaranteed way to avoid tire puncture is to dismount your bike and carry it over the worst sections.
Some of the CPs are located far from the roads so participants will have to leave their bikes unattended. In cases like this, the use of a bike lock will be helpful in alleviating worries about the safety of your bike.
On one of the routes the race participants will have to cross a river by Tyrolean traverse, or whatever that looks like for your team; for this purpose you will find three ropes strung across the river. In order to efficiently and effortlessly complete this river crossing as part of the race athletes are advised to train in advance.
Don’t forget! Even on these remote forest roads, you will occasionally encounter speeding cars, often driven by irresponsible and reckless drivers. Be careful!
Road conditions vary from flat to hilly. The elevation change is up to 35 meters.
On the route maps the roads will be marked with seven signs: asphalt, wide gravel roads, narrow gravel roads, dirt roads (no maintenance), trails, paths, and seasonal or overgrown roads/paths which are marked in green. The color indicates that these roads are impassable by bike. In reality the on-the-ground travel speed will not always correspond with the road classification. Some of the dirt roads allow for faster and easier travel than a few of the wide gravel roads which are often riddled with potholes.
The gravel may puncture tires. In several places along the roads you will pass landfills where the risk of tire puncture is especially high. On one stage in particular, the stage of “underground travel”, located in the abandoned military field, you will find a lot of leftover debris on the ground. The only guaranteed way to avoid tire puncture is to dismount your bike and carry it over the worst sections.
Some of the CPs are located far from the roads so participants will have to leave their bikes unattended. In cases like this, the use of a bike lock will be helpful in alleviating worries about the safety of your bike.
On one of the routes the race participants will have to cross a river by Tyrolean traverse, or whatever that looks like for your team; for this purpose you will find three ropes strung across the river. In order to efficiently and effortlessly complete this river crossing as part of the race athletes are advised to train in advance.
Don’t forget! Even on these remote forest roads, you will occasionally encounter speeding cars, often driven by irresponsible and reckless drivers. Be careful!
