I don’t believe in superlatives like “the most” when it comes to describing a product/service/event because everything is relative… but leaving philosophers to deal with philosophy, I declare that indeed Geiger Maraton was the toughest marathon in Romania, which I attended, considering the length, total climb, soil hardness and the fact that 98% was rideable. The descent parts were steep and rocky, with deep ruts made by the motorbikes .
The marathon track (which you can see below on the map), was 97 km long with 3300 m total climb, according to the GPS that I used in the race, the longest but also the most difficult marathon which I attended in 2011.
The marathon track (which you can see below on the map), was 97 km long with 3300 m total climb, according to the GPS that I used in the race, the longest but also the most difficult marathon which I attended in 2011.
This year, with the exception of Medieval Marathon, I didn’t participated at marathons longest than 65-70 km so that the main rivals in this race were the track and on the other hand myself. The track was hard and had a long distance, so I expected to finnish the race in about 6-7 hours. I had previous racing experience when my ‘batteries’ kept me only 3 hours. Thus the main objective was to finish, whatever the outcome, without hunting down on those in front of me (something almost impossible in a race…). Therefore I proposed to supply me well, to eat regularly and hydrate myself during the race. There were announced only four Feed Zones (which seem a little less for so many hours of riding) I decided to get my 2 L camelback , some bars, gels, a banana and an empty bottle that I filled with isotonic drink at the Feed Zones.
The race started at around 9:30, at the center of Sibiu, near the stadium and on the way out of town under police escort and the referees car. So the first 8-10 km were on the road , we were riding slowly at about 20 km/h which made it clutter behind the official car. When the technical start was given, there were about 40-50 riders in front of me, an absolutely bad entry in the forest. I had to accelerate sometimes and ride at a sustained pace to earn positions. Soon I got over the first climb, followed by a descent to Cisnadioara from where started a climbing part through the forest, on the tourist trail where a few years ago the storm caught us at Cisnadie Marathon (race that was canceled). It’s a long path that goes easy on the level curve, going from side to side of the valley until it comes out in alpine. There followed a brief portion of push-bike and then climbing to the top of Magura where I got near Maus, Ciocan, Tudor and another few riders. There followed a short rocky descent part from Magura, where my teammate Tudor took advance in front of me, and then followed some short climbing on narrow trails with beautiful landscapes. After that, at km 35 to 40 followed a steep descent to the river Sadului, on technical winding path, but with more options for shortening, the last part was very steep with deep ruts and boulders.
This last part of the descent I went along my bike because it seemed impossible to come down at first sight. My teammate Tudor took advance and I haven’t seen him, I had left behind Ciocan and Maus, and I was seeing Ujfalvi Attila in front of me. At the second Feed Zone located on an a speed area, slightly downhill, I stopped for isotonic and I continued alone on the false flat road about 5 km, during which I was riding quite easy to feed me before the longest climbing part (approximately 17 km) to Paltinis, to Oncesti: 1700 m (higher than Paltinis). It was the most difficult part for me, was over 3 hours of riding and I was feeling that my power is off, yet I had full belly. Ciocan overtook me at the begining
of climbing, on a forest road and together we reached Attila but gradually Ciocan got far from us. I continued at my pace that would take me to the top because there was the point of maximum altitude and from there until the arrival were more downhill parts then climbings. On the climb I had a push-bike zone through a creek that cooled down my legs, where I saw Levente which lost the was at an intersection (he didn’t saw the marks).
of climbing, on a forest road and together we reached Attila but gradually Ciocan got far from us. I continued at my pace that would take me to the top because there was the point of maximum altitude and from there until the arrival were more downhill parts then climbings. On the climb I had a push-bike zone through a creek that cooled down my legs, where I saw Levente which lost the was at an intersection (he didn’t saw the marks).Soon I overtook Andrei, who was tired and stopped to admire the landscape. From Paltinis to Oncesti it was harder than I thought. I was at the limit of exhaustion and I have not reached other riders, as I was hoping. At the Oncesti peak was also the third Feed Zone where I got water, isotonic an energizing bar. Soon began a rough descent requiring power of concentration after the effort I have done on the climbing.
After 80 km I have reached Levente on a steep descent, where he was swearing while walking among his bike and promising not coming here any more, while I was enjoying every turn. I expected him to keep pace with me on the way to Rasinari, because he is better than me on speed zones but he didn’t. The road was a false flat, slightly up, we went 3 km after we passed the creek and had a push-bike zone where I saw Ciocan, towards the fourth Feed Zone. From here until the Finnish line were 15 km left, slopes became more straight but I still enjoyed another technical descent but much shorter than the rest of the descents, where I managed to get ahead of Ciocan. There followed a speed zone through Dumbrava forest and then trails on Sub Arini Park until to arrival. I like that you can directly reach the center of Sibiu’s on this trails
After 80 km I have reached Levente on a steep descent, where he was swearing while walking among his bike and promising not coming here any more, while I was enjoying every turn. I expected him to keep pace with me on the way to Rasinari, because he is better than me on speed zones but he didn’t. The road was a false flat, slightly up, we went 3 km after we passed the creek and had a push-bike zone where I saw Ciocan, towards the fourth Feed Zone. From here until the Finnish line were 15 km left, slopes became more straight but I still enjoyed another technical descent but much shorter than the rest of the descents, where I managed to get ahead of Ciocan. There followed a speed zone through Dumbrava forest and then trails on Sub Arini Park until to arrival. I like that you can directly reach the center of Sibiu’s on this trails
I finnished the race in 6 hours and 32 minutes, on the 7th place overall, on the 5th place in my age range, 19-29 years. My teammate Tudor was much better than me, finnishing in 6 hours and 21 minutes, on the 4th place overall and on the 2nd place in his age range. Nicu got on the 13th place overall, on the 5th place in his category of 30-39 years, in 7 hours and 13 minutes.
Sergiu got the 3rd place in Junior category and on the 14th place overall, at Semimarathon.
The winner of the marathon was Tudor Oprea, who finnished in 5 hours and 54 minutes, followed by Logigan Lucian who did it in 5 hours and 56 minutes, and Rosioru Daniel in 6 hours and 6 minutes.
It was a tough mountainbike marathon, where the road cyclists had less advantage than at other marathons. The only thing I dislike is that there were no photographers on the spectacular and toughest zones. The next weekend I would like to attend
Trasilvania GeoQuest and on the 4th of September I will attend the 4th edition of Clujul Pedaleaza series, until then I will go to EuroBike.
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