Sudety MTB Challenge

This is our second participation in the Sudety MTB Challenge. Last Year we finished on a 3rd spot after a hard battle with another Belgian mixed team. But we succeeded! 

For this season we wanted to do better, but not knowing excatly who our opponents would be it was rather hard to make up what would be possible. 

One thing we knew for sure, the Russian team that finished second last year would be there too. And they are strong! 

We also had a new team member! Griet, my colleague from work who would be driving the camper and help us out with support before and after the race. 

Griet ready for a 'surprise me' bike ride 🚴

Our race numbers for the upcoming week!

We arrived on saturday in Stronie Slaskie, another start place than last year. After chilling a little bit and waiting for Griet who decided to do a little 'surprise me' bike ride, we went for a Prologue recon. Before we arrived at the start we had to conquer a climb of 7K, so we dicided to just check out the starting k's.

DAY 1: PROLOOG

Instead of warming up on the rollers we climed for 7K to the start line. It was hot, like all over Europe this summer. Griet accompanied us with her electric bike, so she gave me a little push to make sure I wouldn't be tired before starting the prologue. 

Up - down, Up and long Down. The tactical plan was to nog push it too hard. I can say we did not stick long to thaplan. We pushed it as hard as possible. And made it to the finish in little over an hour. Not 2bad, we passed a few male teams. No mixed ones, because we were the first ones at the start. 

@ 18:00 the first price ceremony started and we finised 2nd!!     

DAY 2: STAGE 1 Stronie Slaskie - Stronie Slaskie

We start each race at 10 AM, so breakfast and getting ready are all on a reasonable hour. Around 7 AM we wake up, have breakfast and than the routine starts. For Griet it is all the first time, but she managad it for a 100%. 

We planned to ride at least 4 hours. The stages are not too long, and the altitude meters are what we are trained for. The terrain is difficult because of the roots and stones which make it a bit slower. 

At the start line, ready to race...

For the first time this season I have some flats, but apparently we were not the only team. So did many other riders. We could keep our second place safe, but coming closer to the first team was impossible. 

First flat of the season and not he last one eighter 😡

After arriving back at the camper we also found out that my rear rim is bumbed. Peter could fix it so I could still ride with it the next days. 

DAY 3: STAGE 2 Stronie Slaskie - Bardo

Griet's first working day. Beside getting everything ready for the race that day we also had to get the camper ready to move. Bardo is only 40K form our start, so normally Griet had more than enough time to get the camper to the finish of this stage.

Very lucky we are with the super dry weather. It makes the trails dusty and very rideable. Last year we had some rainydays, so trails became slippery and impossible to ride. This year we barely need to hike.

Where other riders are hiking because of the steep and more technical aspect of the terrain we manage to ride almost everywhere. Thanks to SCHWALBE for the rubber.

Waiting for the podium ceremony: another 2nd place 🙌

DAY 4: STAGE 3 Bardo - Gluszyca

We start at the finish of the day before. We are able to ride a solid almost 60K ride. Today is a mix of fast rolling terrain with technical parts, but everything is going good and it's fun to ride this way. The Russian team is out of our reach, but we don't have to fear our second position.  

@ startline in Bardo! 

New camping spot in Gluszyca 🚐

  

DAY 5: STAGE 4 Gluszyca Ultra

This became a hell of a ride. My legs were not feeling great at the start, Peters legs on the other hand became beter each day. So for me this became a suffering stage. Trying to make up my slow climbing in the downhill was not the smartest idea. I missed a turn and slipped down next to a tree. Peter helped me out, but during this proces another rider crashed into his bike.

The cable conductor of he's derailleur broke off, so shifting became inpossible. While I diceded to try to find the rider who did this Peter had to run. 

When I arrived at the first feedstation the rider I was trying to find was long gone. But in the downhill right before the foodstatioon a bad crash happened to anotherr ider. He was ready for the ammbulance, but his bike seemed rather ok. The guy offered his bike, so Peter could try to repair his bike. One hour later Peter arrived running next to his bike. 

We dismounted the derailleur of the crashed rider and mounted it on Peters bike. After a lot of fixing we managed to proceed the race, but the trouble wasn't over yet. 

At the end of the stage we also suffered a flat and had to run some more, arriving almost last I think we lost about an hour and a half. But we still had a second place overall. 

After the stage the problem solving started, but after a long day we had 2 riding bikes and didn't have to abandon the race.   

Prepping for the last race day! 

DAY 6: STAGE 5 Gluszyca - Gluszyca

We started off great at the first fast climb, but in the following downhill I had more technical problems. Chainsuck at the back. Quick fix again. Next steep downhill: CRASH with a lot of scratches and bruises, and a derailleur that was disabled. 😝

From here on the trouble wasn't over yet. My derailleurhanger was not straight anymore so shifting on my smallest gear became tricky. At the second foodstation we could get some technical support and the mechanice fixed the issue so I could continue the stage.

I had to be extremely careful but we got back to our second position and could keep a steady pace. The last part of the race we remembered from two weeks earlier in the MTB Trilogy. A long climb with some technical parts at the end. Followed by a tricky and dangerous downhill, we took no risks.

We managed to stay in front of the other teams and keep our second spot safe.

As last year, we had a hard time on the bike, but due to hot summer weather all week, we were mostly smiling during this edition.

We did better then last year, so mission acomplished.

Season is not over yet, but after this one we decided not to attend the ROTHAUS Bike Giro next week, but to take a week of extra training (on altitude this time) and head for the Swiss Alps. This will hopefully extend our form and so a better preparation for the World Championships XCM in Italy in September.

This week still the MOUNTAIN BIKE VAN VLAANDEREN on the program. The TOUR OF FLANDERS for MTB's with the epic cobblestones, Paterberg, Koppenberg, Kluisberg, ...

Keeping you informed soon.

Sara (and Peter)