“Stage Race” is not a very widespread competition format in Romania. Probably this is due to the much greater effort required to organize such a contest, and it is certainly not easy. We introduced this format last year into the AVRIG MTB Triad program and we were very close to giving it up this year. But the exhortations of several competitors have made us change our minds and the staged competition will be on schedule in 2021 even if reduced to 3 days.
We start on Friday afternoon with an individual time trial in length of 10 km with a level difference of 350 meters. The first start will be given at 16:00 from the courtyard of the factory where the OPT cycling equipment is produced, in Mârșa. The participants of the Stage Race included in the starting kit a cycling T-shirt produced in this very factory. The arrival will be up in the Avrig Valley from where the competitors will return to Avrig on asphalt (approx. 9km).
Stage 2 has 55 kilometers and a level difference of about 1,545 meters. A difficult stage even if the distance seems short, with the winning time in 2020 of 2 hours 43 minutes. The areas most “loved” by the competitors will be this year the finals of the 2 climbs where most of them will have to push / carry the bike for about 15 minutes.
The 3rd round will take place on the 70-kilometer route, the same one used for the one-day competition. The time limit of 3 hours at the 38th kilometer will also be maintained for the Stage Race. Those who do not fit in time will arrive on arrival on the route of 45 and will be ranked in the order of arrival, after the last competitor who finishes the complete route.
The end of stages 2 and 3 will include a tour on the circuit arranged in the garden of the Brukenthal Palace and the center of Avrig.
The competition categories at stage race are Elite Male, Amateur Male 19-29 years old, Amateur Male 30-39 years old, Amateur Male >40 years old and hopefully Open Female >19 years old. The men’s and women’s leaders will wear the URGO blue jersey every day, the same T-shirt being awarded on the final podium to the winners of each competition category.
Schedule Stage Race:
Friday 21 MAY 2021
15:00 – 16:00 Pick-up numbers (XCT start area)
16:00 – Start first competitor – Stage 1 – Time Trial (XCT)
18:30 – Awards Ceremony (Brukenthal Palace)
Saturday 22 MAY
2021 10:00 – Start Stage 2 – Point to Point (XCP)
18:30 – Awards Ceremony
Sunday 23 May 2021
10:30 – Start Stage 3 – Marathon (XCM)
16:00 – Award Ceremony
