BLACK Route (76 KM)

The start/finish area is at Păltiniș Arena.

The competition categories for this route are:

Elite Men
Amateur Men 19-29 years
Amateur Men 30-39 years
Amateur Men > 40 years
Women open > 19 years

Program

Saturday 29 JUNE 2024

13:30 – 16:30 Number collection

Sunday, JUNE 30, 2024
08:00 – 09:00 Numbers pickup

10:10 – Start
16:30 – Awards ceremony

 

Pick-up of starter kits

The start kits will be picked up on Saturday between 13:30 and 16:30 or on Sunday between 8 and 9 from the Race office (near the start/finish area).

We recommend that you take the starter kits on Saturday within the designated range. If there will be too many participants who will pick up the kits on Sunday morning you may miss the start!!!

Start procedures

The competitors will occupy the box reserved for the BLACK route at the start. The arrangement at the start will be done as follows:

  • Elite Competitors
  • The other competitors participating in the National XCM Championship
  • The rest of the competitors from the 77 km route

 

Bookmarks

Arrows (the right direction) and black X-numbers (wrong direction) on a yellow background

Shimano tape, orange flags, blue spray

On the trail segments that follow clear roads/trails, the markings are somewhat rarer. In the intersections you will find more frequent markings.

In areas where the BLACK route separates from RED or BLUE, you will follow the arrow indicator on a black background.

Power points

1 hydration point: KM 11
5 refuelling points: KM 19, KM 31, KM 47, KM 59, KM 71

Food and drinks will be prepared on the tables and each competitor is served alone. People at the points of supply are not obliged to fill your cans with water or give each of you the glasses of drink. However, as much as possible they will help you with these things. Be patient and behave civilized with both volunteers and other competitors.

You have the possibility to send cans to the power points 1/3 and 4/5. The bottles must arrive at the Race office by 8:15 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Route

Time limits

12:00 KM 19 (P.A. 1) – the competitors who do not fall will be directed to the RED route and will enter the competition ranking on the red route.

16:00 KM 59 (P.A. 4) – competitors who do not fit in will have their race number taken away (it can be retrieved from the Race office later) and will be directed to the finish.

Open Women’s Trail

The route for the Women’s Open category will not cover the section between km 59 and 71, thus having a total length of 66km. The time limit from km 59 does not apply.

Brief description of the route

After crossing the road follows a descent on a forest road. Part of it, about km 4 to 5 of the route, must be approached carefully as it has deep traces of wheels on both sides.

The end of the first descent is on a path that becomes steeper and steeper. Descend with increased attention after seeing the sign (about km 7 of the route).

Immediately after the hydration point (km 11) the BLACK route together with the RED route separates to the right from the BLUE route. It is the entrance from the road on a path, a steep entrance that you have to approach carefully.

The route continues on the tourist trail for 1 km and immediately after crossing a stream turn left on a climb that we will do 2 times. We climb the path for about 1 km then we turn right and the climb continues for another 6 km on a forest road and path to Bătrâna Peak (1,911m). On this segment there is only a short descent on the single trail at km 15.5 (after passing through Poiana Găujoara). After the alpine exit, find the first filling point, km 18.5. At the feeding point you have to go ahead, following the wide path slightly downhill. ATTENTION, the RED route turns right and goes uphill! Follow the arrow on a black background, FORWARD.

It descends easily and then climbs steeply to the rozdeşti peak. From here to near the Cânaia Refuge, the trail is on a slight descent on a rocky road.

It follows probably the steepest climb up to 2,000 meters altitude in Cânaia Saddle.

The descent to the Cindrel Refuge has about 2 km and is the toughest in the route, with steep areas, with many rocks, with eroded areas where it is important to choose the best route and control the speed well. Continue the technical descent but somewhat more accessible for another 2 km at the end of which you can find the power point 2.

It follows 6 km of forest road on the descent – there is little chance that you will meet cars but still descend carefully as the road is not completely closed.

The longest climb on the route, about 10 km, takes us back to Șaua Bătrâna, feeding point 3 (same as 1) and then to Bătrâna Peak.

INCREASED ATTENTION on the next descent, the one on the vf. The old woman!!

At kilometer 51 we enter once again on the uphill path made at kilometer 12. This time at the end of it we turn left and climb on the forest road to the peak. Oncești (relay). Next comes the emblematic descent from the Relay, beautiful and very technical, to the 2nd feeding point located at kilometer 59. Here you will go forward, unlike the RED route which turns left. Again make sure to follow the arrows on a black background, NEXT!! The Women’s Open category turns left at this point, on the red route.

INCREASED ATTENTION ON THE DESCENT THAT FOLLOWS, about 4 km. It’s a very beautiful, technical descent. You’ll like it, but approach it carefully as you’ll get there after many hours of effort.

The route then climbs 7 km on the forest road to the point of supply 5 (common with 4).

It follows 4 km of almost flat forest road towards the end of which you can enter the last 5km of the route. The last part: short and steep descent, a technical sigletrail parallel to the road, the climb behind the Platos Arena and the descent on the Flow Trail that you did at the start.

Special Award

Our sponsor ADICONS offers a special prize of 500 lei to the fastest climbers. The special climbing segment is at kilometer 17 and is marked with distinctive signs (UPHILL SEGMENT) at the beginning and at the end. The end is just before the power point. The segment has 1.65km, a level difference of 193m and is called on Strava “TRIADA MTB – OLD SPECIAL UPHILL”. To enter the ranking for this special prize you must upload your tour on Strava until the start time of the award.

Timing, results and ranking

Electronic timing with disposable chip. The results will be available online.

Accidents

In case of an accident, notify the organizer as soon as possible. By phone (if you have) to the emergency number on the bib number, or to the first referee. By phone, try to communicate the location as accurately as possible.