It may sound incredible, but there is only one week to go until the start of the 6th edition of the Beskidy stage race. This adventure kicked off for the first time back than in 2007, but every year following different landscapes, tracks as well as details take a huge influence on the level of difficulty. Three of the aspects have never been changed, though – the scene (the Beskidy Mountains at the border of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic), the participants (bikers) and the “dramatist” (the weather).
The level of fitness of the riders fluctuates big time, sometimes better, sometimes not so well prepared and struggling which leads, at times, to abandonments. The same is true to the variability of nationalities – and even though the earlier years have been rather a national affair, it turned into an international spectacle. Currently it’s well-known all over the world.
The level and the popularity of the race kept more and more foreign participants signing up, that represents 6 continents and plenty of countries. No wonder that Beskidy MTB Trophy is on par with the most famous and epic stage races out there – just to name a few: ABSA Cape Epic, Andalucia Bike Race or Craftbike Transalp This year the start list consists of bikers from 19 different countries such as Australia, South Africa, Russia or Nepal.
That’s right – Ajay Pandit Chhetri put the Beskidy Mountains on his must-do list, having some famous epics in Nepal to his credentials. Next to him at the start line we’ll see a very experienced world stage racer the Austrian Axel Strauss , and German Lukas Kubis – the winner of the most challenging one day marathon, the Salzkammergut Trophy caught by an unseasonable snowy weather, and that’s in the middle of summer 2009. The potential winner might be Bas Peters from Holland as well, who scored 13 of the Olympics in Athens. The defending champion as far as Poland is going to be the leader of last year, the Polish Bartek Janowski as well as Alex Dorozala, who finally decided to make Beskidy his priority race.
Speaking of the Nepalese cyclist – the Beskidy range doesn’t even feature mountains over 2000m high, mind you, as far as difficulty goes, there is a general consensus among participants that this altitude is a match for the great heights in Nepal. What’s more, cumulative fatigue is a huge factor too. In every new edition there are certain add-ons of new challenges, toughness and demanding bike tracks. There is good news, though, Beskidy Mts features a healthy mixture of tough and less demanding stages. Whereby the ultimate stage is definitely the most exhausting.
This year’s edition features 10 500 m of elevation as well as 292 km of distance. This provokes the impression that the Beskidy just gets year by year harder and harder. For sure, it won’t be a walk in the park until the finish line of the last stage is crossed. Already the 1st stage boasts 2000 m of elevation with the high point at 700m on top of the Skrzyczne peak. And that’s just the beginning, the subsequent stages call for even tougher topographic characteristics.
This year we are back to our well known Czech stage ascent Javorovy. Because of the high climb, this stage is going to be very arduous mostly due to steep uphills, which is characteristic for the Czech Beskidy Mountains – and it will be tackled on rather ride-able tracks. The following downhill, on the other hand, requires the greatest downhill skills. That part is very much respected due to the famous crash of Martin Horak back than in 2009. That year this proved to be crucial. All in all it’s an Alpine-like stage with some noteworthy uphills.
MTB Trophy wouldn’t to live up to its status if there wasn’t a surprise in the pipeline with a nice new track. This year the 3rd stage bears the moniker; King Stage. It covers uncharted territories, attractive regions of the Zywiecki Beskid – the Rysianka and Lipowska, which are a divine landscape.
Both the nature of the paths and the unbelievable views to both the Fatra, and Tatras ranges are quite rare. That’s eye candy, though all the more challenging for the legs
Certainly, Velka Raca, nicknamed the ‘cold shower’ after its famous thunderstorm, evokes a big deal of respect and fear. All those have experienced that year will recall the disorder this Mountain had caused. Other than that the next queen, the Worka Raczańskiego, is just around the corner which presents its untouched trails along the borders. This traverse with a distance of 17 km guarantees an unprecedented vista and lasting moments of the Beskidy countryside.
After these breathtaking moments, however, a skill-demanding 11km track ensues, rife with roots, switchbacks and surprising curves along the on picturesque single track, called Przegibek. Following this downhill there is the finish line to be seen, and one must give his/her best to cross the line next to the notoriously known Istebna Ochodzita.
There is another facet of this year’s edition, though. Every year, even the toughest fighters surrender at one point. So to make it more doable and exciting, this year, all participants who cross the finish line by June 10th, goes down to the annals as “finisher”. Now, do you feel to be up to the task?
Ready for the rumble? Get prepared and psych up yourself by writing your own script of the 2012 edition of the race that kicks off this Thursday at 12.00. Well, Beskidy is ready and is all set to kick ass.
FOUR DAYS TO GO!!!