The Polish towns of Kudowa Zdroj, Kraliky, Stronie Śląskie, Golden Stok, and Walim will act as host cities of the 2012 Sudety stage race, which gets underway on Sunday July 22.
The race has gained remarkable popularity year after year, with an ever-changing course character that ensures riders – and repeat riders – a unique and unforgettable experience.
Last season the race offered up a demanding parcours and unpredictable weather, with climbs that took the event to higher points than any of its previous editions. The consensus of participants was that the race in fact proved to be more difficult than the Beskidy Trophy, one of Poland’s toughest mountain bike challenges.
This year, the race again looks set to challenge racers. The race features 12,000m climbing over a 385km course, but the divine landscape, picturesque routes and finisher t-shirt will reward riders for their struggle.
The Sudety stage race has grown quickly in its reputation
Stand out aspects of the course include the twisty tracks of Borówkowej (third stage), the downhill run from the Wielkiej Sowy (the highest point of the fourth stage), and the so called ‘Red Trail’ from Śnieżnika (second stage).
The race will be run over 6 days, including the prologue in Kudowa, a spa city that may have riders forgetting that they’re here to race and not just on vacation.
The event continues to draw an ever-growing field of riders, with a number of foreign riders set to take up the Sudety challenge. The lion’s share of riders come from Denmark, Czech Republic, Russia, Germany, Belgium, and Baltic States. If history repeats itself, this year’s edition will see word-of-mouth bring even more riders to the 2013 edition.
The 2012 Sudety stage race begins in Kudowa Zdrój on Sunday.