The Sudety MTB Challenge is the oldest mountain bike stage race in Central Europe, gathering riders from all over the world. It’s now a classic 7-stage event held in the Sudety mountains, offering unique trails unlike those you would ride in a tamed bike park.
There are three distances. CLASSIC for the seasoned mountain bikers: a prologue and six stages, 434 km of racing and 13200 m of climbing. For the less experienced riders and the newbies there are two shortened options – HALF: 3 days of racing (prologue and 2 stages) on full distance (150 km and 4700 m of elevation) and QUARTER: prologue and 2 shorter stages (100 km and 3300 m of elevation).
Grzegorz Golonko, the race organiser and director says: “In the eleventh edition of the Sudety MTB Challenge we are going back to our well-proven formula: the start of the first and the finish line of the last stage will be held in the same place – Stronie Śląskie. By doing this we are minimalising the post-race logistical problems. We are also refreshing the trails – adding new sections and getting back to the ones that we used to ride ten years ago. Adrenaline rush – guaranteed!”
For any travelling mountain biker, finishing where you start is a much better option. But that’s not to say the Sudety MTB Challenge won’t take you on a journey.
In 2014, I raced with Imogen Smith in the mixed category. You can read our reports here:
Prologue | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Stage 5
The race will kick-off with a prologue from Sienna to Stronie Śląskie – the latter will host the participants three times: during the prologue and 2 stages. The CLASSIC distance, after leaving the Śnieżnik Massif on Day 3, will follow a point-to-point rule, so that the contenders will be able to experience the broad spectrum of Sudety mountains, riding through towns like Bardo, Walim, Duszniki Zdrój and Stołowe Mountains National Park.
The 10th jubilee edition of the race gathered contestants from 25 countries and 5 continents. We’ve got the video online here.
The Stages
Prologue:
15.1km, 455m
Climbing straight from the gun, the Prologue takes you up, up and up on a good quality climb, before traversing the back of the mountain on trails that could well be holding water. Further climbing takes you to the top via some technical singletrack climbs through the forest, and a roaring downhill through steep chutes, eroded forest trails and fast forest roads.
Stage 1: Tour de Stronie Slaskie
67.5km 2183m
Climbing out of town on the descent of the Prologue, the race takes in a number of technical trails, including one descent that no one mastered in 2014. There are numerous climbs, and many kilometres of climbing – the race finishes again on the technical descent from the previous day.
Stage 2: Vuelta a Stronie Slaskie
68km 2082m
After a road and then gravel climb to wake your legs up, you approach Śnieżnik Pass and then another long climb in Śnieżnicki Landscape Park. The trails become quite demanding, with an unforgettable singletrack descent, before returning to some forest roads to the finish.
Stage 3: Stronie Slaskie- Bardo
69.8km 2196m
Stage 3 – about the time your legs will be aching. The first climbs aren’t too hard, and once you’re up to speed you’ll find yourself hitting a steep singletrack climb that leads into a steeper singletrack descent. And then… A narrow path, 20 kilometres long. 20 kilometres of climbs and descents. Then to Borówkowa Mountain. This technical, long uphill will certainly be felt. But at the end the prize awaits – more than 2 kmof technical descent. It’s all smooth sailing until the final climb to the monument above Bardo, and a descent where you’ll see Jesus, or a shrine to him, more than once. Hope for a hot day as the showers in Bardo are cold. Don’t miss the pizzeria just over the bridge in town – they do a great lunch.
Stage 4: Bardo – Gluszyca
51.6km 1812m
False flat – or anything but! This stage is almost uphill the whole way. The start is quite gentle, and very fast once you’re through the old town of Bardo. But this stage is not easy. It involves 40km of pure concentration, especially on the historic aqueduct, the biggest in this part of Europe. The fortified Prussian fortress is a real highlight, once you have climbed out of the depths below the aqueduct. You also cross the and the highest point of the stage, The Great Owl (1015 m above sea level). The descent is not favourable after rain. In 2014 we raced up a river and down an erosion gully. This is a spectacular stage, but don’t underestimate it.
Stage 5: Gluszyca – Duszniki Zdroj
82.8km 2287m
Often the longest stage takes it a bit easier with the terrain at a stage race. Not here. The stage begins with the long uphill to the The Suche Mountains and ruins of a castle from 13th century, which at the same time is the highest one in Poland. After crossing the non-existent border with The Czech Republic you will be able to take another breath before entering The National Park, which will bleed you dry. Thankfully, you do finish at a health resort.
Stage 6: Duszniki Zdroj – Stronie Slaskie
80.4km 2134m
With an easy climb to start, and a long flat section to pick up some speed, you’ll need to really attack the final two climbs to get to the finish and earn your finisher t-shirt. If you can arrive back at Stronie Slaskie and feel like you haven’t just done one of the best mountain bike stage races in the world – we’d like to hear about it.
Full event details are available via our calendar.