Last winter, CycloWorld gave away entries for the Sudety MTB Challenge. Prize winner Raymond Godeschalk returned home with a wonderful report.
Photo: not only beautiful paths downhill, but certainly uphill as well.
"This ride is more fun than the Transalp," one of the MTB riders I had gotten to know over the past few days confided to me on the last day. I haven't (yet) ridden the Transalp, but I certainly enjoyed this five-day MTB tour. A tour that definitely deserves some extra attention.
With number 913, I nervously stand at the start on the first day. After struggling with a muscle injury for a year, I'm just recovered and 20 kilos heavier than I’d like to be. What can I expect? Will I make it in time? Will I even be able to finish? From the start, we begin with a moderate climb of a few kilometers on asphalt, which quickly turns into a steep, unpaved ascent. An hour of climbing (at my pace) is rewarded with a long, technical descent full of roots.
Photo: Prize winner Raymond Godeschalk in action.
After the pleasure of the descent, the harsh reality of climbing unfortunately returns, but each time the descent that follows makes all the effort worthwhile. Today it’s over 30 degrees, so I’m in desperate need of the refreshment station halfway. Along with fresh bottles of water, there’s all kinds of fresh fruit ready. Unfortunately, a steep climb follows immediately. Halfway up, I give up and start walking. The 'quick' start and heat are starting to take their toll, but fortunately for my ego, I’m not the only one walking. From here, it’s a struggle on the climbs, but pure enjoyment on the descents. As a treat, we finish today with a kilometer-long singletrack descent.
After yesterday's experience, I decide to take it a bit easier on the climbs. This turns out to be a good choice. I enjoy the beautiful surroundings so much more. I also don’t start the descents exhausted, which allows me to take them at higher speeds. The thrill increases, and the smile on my face grows wider. The day ends once again with a kilometer-long singletrack descent. As an extra bonus, today’s descent features plenty of jumps. During dinner, I reflect on a day filled with beautiful descents over stones, rocks, and singletracks. Reflecting on it, I can't understand how such a stunning ride remains a small-scale event with fewer than 200 participants after 20 years, especially given the price of €385 (early registration) to €500 (last-minute).
Photo: as is often the case in MTB, not everything could be ridden.
Heavy rain is forecast for day 3. Today we start in a nearby village. This could have been communicated more clearly, but luckily I noticed it when I checked the GPX the night before. Unsurprisingly, we start the day with a long climb again. Once at the top, I bravely throw myself into the descent. Unfortunately! A little too much confidence. I veer slightly off course and flip over. Immediately, a few other participants check in to see how I’m doing. Thankfully, all essential limbs are still moving. Not wanting to be outdone, I quickly jump back on my bike and manage to overtake several people on the way down. At the bottom of the tricky descent, there are medics standing by, which is fortunate because I find out I have a bleeding finger that needs treatment.
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I continue on my way, but misfortune never comes alone. On the next climb, the heavens open up, and the ride becomes much more difficult due to the mudslides and slippery surfaces. Even on the previous days, not everything could be ridden, but today I find myself walking more often because of the slick conditions. Biting through the pain over all the bumps, I drag myself through the kilometers. Suddenly, there's a beautifully constructed rock climb and descent, which would normally put a big grin on my face, but now I curse this bumpy road. What a torment—it's clear to me now that I’ve bruised several ribs. Despite the pain, a long singletrack descent at the end brings at least a faint smile to my face. After three days, it's clear that they know how to finish a ride. Exhausted, I end this day.
Photo: a rock garden in the rain, quite a challenge.
On the morning of day 4, I feel refreshed and see the possibility of continuing the ride. Today is a time trial, making the ride nearly 15 kilometers shorter than the other days and without steep climbs, so it should be manageable. My positive mindset is further fueled by the encouragement from other participants I’ve gotten to know here. I deliberately avoid rationally weighing what's sensible and take the necessary painkillers to get through the day. This helps, and I manage to finish the ride without too much pain. Once again, I fully enjoy the beautiful singletracks and descents, and the ride is over faster than I had expected.
Day 5, there’s no turning back. Not a single thought of giving up crosses my mind on this last day. I up the painkillers a bit and get on my bike. On the first climb, I overtake a Polish companion. On day 3, he looked after me for about 15 kilometers after my fall. Today, I can see he’s struggling. We chat briefly. I adjust my pace slightly and tow him along with me. For me, it’s a great mental boost, and once again, I thoroughly enjoy the descents and the views. Today, there’s no singletrack to finish, but instead a wide gravel path where you can build up a lot of speed. I hadn’t missed the thrill of descending fast, but it’s nice to experience it one last time. In the end, I’ve done everything this ride has to offer and everything that makes mountain biking so beautiful for me. Hats off to the organizers!
You can find all the results here.
Photo: a stunning cycling environment.
If you enjoy descents in the Ardennes but find them just a bit too short or wish they were slightly more technical, then you’re going to love the MTB Sudety Challenge in Poland. If the Ardennes make you sweat, this ride might not be for you. From Utrecht, it’s 'only' 950 kilometers (much closer than I expected). I also really liked that everything takes place around Stronie Slaskie, allowing you to sleep in the same location each night.
Photo: rightfully called a branchy path.
Don’t be put off by the term race format. It only means that daily medals are awarded to the top three finishers in each category. Those who are slower can still participate. The start is at 10:00, and you have until 17:00 to finish. There are two distances, about 70 kilometers (Classic) or about 50 kilometers (Adventure) per day. I took part in the Adventure, and with just my basic fitness and 20 extra kilos (as the photos clearly show), I managed to finish on time every day. If you don’t make it one day, you can still start the next day, but you’ll get a DNF for that day.
Photo: a tough climb through a grassy field.
The cost of accommodation in the area is quite reasonable, but it obviously depends on your preferences. If you want to keep expenses low, it’s possible to sleep with others (on your own air mattress) in a school for a few dozen euros. At least something is the same as the Transalp.
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