Clujul Pedaleaza – Night Stage

This Night Stage was at the second edition. Because of a concert stage the course was shorter and not so interesting like last year but I was motivated to get a podium. I’ve mounted the slick tires on my pink Cannondale Flash and I was ready to go.

I am not used to the road races: high speed, a lot of riders on a narrow road so was a bit hard to adapt. The fast start wasn’t a problem because is something usual for XCO races. The first pack had a lot of riders (around 10 or 12) but right after the first lap I’ve found out that most of them can’t ride safely a bike.  They tried to do some overtaking just before a turn which almost got me outside the track a few time and I wasn’t the only one having this issue. For the next kind of race: if you think that having a road bike makes you faster, get in front of everyone and do your own race, don’t f**k with someone else just to look “uber cool”.

In the final laps they were already tired, even if the race was half hour long so I felt more secure. In the end was a sprint finish. My team mate Tudor got first (1 second ahead of me), Robike from Mures was second and I was third. My other team mates Zoli, Eli and Dan finished on 4th, 5th and 6th position.

As I told Eli, I hope that next year this race will be an XCEliminator, because it will much more interesting. Otherwise I am not sure I wanna risk my health or bike because of someone who can’t figure out that first of all you have to enjoy the race.

Thank you once again to all my sponsors and partners: Maros Bike,Cannondale Bicyles, Ashima, Continental, Sapim Spokes, Adidas Eyewear, Cratoni, Tune, Xpedo, Grip Grab, Sram, Restwise, Joe’s No Flats, Kool Stop,TruckerCo and Light-Bikes.ro and my also to VDO, how’s supporting me again, after two years.

Until now I don’t have more photos, so I don’t have anything to show you.

This week end I’ll skip the races, but I wish good luck to my team mates who are racing at Medias Marathon and to Eli who’s preparing for Trans Germany.

Have a lovely week end.

Cheers,

Vlad