Medias XCO 2024
15 Jul
The 3rd round of the Romanian Mountain Bike XCO National Cup took place in Medias on a hot July day, filled with challenging climbs under the relentless sun, on a classic type course with long climbs and descends. This was the first race for my new team Cannondale Singletrack Racing.
Despite the heat, the conditions were the same for all competitors. I traveled solo on race day, covering the two-hour drive to arrive in time for a quick course check. Afterward, I had enough time to rest and enjoy my home-prepared meals.
The start was chaotic due to a premature jump by the front riders, triggered by a whistle from the crowd. Positioned in the second row, I didn’t hear the whistle and was left confused, waiting for the official start signal. This delay disoriented me, making the first lap particularly tough as the narrow, technical sections made overtaking slower riders nearly impossible.
I focused on maintaining a steady, comfortable pace throughout the race. However, the intense heat during the last few laps tested my endurance.
This time, I had to replace my water bottles by myself every lap, except for one instance where Sorin S. assisted me, costing a few precious seconds. Despite these challenges, I won my category and solidified my position as the overall leader of the National Cup. This victory is a significant motivational boost for the upcoming National XCC and XCO Championships.
Regarding the course, I still believe that it should have less single trail and more passing solutions especially in the technical zones. Also the “rock garden” I think that is just another pile of rocks that were thrown on the course with a heavy change to crash or a probability to break something if you hit it at a proper speed.
A huge thank you to my sponsors and family for their constant supportโit means more than words can express.
See you soon. Cheers,
Vlad
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