Resita MTB Race – slip & glide

7 Oct

A Muddy Finale at the Romanian Mountain Bike XCO Cup

The final stage of the Romanian Mountain Bike XCO Cup in Resita was a perfect reminder of how quickly conditions can change in mountain biking. What started as a promising, dry track turned into a near-unrideable mudfest overnight.

Resita, home to Bike Attack, a team with a deep history in the local cycling scene, hosted the event. While they’ve shifted focus more towards events like the Banat Marathon and Metal Enduro, they poured their heart into this XCO stage, which I truly appreciated.

Saturday: The Calm Before the Storm

I arrived on Saturday with Sebi to check out the course. It was fast, dusty, and not overly technical – just fun and flowy. The forecast wasn’t great, but the organizers assured us that the dry soil would absorb any rain. Against my better judgment, I left my trusty Schwalbe Dirty Dan mud tires in the box. Big mistake!

Race Day: From Dust to Mud

I started the race with my rain jacket on, knowing I could adjust airflow with the zipper. Little did I know that the cold would be the least of my worries. The rain had turned parts of the track into a mud bath. The initial plan was five laps, but after just one, it was clear the new, muddy section was slowing everyone down. The conditions worsened with each lap, and the race officials wisely reduced the race to four laps. Good call!

I started strong, though warming up was a challenge due to the mud. My goal was simple: finish the race and secure my lead in the series. Despite the tough conditions, I ended up in second place behind Paul Muntean. It was a messy but fitting and unwanted introduction to the upcoming cyclocross season. I’m not quite in the CX mindset yet, but once I start gluing the tubulars, I’ll get there.

Foto: Linda Motoiu / Denis Tara / Dan Jurca / Daniel Puscau

A Memorable End to the Season

The organizers did a fantastic job overall, though a proper bike wash or showers would have been nice, given the conditions. Access to the course was tricky, but in the end, we managed to clean everything – including the car – just in time for the award ceremony.

I’m thrilled to have won the overall Cup after five races. I couldn’t have done it without the unwavering support of my family, sponsors, and partners. A huge thank you to all of them.