After the successful premiere of Blinduro in the village of Lipno nad Vltavou in the Southern Bohemia, riders themselves called for the second race at the end of the season and it really took place last weekend. This time in the Bike Resort Wallachia, with backgrounds in Karolinka.
"After Lipno there was a lot of questions about whether we want to do one more race this year. The survey among the first Blinduro participants showed that over 90% of people would come again this year. The word gave a word and I came up with an off-season opener in Wallachia. The location is magnificent, and the team around the local guru Roman Kalabus is incredibly active. The concept remained the same. I wanted everyone to enjoy my event without the pressure on the result and without worrying about dangerous trail. We started registration before the summer holidays and we had over 500 entries in the system! At the beginning, the location was not even known! In the end, about 330 paid the starting fee. "
Local trails experts Roman Kalabus and Luboš Sušil participated on the building of the stages. On Saturday, 25 km circuit of three easier stages was waiting for the riders. The first two stages were close to the Kyčerka bike park. The third stage, which was newly prepared for the race, ended in the Karolinka ski area, where the start and finish of the whole race was. The first day, three hundred heroes started the race. At the end of October, with such dramatic weather forecasts, and in a location where some were travelling for seven hours.
On the second day, the riders started at 8 am. A 42 km long marathon circuit waited for them. The forecast was true, it began to rain right after the start. A demanding 15 km long transfer to the top of the Stolečná ridge immediately inspected every Blinduro rider. The fourth stage started in the Czech Republic and its finish was at the beginning of the Marikovský trail in Slovakia. Another test on the Slovak side copied the Marikovský trail. Afterwards, the riders moved back to the Kyčerka bike park. Muddy transfers were really demanding. The final stage led again to the Karolinka ski area. This stage was the only one which riders had to ride twice. On Sunday, there were some places on the new trail that could hardly be made without falling.
For both days, Nutrend feed zones waited for riders on the track and in the finish. Next to Nutrend products, there were also local plum brandy, breads, homemade sausages and Moravian made cakes. The two neutral Park Tool tech zones saved a race for many riders, as well as the chance to change own tire to Michelin one for free. The most popular attraction became quickly the Kärcher wash station.
"It was incredible, I did not really bore the whole weekend. It was not easy to look after everything on the track, the circuit was really demanding and long. But I think it all went right. Even thanks to a Ghost ebike, I had the opportunity to ride the whole track every day. The riders experiences, I've heard, are unforgettable. Some people hate me, and they will for some time, but I believe riders enjoyed the race a lot, "says Michal Prokop, Blinduro director and is adding that "in a month (and a week), in December 1, we are launching a Blinduro 500 registration for May 5-6 in Lipno nad Vltavou. Why the number? Let yourself be surprised ... "
MEN1. Frantisek Zilak, CZE Rock Machine
2. Premek Tejchman, CZE Kellys Factory
3. Marcin Motyka, POL Enduro 24
WOMEN1. Andrea Drengubakova, CZE Mojekolo.cz
2. Jana Sirkova, CZE
3. Tereza Natrova
MENTIONS: @prkplive