Rigs of the 2021 Hungarian Divide

Bikepacking Bikes / Rider & Rig / Event Recaps

Associate Editor & Events Manager

The 2021 Hungarian Divide took off from Smaragdvölgy, Hungary, last month and challenged riders with a 600km or 1,200km route across the country. The organizers sent details on more than 70 rigs that were at the starting line, plus a short race recap. See the full gallery here…

PUBLISHED Sep 18, 2021

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The 2021 Hungarian Divide took place last month, with riders tackling their choice of a 700-kilometre half route or the full 1,400-kilometre route across Hungary. Riders in the shorter version started in Smaragdvölgy and ended in Budapest, and riders in the full version pushed on into western Hungary for a finish in Őrség. This year’s event was maxed out at 150 riders, 100 for the half and 50 for the full route. With the help of the organizers, we gathered together more than 70 rig photos and details from the grand depart. Find a quick recap from the organizers below, followed by the rigs of the 2021 Hungarian Divide.

Words from Marcell at Bikepacking Hungary

The second Hungarian Divide continues a tradition of annual events organized by Bikepacking Hungary, and this year surpassed everyone’s expectations, including the difficulty of the route. Reversing last year’s route, 93 determined riders rode east to west along a route that grew from 1,250 kilometres to 1,400 kilometres. There were two route options to choose from: the half distance to Budapest (700 kilometres / 13,000 metres elevation gain) and the full distance to the western border (1,400 kilometres / 23,000 metres elevation gain).

On the half-distance route, Croatian Vedran Gracan (fourth-place finisher on the Italy Divide this year) was the first to reach the finish in Budapest in the middle of the third night, followed by Tamás Király, and Balázs Boros, who took the third step of the imaginary podium.

The full-distance rider category was dominated by Zsolt Boruzs this year, who kept a healthy advantage throughout the race after the unfortunate crash of pre-race favorite, Zoltán Zóka-Újhelyi. Boruzs reached the finish of full off-road adventure in 5 days, 21 hours, 56 minutes. Csaba Sumánszki, who came in second, was 6 hours behind, while Balázs Gérnyi was third, 8 hours later, also on the 20th of August.

Anna Horváth

Age 39 / British Columbia, Canada

BIKE: Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 5.0 Shimano/Praxisworks groupset Panaracer Gravelking SK+ tyres.
BAGS: Apidura.

Márton Horváth

Age 25 / Veresegyház, Hungary

BIKE: Hauser Redfox retro MTB equipped with Deore LX 3×7 groupset.
BAGS: Topeak and tent bags.

Tamás Agyánszki

Age 39 / Budapest, Hungary

BIKE: Salsa Fargo custom built around a combination of GRX components paired with Deore XT 34t (?) crank. Rolling on durable DT Swiss wheelset and WTB Venture tyres.
BAGS: Zefal and Salsa bags.

Csaba Tokaji-Nagy

Age 40 / Budapest, Hungary

BIKE: MeridaCX6000 carbon CX frame with Continental tyres mounted on DT Swiss wheelset.
BAGS: Merida bags combined with shining set of Rockbros bags from Aliexpress.

Tamás Kovács

Age 47 / Budapest, Hungary

BIKE: MeridaSilex carbon with SRAM Force groupset.
BAGS: Merida bags.

Sándor Rozgonyi

Age 57 / Budapest, Hungary

BIKE: Giant TCX Advanced Pro, superlight cyclocross setup.
BAGS: Merida bikepacking bags.

György Hankó

Age 35 / Győr, Hungary

BIKE: Kross Esker 4.0 with plenty of modification, combining FSA, Shimano Tiagra and 105 components rolling on WTB Asyim wheels and Maxxis Rambler tyres.
BAGS: Mokush Outdoor handmade custom frame bag.

Balázs Boros

Age 39 / Nagymaros, Hungary

BIKE: Custom Hunor steel bike (Hungarian made).
BAGS: Self-made (Mokush).

Vedran Gračan

Age 39 / Zagreb, Croatia

BIKE: Giant Anthem XC race machine (reméljük nem Trance) equipped with Deore XT groupset and RockShox SID fork rolling on Maxxis Recon Race tyres.
BAGS: Ortlieb and self-made top tube bag.

Gábor Boda

Age 30 / Kecskemét, Hungary

BIKE: Rockrider XC900 equipped with Truvativ/SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed groupset and RockShox Reba fork rolling on Hutchinson Python 29×2.25 tyres and Mavic Crossmax wheels.
BAGS: Apidura and Alpkit bags.

Dávid Szabó

Age 30 / Budapest, Hungary

BIKE: Surly Bridge Club with Shimano Deore groupset with WTB wheelset on Maxxis tyres.
BAGS: Yakpack bags from a custom Hungarian bag maker.

Tamás Borbély

Age 36 / Tatabánya, Hungary

BIKE: Sonder Camino AL with SRAM Apex groupset with stock wheels using Panaracer rubber.
BAGS: Alpkit bags.

Emese Chovanyecz

Age 42 / Zalaegerszeg, Hungary

BIKE: Specialized Chisel, SRAM/Rotor groupset.
BAGS: Apidura set + Acepac feedbags.

János Kosztin

Age 34 / Debrecen, Hungary

BIKE: On One Scandal 13 with Manitou fork.

Nándor Németi

Age 46 / Budapest, Hungary

BIKE: Neuzer Jumbo 29er MTB with Shimano SLX/Suntour groupset rolling on Rodi Excalibur wheels.
BAGS: That backloader!

Márton Kauker

Age 36 / Várpalota, Hungary

BIKE: Kona Sutra LTD steel frame rolling Vittoria Terreno 2.1 MTB tyres. Race Face Aeffect 34T / SRAM Rival / Sunrace 11-42T gearing.
BAGS: Mokush Outdoor custom rolltop frame bag combined with Topeak 15L backloader.

Erzsébet Pénzes

Age 51 / Hidegkút, Hungary

BIKE: Liv Brava slr 2018 rolling Giant P-X2 /GXP wheelset and WTB Riddler 700Cx45 TL tyres, gearing with SRAM Apex 1 groupset using 36×11-42 chainrings. Two Force Pax 300 front lights, Solas NiteRider 250 with ELOPS (Decathlon) ST500 in the back.
BAGS: Mokush 7L custom frame bag, PODsacs 5L handlebar bag, and 11L saddlebag with Mokush feedbag.

Judit Hajgató

Age 36 / Budapest, Hungary

BIKE: Merida Silex 700 with 1x Ultegra groupset. Fulcrum wheelset and Panaracer rubber.
BAGS: Yakpack custom frame bags with KLS accessories.

Norbert Szász

Age 46 / Budapest, Hungary

BIKE: Rondo RUUT CF2, DT Swiss P1800 wheelset with Panaracer Gravelking tyres, SRAM Rival 1×11 groupset.
BAGS: Complete kit of PODsacs bags.

Zsófia Szarka

Age 35 / Százhalombatta, Hungary

BIKE: Cannondale Trail SL1 29er, Sram SX Eagle 12-speed groupset equipped with 30t chainring in the front and 11-50 cassette in the back. Rockshox REBA RL fork and Maxxis Rambler tyres.
BAGS: Custom Mokush outdoor and Ortlieb bags.

Norbert Kiss

Age 31 / Gödöllő, Hungary

BIKE: Riverside Touring 920 with SRAM Rival.

Zoltán Petes

Age 35 / Budapest, Hungary

BIKE: Specialized Diverge carbon with SRAM Apex 1x groupset. DT Swiss wheelset rolling on Michelin Power Gravel rubber.
BAGS: Custom Mokush outdoor and Ortlieb bags.