Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
The 2023 Trans Balkan Race is well underway, with the riders at the front of the pack charging ahead on very little sleep. Find a gallery of photos along with men’s, women’s, and pair’s update from the second edition of the 1,300-kilometer race across one of Europe’s most beautiful regions here…
Words by Exploro.cc, photos by Trans Balkan Race media crew
It’s the time of the year again when riders pack everything, hopes and expectations included, and leave for the Balkans! We’re four days into the 2023 Trans Balkan Race, and it’s time for a recap. The route develops over 1,342 kilometers with around 27,000 meters of climbing involved. In addition to the route’s biggest challenges of sheer distance and elevation, last year’s biggest challenge was the awful heat anomaly that tormented riders with temperatures up to 40ºC (104ºF). This year has been entirely different, with cold and wet air masses are constantly flowing toward the peaks of the Dinaric Alps, causing storms and showers, especially in the mountains. Overall, it’s been a blessing so far, making the long stretches without resupplies more bearable and allowing for a faster overall race pace. But it could turn messy in a matter of days, as the rivers and lakes are close to their maximum capacity, and so are some trails!
The first rider is reaching Checkpoint 2 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, covering almost 1,000 kilometers in 80 hours! However, the leaderboard has been a constant change and mixing of cards. Max Gaumnitz (#56) took the lead in Slovenia, gaining an incredible advantage up to the town of Gospić (kilometer 320). Not a single rider in the lead positions has stopped for the first night, and riders are taking the sleep game to the next level this year. Mathis Lauras (#36) has made quite the comeback: after stopping in Gopsić for knee pain and withdrawing from the race, he revoked his decision and managed to not only catch Max, but also to put 40 kilometers between them. Unfortunately, the knee pain only worsened, and it eventually forced him out of the race in Nevesinje.
Rufus Wenlock (#98) has now been upgraded to the second position, about 70 kilometers from Max, and Andrew Phillips (#68) has a 70 kilometer gap from him. Will these three ever stop to sleep? They’ve been clocking no more than two hours of stops per day. Everyone else seems too far away to cause concern to the podium.
Peggy Marvanová (#59) started in the back of the group in Slovenia, but slow and steady is always rewarding. She has quickly made her way past every rider ahead of her and is now the first woman and sixth overall! She’s wearing a big happy smile and seems perfectly at ease with the route challenges. Go Peggy! Equally exciting is the pairs leaderboard update. After sharing the route with their competitors for almost 600 kilometers, Marion Dziwnik (#111) and Sofie Mangertseder (#112) have finally gained a 40-kilometer lead on David Knezevic (#121) and Pascal Röhm (#123) as well as Robert Männa (#129) and Mathias Väärsi (#130). It’s a tight fight, but the race is still long and full of surprises.
This second edition has been called “Endless Landscapes” for a reason, but riders will need to earn the views. Forests and mountain roads perched over the Adriatic Sea are now leaving place to naked karstic highlands and harsh climbs. More adventures await!
You can follow the riders live here.
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