Lornion Trofe UCI C3 - Chocolate mud

This race was counting as the 2nd race for the Romanian Gran Prix. I hopped for a nice race, as I really like the course (the dry version). We got in Mures a day before the race. We had enough time to test the course and the tires. The last half of the course was practicable even if it was still a bit muddy. So I told my self that if it won't rain, I will stay on my Conti Mountain King 2.2 tires. I was thinking even at Race King 2.2 on rear.

But I wasn't lucky this time either. It was poring rain the night before the race so I couldn't escape what I was afraid of. I've put the Conti Cross Country 1.5 tires on and I've praid to stay on the bike as much as possible. We had 4 laps to do. To many considering that almost all the race you had to run or to get off the mud.

First half of the race was pretty ok. I was feeling pretty well even when I was running. After that I had some crashes and I've found out that muddy gloves and gripshifters is not a really good combination. So half of the race I was single speed (maybe a good choice if you don't have all the cogs, derraileurs, shifters and rings). The last lap was awful for me. I had some derraileur problems and I was the last one that wasn't catched by the leader.

I am really dissapointed by the way I've raced and I now I am focusing on the things that must be improved no matter what. My team mates Eli and Tudor didn't had the best race of their life either but Oli managed to had the best run and to finish 2nd. Congratulations for that. I am really proud! Also our yougest team member, Sergiu Paraschiv won at Junior Hobby Race. I've finished 10th in general ranking, but as I told you, I am not happy at all.

Now I'll have 3 weeks for training and resting and I hope to be enough to get a better shape for the upcomming events.

I also would like to say a big thank you to Titi for the accomodation, to Levy for the photos, to Mury for help at the feed zone, to everyone who ecouraged me even if I was riding like a pickled cucumber.

I would like to say a thank you to Maros Sport for making this trip possible but also to the other sponsors and partners: Cannondale, Ashima, Continental, Cratoni, Syntace, Joe's No Flats, Xpedo, Adidas Eyewear, Sapim, Thule, Grip Grab, Novatec, VDO, Zakudo, KMC and Buff.

See you soon,
Vlad

Budapest again

Sorry I am coming back so late with the race report, but I was so busy. I got back from Budapest where it was the Buda Marthon, as far as I remember the 8th edition.

As I am still tired and still not trained as well as I want it, I've went for the short distance, as it was better preparing for the 2nd UCI race in Romania: Lornion Trofe - UCI C3.

I am happy that I start to feel my legs better and stronger. I had a good start and I felt pretty well on the climbing parts.


On the descends I didn't push very hard because last time here I had a flat tire and now with the Joe's No Flats Sealant I was more secure, but I've preferred to keep myself for this week end.
I've finished 7th, at general at the short distance, my team mate Oli 8th and Eli 10th on the long distance. Congrats to them !

As it was the 1st of May, after the race me and the rest of the boys had a non-alcoholic beer.


I'm glad that we were a lot of Romanians at this race, from my team Maros Racing, from Targu Mures and Dinamo from Bucharest.

Was also the first race with my brand new wheels: Novatec rear hub, Project 321 Lefty hub, Sapim CX Ray spokes, ZTR Olympic rims and Joe's No Flats Tubeless Kit. HERE are some photos and real weight (w/o the qr).

I hope that I'll feel even better for this week end race and I hope that the rain will stop as the Mures course has such a 'lovely, chocolate' mud.

I would like to say a thank you to Maros Sport for making this trip possible but also to the other sponsors and partners: Cannondale, Ashima, Continental, Cratoni, Syntace, Joe's No Flats, Xpedo, Adidas Eyewear, Sapim, Thule, Grip Grab, Novatec, VDO, Zakudo, KMC and Buff.

Here you have a movie made by Eli, my team mate:

Some photos from Budapes cand be found HERE and more photos from Maros XCO UCI race HERE.

Cheers,
Vlad