Photo: ziarulunirea.ro
Romanian MTB Cross-Country Marathon Cup
One long loop. Fire roads, singletrack, aid stations, cutoff math.
15 August 2026 · Alba Iulia, Alba
Four to nine hours on the bike. The Romanian XCM calendar is a different sport from XCO — single mass-start loop of 60–160 km on dirt, fire road, and forest two-track, with multiple distance options at each round so first-time marathoners and veteran amateurs can share the start line. Hardtail or short-travel full-sus, tubeless tyres, hydration pack. Bring real food, not just gels.
About the discipline
Endurance MTB at the federation level
Choose your distance
How long is your day?
Each XCM round publishes its own distance lineup. The marathon (long) distance is the championship route; medium and short routes welcome amateurs, first-timers, and family riders. Pick by realistic time on the bike, not bike size.
Traseu 1 Copii
- Distance
- 5 km
- Start time
- 10:20
Traseu 2 Hobby/Family
- Distance
- 13 km
- Elevation gain
- 250 m
- Start time
- 10:15
Traseu 2 Licențiați 13-14 FRC
- Distance
- 13 km
- Elevation gain
- 250 m
- Start time
- 10:15
Traseu 3 Scurt
- Distance
- 27 km
- Elevation gain
- 780 m
- Start time
- 10:00
Traseu 4 Mediu
- Distance
- 42 km
- Elevation gain
- 1400 m
- Start time
- 09:45
Traseu 5 Lung (masculin)
- Distance
- 90 km
- Elevation gain
- 3000 m
- Start time
- 09:30
Traseu 6 Lung (feminin)
- Distance
- 73 km
- Elevation gain
- 2450 m
- Start time
- 09:30
Distances and cutoffs are organiser-published per round. The technical guide drops 7–14 days before the start.
Course map
The loop
Mass-start loop with elevation profile. Aid-station and cutoff math below.
Distances
- Traseu 1 Copii5 km40 lei
- Traseu 2 Hobby/Family13 km↗ 250 m40 lei copil (10-14 ani) + 60 lei adult însoțitor
- Traseu 2 Licențiați 13-14 FRC13 km↗ 250 m130 lei early bird (15.04-01.06) / 150 lei (02.06-13.08) / 200 lei la fața locului
- Traseu 3 Scurt27 km↗ 780 m130 lei early bird / 150 lei / 200 lei la fața locului
- Traseu 4 Mediu42 km↗ 1400 m130 lei early bird / 150 lei / 200 lei la fața locului
- Traseu 5 Lung (masculin)90 km↗ 3000 m130 lei early bird / 150 lei / 200 lei la fața locului
Aid stations + cutoffs
Where you eat, where the day ends
Aid-station locations, time limits and what happens if you miss one differ from round to round — every route is different. Each organiser publishes them in the round's regulations or technical guide; between aid stations you are self-supported.
Check this round's official page for its exact aid stations and cutoff times before you start.
Kit list
What you carry, what you skip
Helmet is the only piece every CR XCM event makes non-negotiable. Beyond that, kit varies by route length and organiser; the list below covers the marathon distance — short routes drop the predawn-light item where it doesn't apply.
Mandatory
Helmet
Half-shell MTB helmet. Removed = DSQ. Required at all times on course.
Race number on bars
FRC plate at the front; number visible from above. Loss = penalty.
Timing chip
Issued at registration. Wrist or fork-mount. Skipped checkpoint = DSQ.
Working brakes + bell where mandated
Pre-start mechanical check at race office. Bell mandatory in some shared-trail rounds.
Recommended
Hydration pack or 2× bottles
Self-supported between aid stations. 1 L per 90 min of riding is the floor for marathon distance.
Multi-tool · tubeless plug · spare tube
Course marshals and aid stations don't carry spare tubes for you. One tubeless flat away from the finish.
First-aid basics · phone · ID
GPS signal exists across most courses but coverage gaps happen in the mountains.
Rear red light
Required where pre-dawn or late-finish profiles apply. Check the round's technical guide.
Who races
Categories
Each round publishes its own category list and the route each category races — check the round's regulations. The groups below are the ones you will typically find.
Elite (M / W)
LicensedLicensed riders racing for the top results, usually on the longest route. Under UCI rules Elite means 23 and over.
Amateurs by age group
Amateur men are split into age bands defined in each round's regulations; this is where most of the field races.
Women
Women's classes vary by round — from a single open category to age bands, sometimes on a shorter version of the long route.
Juniors · Youth
Shorter routeYounger riders race shorter routes set by the organiser. Parental consent is required for under-18s.
e-MTB
Some roundsSome rounds also run a separate e-bike class with its own classification.
Race weekend
Schedule
Standard FRC XCM weekend cadence — exact times in the technical guide published 7–14 days before the start.
- 10:00
Duminică 9 aug: Tură de recunoaștere trasee 27/44/74/90 km
Start str. Mihai Viteazul x str. Crișan
- 19:00
Vineri 14 aug: Preluare kit de concurs și înscriere
19:00-21:00, Casa de Cultură a Sindicatelor, sala mică
- 20:00
Vineri 14 aug: Ședință tehnică
Casa de Cultură a Sindicatelor, parter
- 07:00
Înscriere și ridicarea kiturilor
07:00-09:00, Casa de Cultură a Sindicatelor, sala mică
- 09:30
Start proba 74 și 90 km (Campionat Balcanic, UCI C2, ACBR)
- 09:45
Start proba 44 km
- 10:00
Start proba 27 km și E-Bike
- 10:15
Start proba 13 km
- 10:30
Start trasee necompetitive copii
- 13:00
Prânz și curățarea bicicletelor
13:00-16:00
- 16:00
Festivitate de premiere
Series rounds
CR MTB XCM
Rounds of this series listed on Competi.ro. Each round publishes its own distances, categories and schedule.
Round 1
Done01CR MTB XCM #1 / Triada MTB Avrig 2026
· Avrig
Round 2
Done02CR MTB XCM #2 / Mediaș Bike Marathon 2026
· Mediaș
Round 6
This round06Alba Carolina Bike Race 2026 (CR MTB XCM #6 · Campionatul Balcanic XCM)
· Alba Iulia
Round 7
Done07CR MTB XCM #7 / Transilvania Bike Trails Race 2026
· Saschiz
FAQ
Marathon-day math
What's the cutoff time for the marathon route?
It depends on the round and the route — each organiser sets its own time limit and any intermediate cutoffs. Check this round's regulations or technical guide for the exact clock times.
What equipment is mandatory?
Helmet at all times, race number on bars, timing chip, working brakes. Back protectors are NOT required for XCM (that's DH territory). Hydration pack and a multi-tool / spare tube / tubeless plug are recommended self-support kit between aid stations.
Where are the aid stations?
Each round publishes its own aid-station locations and what they stock. Between stations you're self-supported, so carry enough water and food for the longest gap.
Can I race the marathon on a hardtail?
Yes. The Romanian XCM scene runs roughly half hardtails, half short-travel full-suspension. Wheel choice matters more than rear-shock — 29" tubeless 2.25–2.4" is the working consensus for fire-road-heavy courses.
How are categories assigned across distances?
Each organiser maps categories to routes in its regulations: Elite usually races the longest route, amateurs choose or are assigned a route by category, and youth race the shorter routes.
Do I need a federation licence?
Licensed categories such as Elite and juniors require a valid FRC licence. What amateur categories need is set in each round's regulations — check them before you register.
What if I miss a cutoff?
That is set by each round's regulations — depending on the organiser, a missed cutoff can end your race or move you to a shorter route. Read the rules for this round before the start.
Is there GPS tracking?
Increasingly standard at FRC XCM rounds — chip tracking is universal, live GPS on rider is round-dependent. Check the technical guide if you're planning crew or family logistics.
Train the distance. Race the cutoffs.
Registration windows differ per round. The technical guide drops 7–14 days out — read it before you pack. The marathon distance is decided in the feed zone, not on the start line.
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