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Romanian National Cross-Country Marathon Championship
One long loop. Fire roads, singletrack, aid stations, cutoff math.
26 September 2026 · Paltinis, Sibiu
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 Masters 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 Negru (CN XCM)
- Distance
- 76 km
- Elevation gain
- +2950 m
- Start time
- 10:10
Traseu Rosu
- Distance
- 35 km
- Elevation gain
- +1325 m
- Start time
- 10:10
E-MTB
- Distance
- 35 km
- Start time
- 10:00
Distances and cutoffs are organiser-published per round. The technical guide drops 7–14 days before the start.
Aid stations + cutoffs
Where you eat, where the day ends
Aid stations sit roughly every 20–25 km on the marathon loop, stocked with water, isotonic, fruit, and basic food. Cutoffs at intermediate checkpoints route missed riders to a shorter route rather than DNF-ing them outright.
| Km | Location | Services | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Secretariat · grand-départ | Number pickup · chip · briefing | Start time |
| ~22 | Aid 1 | Water · isotonic · fruit | Open |
| ~40–45 | Aid 2 · intermediate checkpoint | Water · isotonic · gel · food | Redirects to short route past cutoff |
| ~60–65 | Aid 3 · feed zone | Full feed station · medical · mechanical | Hard cutoff for the long route |
| Long route finish | Finish · race village | Showers · medical · food · podium | Course closes |
Kilometres above are representative. The technical guide pins exact aid-station locations and cutoff clock times per round.
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 (FRC §5.4.4 / UCI MTB Part IV)
XCM Elite is the championship-points category; Masters dominate the field at most rounds. Open Amator at most Cupa României events accepts day-licence entries.
Elite (M / W)
ChampionshipAges 19–29 (born 1997–2007). Championship-points category — usually on the long route.
Open Amator (19+)
Day-licence pathDay-licence path at most Cupa României XCM rounds. Common entry route for first-timers and crossover gravel/road riders.
Master 1 (M / W)
Ages 30–39 (born 1987–1996). The biggest single bracket at most XCM rounds.
Master 2 (M / W)
Ages 40–49 (born 1977–1986).
Master 3 (M / W)
Ages 50–59 (born 1967–1976). Often combines with Master F at smaller rounds.
Youth · Junior
ScaledScaled to the medium / hobby distance. Parental consent required for under-18s; not eligible for the long-route marathon at most rounds.
Race weekend
Schedule
Standard FRC XCM weekend cadence — exact times in the technical guide published 7–14 days before the start.
- 14:30
Vineri 25.09 - Preluare numere (Paltinis Arena, pana la 17:30)
- 18:00
Vineri 25.09 - Sedinta tehnica
- 08:30
Sambata 26.09 - Preluare numere (pana la 09:30)
- 10:00
Sambata 26.09 - Start E-MTB
- 10:10
Sambata 26.09 - Start Traseul Negru (CN XCM) si Traseul Rosu
- 16:30
Sambata 26.09 - Festivitatea de premiere
Cupa României XCM
Triada MTB
4 rounds across the season. Cup points accumulate toward the FRC ranking; the host CN round decides the national title.
Round 1
Done01UCI Continental Series #5 - Cheile Grădiștei 2026
· Cheile Gradistei
Round 2
Done02Regional Development Cup 2026
· Cheile Grădiștei
Round 3
Done03Triada eMTB Xperience 2026
· Avrig
Round 4
This round04CN MTB XCM / Geiger MTB Challenge 2026
· Paltinis
FAQ
Marathon-day math
What's the cutoff time for the marathon route?
Marathon cutoffs typically run 7–9 hours from the grand-départ (e.g. Cozia 7h at 60 km; Vidraru 9h at 85 km). Intermediate checkpoints redirect missed riders to a shorter route rather than DNF-ing them. Exact clock times are published in the technical guide.
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?
Typically every 20–25 km on the marathon loop. The first aid is usually water + isotonic + fruit; the second adds gel and food; the feed zone at the third stop usually adds medical and mechanical. Between stations you're self-supported.
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?
Categories map to distances per organiser: Elite and Open Amator usually race the marathon; Masters typically race the marathon or medium; Youth and Family race the short / hobby. The technical guide publishes the per-distance category map for each round.
Do I need a federation licence?
Yes for Cup-points accumulation. Most Cupa României XCM rounds also offer a day-licence path for Open Amator entrants. National Championship rounds require the annual FRC licence.
What if I miss a cutoff?
Missed intermediate cutoffs redirect you to the medium or short route — you still finish, just on a different distance with a corresponding category change. Missing the hard cutoff at the long-route feed zone ends your race day.
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.