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Photo: adrenallina.ro
At the foot of the Cozia massif. Forest two-track, river crossings, monastery on the skyline.
4–5 July 2026 · Călimănești, Vâlcea
Cozia is the mountain. The Vâlcea round of the Cupa României XCM calendar runs from Călimănești, Muereasca, or Băile Olănești up into the foothills of the Cozia massif — the limestone wall that watches over the Olt valley. Long route 60 km on fire road, forest two-track, and a stretch of singletrack above Cărbunari. Shorter routes for first marathoners and family riders. The Cozia Monastery sits on the same horizon you climb toward.
About the round
Choose your distance
Cozia publishes three distances each edition: the marathon (long) for the regional XCM bracket and Romanian Masters; a medium for first marathoners and Master entries; a family route for kids, parents, and first-event riders. Pick by realistic time on the bike — Cozia climbing isn't gentle.
Course map
Mass-start loop through the Cozia foothills with elevation profile. Aid-station and cutoff math below.
Aid stations + cutoffs
Aid stations sit roughly every 15–20 km on the long route, stocked with water, isotonic, fruit, and basic food. The intermediate checkpoint above Cărbunari is where Mountain Bike Cozia times the cutoff — miss it and you're rerouted to the mid distance rather than DNF-ed outright.
| Km | Location | Services | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Race office · resort village | Number pickup · chip · briefing | Start time |
| ~17 | Aid 1 · Cărbunari ridge | Water · isotonic · fruit | Open |
| ~32 | Aid 2 · long-route split | Water · isotonic · gel · food | Redirects to mid route past cutoff |
| ~48 | Aid 3 · feed zone · Cozia foothills | Full feed station · medical · mechanical | Hard cutoff for the long route |
Kit list
Helmet is non-negotiable. Beyond that, the kit list below covers the long route — the mid and family routes drop the predawn-light item and lighten the spares load. Cozia has water-crossing sections in spring; bring shoes you don't mind getting wet.
Mandatory
Helmet
Half-shell MTB helmet. Removed = DSQ. Required at all times on course.
Race number on bars
Mountain Bike Cozia plate at the front; number visible from above. Loss = penalty.
Timing chip
Issued at registration. Wrist or fork-mount. Skipped checkpoint = DSQ.
Working brakes
Pre-start mechanical check at race office. Long-route descents off the Cozia ridge are not the place to discover a sticky brake.
Recommended
Hydration pack or 2× bottles
Self-supported between aid stations. 1 L per 90 min is the floor for the long route — Vâlcea heat in May/June is real.
Who races
Mountain Bike Cozia maps the standard FRC XCM ladder. The long route is where the Cupa României points are earned; Masters dominate the field, as they do at every Romanian XCM. Open Amator entries take the day-licence path.
Ages 19–29 (born 1997–2007). Cupa României points category — on the long route at Cozia.
Day-licence path. The common entry route at Cozia for first-time marathoners and gravel/road crossover riders trying their first XCM.
Ages 30–39 (born 1987–1996). The biggest single bracket at Cozia, year after year.
Race weekend
Standard Mountain Bike Cozia weekend cadence — exact times in the technical guide published 7–14 days before the start.
Vineri 3 Iul — Predarea numerelor start (adulți + copii), 18:00-21:00
Vineri 3 Iul — Ședința tehnică
Sâmbătă 4 Iul — Predare numere Cozia/Stanisoara (07:00-07:30)
Sâmbătă 4 Iul — START Traseul COZIA (30km) + STANISOARA (21km)
Sâmbătă 4 Iul — START Traseul TURNU (4km)
Sâmbătă 4 Iul — Predare numere Crosul Copiilor (13:30-15:30)
Sâmbătă 4 Iul — START Crosul Copiilor
Cupa României XCM
4 rounds across the season. Cupa României points accumulate toward the FRC ranking; Cozia is the Vâlcea round.
Round 4
This round· Călimănești
Mountain Bike Cozia runs the round with the same crew year after year — they know the route, the technical guide, and where the photos get taken. Read the briefing, pack for the river crossing, and we'll see you at the start village.
Distances are organiser-published per edition. The technical guide drops 7–14 days before the start.
| 60 | Finish · race village | Showers · medical · food · podium | Course closes |
|---|
Kilometres above are representative — Cozia's exact aid-station locations and cutoff clock times are pinned in the technical guide per edition.
Multi-tool · tubeless plug · spare tube
The forest two-track above Cărbunari has the occasional sharp limestone shard. One tubeless flat away from a long walk.
First-aid basics · phone · ID
GPS signal is patchy in the side valleys. Phone charged, ID in the bag — Mountain Bike Cozia has the local emergency number on the briefing.
Shoes you don't mind getting wet
Spring editions cross a small stream above Muereasca. Carbon road shoes are the wrong tool here.
Ages 40–49 (born 1977–1986).
Ages 50–59 (born 1967–1976). Often combines with Master F at the smaller distances.
Scaled to the mid or family route. Parental consent required for under-18s; not eligible for the long route at Cozia.
Sâmbătă 4 Iul — Timp limită Traseul Cozia
Sâmbătă 4 Iul — Festivitatea de premiere
Duminică 5 Iul — Masă de prânz la Mănăstirea Turnu (după Sfânta Liturghie)
FAQ
Cozia rounds start from Călimănești, Muereasca, or Băile Olănești depending on the edition — all in Vâlcea county, all reachable by E81 north from Râmnicu Vâlcea (40–60 min) or south from Sibiu (90 min). The technical guide names the specific resort village and pins the race office.
The spring editions have one small stream crossing above Muereasca on the long route — ankle-deep, rideable for most. Family-route riders don't cross water. Bring shoes you don't mind getting wet, or carry a spare pair for the post-race meal.
Yes — the Cozia Monastery is open daily on the DN7/E81 between Călimănești and the start village; many racers ride down on Saturday evening. The monastery is a 14th-century landmark and a 10-minute drive from any of the typical start villages. Modest dress required inside the church.
7 hours from the grand-départ for the 60 km long route, 4.5 hours for the 33 km mid route, 2.5 hours for the 15 km family route. The intermediate cutoff above Cărbunari redirects late long-route riders to the mid distance instead of DNF-ing them. Exact clock times are in the technical guide.
Helmet at all times, race number on bars, timing chip, working brakes. Back protectors are NOT required (that's DH territory). Hydration pack and a multi-tool / spare tube / tubeless plug are recommended self-support kit between aid stations.
Călimănești-Căciulata has the deepest accommodation pool — hotels, pensions, and the historical spa resort along the Olt river. Băile Olănești and Muereasca are quieter, with smaller pensions. Book early for the spring weekend; the Vâlcea spa scene fills with non-cycling visitors too.
Yes. The Cozia courses are fire-road heavy with a stretch of forest two-track above Cărbunari — hardtail with tubeless 2.25–2.4" tyres is the working setup. Short-travel full-suspension works too; rear-shock isn't a course requirement here.
Mountain Bike Cozia offers a day-licence path for Open Amator entries at most editions — useful if you don't hold an annual FRC licence. Cupa României points accumulation requires the annual licence.