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Mountain bikers on a forest road at the foot of the Cozia massif — Vâlcea, Romania

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Cozia Mountain Bike & Run · Călimănești

Cozia Mountain Bike & Run 2026

At the foot of the Cozia massif. Forest road, singletrack and one common start in Călimănești.

20–21 June 2026 · Călimănești, Vâlcea

Cozia is the mountain. Cozia Mountain Bike & Run starts from the Pavilion in Parc Central, Călimănești, and climbs into the forest roads and singletrack around the Cozia massif above the Olt valley. Three MTB routes — 51, 31 and 17 km — plus an e-MTB 31 km and mountain-running routes of 31, 17 and 6 km, all leaving on one common start at 10:00. Kids race their own 1 km circuit the next day.

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About the race

A Vâlcea mountain race with a known massif at its back

Cozia Racing Team has organised its mountain-bike race for kids and adults since 2012, and over the years it has drawn 400–600 riders to the start. It is run together with Club Sportiv Ciclism Vâlcea, with the support of Călimănești town hall and more than 100 volunteers, and follows FRC, UEC and UCI mountain-bike rules. The adult races share one start in Parc Central, Călimănești: out on asphalt, up the forest roads of the Cozia foothills, across singletrack and back to town. Several distances so regional racers, runners and first-timers share the same start line.

Choose your distance

How long is your day?

The organiser publishes three MTB routes — 51 km (about 2,030 m of climbing), 31 km (about 1,360 m) and 17 km (about 750 m) — plus an e-MTB race on the 31 km route. Places are limited per route. Pick by realistic time on the bike — Cozia climbing isn't gentle.

Route descriptions, GPX files and cut-offs are published per route on the organiser's "Trasee" page.

Course map

The routes

Start and finish in Parc Central, Călimănești, with elevation profile. Aid points and cut-offs below.

Distances

Aid points + cutoffs

Where you eat, where the day ends

The table follows the 51 km MTB route. The 31 km route (MTB and e-MTB) has aid at km 9, just after La prăpastie around km 13, at km 19 and at km 24, with the same 14:30 cut at km 19; the 17 km route has an aid point at km 9. Miss the 14:30 cut and you are sent to the finish on an easy forest-road descent instead of continuing the full route.

KmLocationCutoff
0Start · Pavilion, Parc Central, CălimăneștiStart 10:00
9Aid 1 · forest roadOpen
18Aid 2 · end of the forest roadOpen
28Hydration point · before the descent through SuțaOpen
33Aid · right after La prăpastie (walk ~50 m)Open
39Aid · second climb of the forest-road sector14:30 — later riders are sent to the finish
51Finish · Parc Central, Călimănești7 h total

Taken from the organiser's route descriptions. The forest-road sector between km 4 and km 9 is ridden twice — check the latest version of each route on the "Trasee" page before race day.

Kit list

What you carry on Cozia

A helmet is mandatory for the MTB and e-MTB races. Beyond that, the list below is common-sense self-support for a mountain route — the 51 km route enters a stream for about 100 m, so bring shoes you don't mind getting wet.

Mandatory

  • Helmet

    Mandatory for MTB and e-MTB, at all times on course.

  • Race number

    Part of the participation kit, together with the technical T-shirt. Keep it visible.

  • Timing chip

    Timing is electronic, with a chip. Stay on the marked route — leaving it is not allowed.

Recommended

  • Working brakes

    The routes mix fast descents and sudden changes of direction. Not the place to discover a sticky brake.

  • Hydration pack or 2× bottles

    Self-supported between aid points. June in Vâlcea can be hot.

  • Multi-tool · tubeless plug · spare tube

    Singletrack, roots and forest road. One flat away from a long walk.

  • First-aid basics · phone · ID

    Phone charged, ID in the bag. If you get lost, go back to the last marking you saw and re-orient.

  • Shoes you don't mind getting wet

    The 51 km route follows a stream for about 100 m at km 18. Carbon road shoes are the wrong tool here.

Who races

Races and categories

Age categories as published by the organiser. Every finisher gets a finisher medal; the top three in each category and race get a medal and diploma, and the overall top three on MTB 31/51 km and mountain running 17/31 km also win prize money and a trophy.

  • MTB 51 km

    Overall prizes

    Men 19–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50+; women open 19+.

  • MTB 31 km

    Overall prizes

    Men and women 15–18, 19–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60+.

  • MTB 17 km

    Open men / women, 18+.

  • e-MTB 31 km

    Open men / women, 18+. Lines up first on the common start.

  • Mountain running · 6 / 17 / 31 km

    6 km open 18+; 17 km men and women 15–18 to 60+; 31 km men 18–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50+ and women open 18+.

  • Kids MTB

    Next day

    Sunday, at Castrul Roman Arutela in Căciulata: a 1 km circuit ridden several times depending on age, groups 5–6, 7–8, 9–10, 11–12 and 13–14.

Race weekend

Schedule

Programme for the adult races, at Parc Central, Călimănești, as published by the organiser.

  • 2026-06-20T08:00

    Distribuire numere & briefing tehnic

  • 2026-06-20T09:45

    Ședință tehnică adulți

  • 2026-06-20T10:00

    START toate cursele

  • 2026-06-20T17:00

    Festivitate premiere

Cozia Mountain Bike & Run

Cozia Mountain Bike

Adults race on Saturday from Parc Central, Călimănești; the kids' MTB race runs on Sunday at Castrul Roman Arutela, Căciulata.

  1. Race 1

    This race
    01

    Cozia Mountain Bike & Run 2026

    · Călimănești

  2. Race 2

    Done
    02

    Cozia Mountain Bike XCO Copii 2026

    · Călimănești

FAQ

Cozia day, Cozia mountain

Where is the start?

The adult races start and finish at the Pavilion in Parc Central, Călimănești, in Vâlcea county, on the DN7/E81 along the Olt valley. Kit pickup is there too, on Friday evening and on Saturday morning. The kids' race on Sunday is at Castrul Roman Arutela in Căciulata.

Are there water crossings on the course?

On the 51 km route, yes: at km 18, after the forest road ends, the route enters a stream for about 100 m, then continues with about 200 m of push-bike. Bring shoes you don't mind getting wet.

Can I visit the Cozia Monastery on race weekend?

Yes — the Cozia Monastery sits on the DN7/E81 right by Călimănești, a few minutes from the start. It is a 14th-century landmark. Modest dress required inside the church.

What's the cutoff time?

7 hours for the whole route on the 51 km and 31 km routes. There is also an intermediate cut at 14:30 — at km 39 on the 51 km route and at km 19 on the 31 km route. Riders who arrive later are directed to the finish on an easy forest-road descent.

What equipment is mandatory?

A helmet, for the MTB and e-MTB races. Timing is electronic with a chip. Hydration, a multi-tool, a spare tube or tubeless plug and a charged phone are sensible self-support between aid points.

Can I register on race day?

No. Registration is online only, until 19 June, and payment must be made by 18 June. There is no on-site registration on race day. Places are limited per route.

Can I race Cozia on a hardtail?

Yes. The routes mix forest road, wide paths and singletrack with roots, short steep climbs and fast descents — a hardtail with tubeless tyres is a working setup. Full suspension works too.

Where can I stay near the race?

Călimănești-Căciulata has the deepest accommodation pool — hotels, pensions and the historical spa resort along the Olt river. Book early; the Vâlcea spa towns fill with non-cycling visitors too.

Cozia is the mountain. Come ride it.

Cozia Racing Team and Club Sportiv Ciclism Vâlcea know the routes and the logistics from the first edition. Read the route descriptions, pack shoes for the stream, and we'll see you in Parc Central.

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