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XCM marathon riders on a mountain fire road

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Cupa României XCM

Romanian MTB Cross-Country Marathon Cup

One long loop. Fire roads, singletrack, aid stations, cutoff math.

9 May 2026 · Mediaș, 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 veteran amateurs can share the start line. Hardtail or short-travel full-sus, tubeless tyres, hydration pack. Bring real food, not just gels.

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About the discipline

Endurance MTB at the federation level

XCM (Cross-Country Marathon) is the long-format MTB championship in the FRC calendar. UCI MTB Part IV defines the format as 60–160 km — Romanian rounds run 28–100 km depending on the distance option. Most events offer three or four distances on the same loop, so racers self-select from the marathon (the championship distance) down to the hobby / family route. The day is paced by aid-station math and cutoff windows, not by tactical pack racing.

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.

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

Mediaș, jud. Sibiu
Show on map

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)

    Licensed

    Licensed 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 route

    Younger riders race shorter routes set by the organiser. Parental consent is required for under-18s.

  • e-MTB

    Some rounds

    Some 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.

  • Vi 16:00

    Inscrieri/ridicare kituri Liceu Roth-Oberth (8 mai)

  • Sa 07:00

    Inscrieri/ridicare kituri (9 mai)

  • Sa 08:45

    Sedinta tehnica eBike

  • Sa 09:00

    Start eBike toate traseele

  • Sa 09:15

    Sedinta tehnica trasee lungi

  • Sa 09:30

    Start trasee lungi 45-100km

  • Sa 09:45

    Sedinta tehnica trasee scurte

  • Sa 10:00

    Start trasee scurte 15-35km

  • Sa 11:00

    Start Kids Race 5-6 ani

  • Sa 11:15

    Start Kids Race 7-9 ani

  • Sa 11:30

    Start Kids Race 10-13 ani

  • Sa 12:30

    Premiere Kids Race

  • Sa 13:00

    Food Party Gradina de Vara Traube

  • Sa 15:00

    Premiere trasee scurte 15-35

  • Sa 17:00

    Premiere trasee lungi 45-100 + TOMBOLA

  • Sa 19:30

    Inchidere concurs

Series rounds

CR MTB XCM

Rounds of this series listed on Competi.ro. Each round publishes its own distances, categories and schedule.

  1. Round 1

    Done
    01

    CR MTB XCM #1 / Triada MTB Avrig 2026

    · Avrig

  2. Round 2

    This round
    02

    CR MTB XCM #2 / Mediaș Bike Marathon 2026

    · Mediaș

  3. Round 6

    Done
    06

    Alba Carolina Bike Race 2026 (CR MTB XCM #6 · Campionatul Balcanic XCM)

    · Alba Iulia

  4. Round 7

    Done
    07

    CR 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.

Register for this round
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