Leonidas Challenge 2026
A last-man-standing road cycling endurance challenge
20 June 2026 · Miercurea Ciuc, Harghita
Spartan attrition on the road around Miercurea Ciuc: ride the same 48.59 km / +309 m loop again and again. A new loop launches every two hours — 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 — with an 18:00–19:00 lights break. Miss a start, you're out. The last rider standing wins.
Date
20 June 2026
Where
Miercurea Ciuc, Harghita
Discipline
Ciclism de șosea — anduranță cu eliminare (last-man-standing)
The loop
1
The challenge
Outlast every rider
Leonidas Challenge is an elimination endurance event by Randonneurs Miercurea Ciuc. There is one course — a 48.59 km loop with 309 m of climbing — and you ride it over and over. A fresh loop sets off every two hours: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00, with the 18:00–19:00 hour reserved for fitting lights before riding into the dark.
The rules are brutally simple. Be on the start line when the next loop launches, complete the lap, recover, repeat. Riders drop out as legs and resolve give way, until a single rider is left turning the pedals. No stages, no shortcuts — just the loop, the clock, and how long you can hold on.
The loop
One loop, ridden to the limit
Every two hours you take on the same circuit again. The distance below is the per-lap loop — your total depends on how many loops you survive.
- Per-lap loop 1
48.59km
Practical info
Everything you need to know
- Registration
- 11 Jan 2026 – 14 Jun 2026
- Entry fee
- Donatie la fata locului
- Elevation gain
- 309 m D+ per buclă de 48,59 km
- Start
- Miercurea Ciuc
Details
About the event
Leonidas Challenge 2026 este o competiție de anduranță cu eliminare, în bucle succesive de 48.59 km / 309 m+ elevație. Start la fiecare 2h (10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00), cu pauză între 18:00-19:00 pentru lumini. Organizat de Randonneurs Miercurea Ciuc.
Trasee
- Buclă — 48.59 km, 309 m D+
Înscrieri
- Deschidere înscrieri: 11 ianuarie 2026
- închidere înscrieri: 8 iunie 2026
- Preț: donație la fața locului
Bun de știut
- Punct de start: Miercurea Ciuc
- Diferență de nivel: 309 m
On the day
What to expect
Fixed loop starts
A new loop launches every two hours at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00 — be on the line or you're out.
Elimination format
Miss a start and you're eliminated. Riders are whittled down loop by loop until one remains.
Recover between loops
The gap between starts is your window to refuel, fix lights in the 18:00–19:00 break, and reset for the next lap.
Grit and community
A small field of endurance riders sharing the same 48.59 km circuit — pure attrition, shared respect at the line.
Schedule
Event schedule
- 10:00START bucla 1
- 12:00START bucla 2
- 14:00START bucla 3
- 16:00START bucla 4
- 18:00Pauză (18:00–19:00)
Odihnă și montarea luminilor pentru tura de noapte
- 19:00Reluare — bucle din 2 în 2 ore până rămâne un singur ciclist
Location
Where it happens
Start, finish and every loop run from Miercurea Ciuc in Harghita — the heart of the Székely Land, ringed by the road climbs that make up the circuit.
Distances
- Leonidas Challenge (last-man-standing)bucle succesive de 48,59 km↗ 309 m D+ / buclă
Miercurea CiucShow on map
Good to know
Frequently asked
Where does it take place?
In and around Miercurea Ciuc, Harghita county — the start point and every loop run from there, organised by Randonneurs Miercurea Ciuc.
How does the last-man-standing format work?
There is one loop. A new loop starts every two hours (10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00), with an 18:00–19:00 lights break. Be on the start line for each loop or you're eliminated — riders drop out until a single rider remains.
How long is the loop?
Each loop is 48.59 km with 309 m of climbing. You ride the same circuit repeatedly; your total distance grows with every loop you survive.
How do I register?
Entries are handled on the official registration form; use the Register button on this page. Entry is by on-site donation.
How long can you last?
Subscribe for reminders as the loop times and details are confirmed, or sign up now on the official form.