Pedală în Bănie
Oltenia goes wild. Ride and run the Jurassic Era.
12–14 June 2026 · Podari, Dolj
Craiova's flagship outdoor weekend lands on the Jiu riverbank at Podari — a dino-themed MTB marathon, trail running, and a full festival. Race a T-Rex, outrun a Smilodon, then stick around for the animatronic dino, outdoor cinema and concerts. Seventh edition. €15,000+ prize pool.
About the weekend
Bănia's wildest weekend — half race, half festival
The species lineup
Pick your dinosaur
Seven races across two days — MTB on Saturday, trail running on Sunday. Distances and difficulty below; exact courses are marked on the riverbank at Podari. Kids get their own Baby Dino starts.
Saturday · MTB Marathon
- Flagship
T-Rex
MTB marathon · E-bike eligible
43 km
The apex predator of the weekend — the long MTB marathon loop and the one to chase if you want the headline distance. Open to e-bikes in their own classification.
- Medium
Mamut
MTB marathon
24 km
The mid-distance MTB loop — heavy and steady. A full marathon morning without committing to the full T-Rex length.
- Kids
Baby Dino
Kids MTB
3 km
A short, friendly loop for the smallest riders. Helmets on, training wheels welcome — every Baby Dino crosses the same finish arch as the big beasts.
Sunday · Trail Run
- Hard
Smilodon
Trail run
24 km
The sabre-tooth of the trail roster — the long Sunday run for experienced trail runners who want the full riverbank distance.
- Medium
Velociraptor
Trail run
14 km
Fast and nimble, like its namesake — the mid-distance trail run, a strong step up from a parkrun without the full Smilodon commitment.
- Loop
Triburi
Trail relay loop
9 km (6 × 1.53 km)
A multi-lap format over a short 1.53 km loop — six times round, perfect for pacing, spectating, and cheering each lap from the festival village.
- Kids
Baby Dino
Kids run
600 m
The little ones' dash — a short 600 m run with a medal at the end. The loudest cheers of the whole weekend are usually right here.
Three days, one festival
Friday arrival to Sunday finish
The races are only half of it. Across the weekend the riverbank turns into a festival village — an animatronic dinosaur, dino-egg photo spots, an outdoor cinema and live concerts. Come to race, stay for the show.
- 1
Friday
Jun 12
Arrival & festival opens
Roll into Podari, pick up your bib, and settle into the festival village. The animatronic dino and dino-egg photo spots are up, the outdoor cinema fires up after dark.
- Bib pickup
- Animatronic dino
- Outdoor cinema
- 2
Saturday
Jun 13
MTB marathon day
The big riding day — T-Rex, Mamut and the Baby Dino kids start roll out from the riverbank. Evening brings concerts and the festival in full swing.
- T-Rex 43 km
- Mamut 24 km
- Concerts
- 3
Sunday
Jun 14
Trail run & finish
Sunday is for the runners — Smilodon, Velociraptor, Triburi and the Baby Dino dash. Podium, prizes from the €15,000+ pool, and a last lap of the festival before pack-up.
- Smilodon 24 km
- Velociraptor 14 km
- Podium & prizes
Bănia · Oltenia roots
Where Craiova meets the Jiu
“Bănia” is the old name for Craiova — the historic seat of the Ban of Oltenia. Pedală în Bănie carries that regional pride onto the banks of the Jiu at Podari, and the 2026 Jurassic Era theme leans into the wild, primal energy of the place: ancient river, ancient beasts.
Bănia = historic Craiova
The name nods to Craiova's role as the capital of Oltenia — “Bănia”, the seat of the Ban. Regional pride is the whole point.
On the Jiu at Podari
Races run on the Jiu riverbank at Podari, in the Palilula area just outside Craiova — flat-fast riverside ground that suits both bikes and trail shoes.
Jurassic Era theme
2026 goes full prehistoric — dino-named races, an animatronic beast and dino-egg photo spots tie the year's wild theme to Oltenia's wide-open outdoors.
Why ride here
What you get at Podari
A festival you can bring the whole family to, races for every level, and a riverbank that turns into a prehistoric playground for three days.
€15,000+ prize pool
A serious prize pool spread across the races — one of the biggest amateur weekends in the region.
A race for everyone
From the 3 km and 600 m Baby Dino kids starts to the 43 km T-Rex, there's a distance for every age and level.
Festival beyond the finish
Animatronic dino, dino-egg photo spots, outdoor cinema and concerts — the village runs all three days.
Minutes from Craiova
Podari sits right on the edge of the city, so travel, food and a bed are all easy. Bring the family and make a weekend of it.
The ground
On the map
Races start and finish at Podari, on the Jiu riverbank in the Palilula area just outside Craiova. Use the map below to scout the start arena and plan your arrival.
Weekend rhythm
Schedule
Indicative three-day flow — exact start times and the festival programme are confirmed on the organiser's site closer to the weekend.
Friday · Jun 12
- Afternoon
Festival village opens · bib pickup
Arrival at Podari, race-pack collection, animatronic dino and dino-egg photo spots open.
- Evening
Outdoor cinema
Open-air film on the riverbank to kick the weekend off.
Saturday · Jun 13
- Morning
MTB marathon starts
T-Rex 43 km, Mamut 24 km and Baby Dino 3 km kids roll out from the riverbank.
- Evening
Concerts & festival
Live music and the festival village in full swing after the racing.
Sunday · Jun 14
- Morning
Trail run starts
Smilodon 24 km, Velociraptor 14 km, Triburi 9 km and Baby Dino 600 m kids.
- Midday
Podium & prizes
Awards across the races from the €15,000+ prize pool, then pack-up.
FAQ
Common questions
How do I register?
Online, through the registration page on the official site (pedalainbanie.ro). Registration closes on June 10 at 18:00 — sign up before then to secure your bib.
What distances can I do?
On Saturday the MTB marathon offers T-Rex 43 km (e-bikes eligible), Mamut 24 km, and the Baby Dino 3 km kids race. On Sunday trail running offers Smilodon 24 km, Velociraptor 14 km, the Triburi 9 km loop (6 × 1.53 km), and the Baby Dino 600 m kids run.
What does the event cost?
Entry fees vary by race and are set on the official registration page — check pedalainbanie.ro for the current prices and any early-bird windows. We don't list a fixed fee here because it depends on which race and tier you pick.
Where is it and where do I park?
At Podari, on the Jiu riverbank in the Palilula area just outside Craiova, Dolj. It's minutes from the city centre, so road access and parking near the start arena are straightforward — follow the on-site signage from the festival village.
Can kids take part?
Yes — the Baby Dino races are built for them: a 3 km kids MTB on Saturday and a 600 m kids run on Sunday. Every Baby Dino finisher gets a medal and crosses the same arch as the adults.
Are e-bikes allowed?
Yes — the T-Rex 43 km MTB marathon includes an e-bike classification, so you can ride the flagship loop on an EPAC.
What is there to do besides racing?
Plenty. The festival village runs all three days with an animatronic dinosaur, dino-egg photo spots, an outdoor cinema and live concerts — it's a full family weekend, not just a race.
Line up at Podari.
Registration closes June 10 at 18:00. Pick your beast, claim your bib, and meet us on the Jiu for the wildest weekend in Bănia.