Maros Bike XCO Cup 2012

Al doilea concurs de anul asta, pentru mine, a fost Cupa Maros XCO din padurea Faget, Cluj-Napoca.
Evitand superlativele, pot sa spun ca editia asta a concursului Maros Bike XCO, a fost foarte reusita din punctul de vedere a unui concurent amator si a unui de spectator.
Editia actuala a fost mutata mai devreme si imi era frica de vremea ploioasa. Cu noroc am ajuns cu doua nopti inainte de concurs in Cluj si m-am odihnit pentru antrenamentul de vineri. Inainte de pranz m-am intalnit cu antrenorul meu, si ne-am dus pe traseu sa vedem ce ne-au pregatit cei de la Maros Bike, in afara de ce stiam din anii trecuti. In mare parte a fost acelasi traseu dar au mai aparut sectiuni modificate, si alte linii de abordat. Chiar antrenorul mi-a atras atentia asupra catorva linii interesante care te ajuta sa-ti mentii elanul sau viteza. Ajuta enorm de mult sa te consulti cu cineva care face asta de ani buni. Am exersat liniile, sectiunile dificile si incercam sa fac sa-mi iasa totul bine. A fost o zi reusita pentru mine pe traseu, dar nu si pentru antrenorul meu, caruia i s-a defectat frana, ("damn"o frana noua si  tare scumpa). A trebuit sa-si schimbe frana complet.
Vineri seara a inceput sa ploua lasand teama mea sa se adevereasca, eram fara cauciucuri de noroi, pe langa astea eram pregatit mai mult pentru praf si pietre.  Norocul nostru ca totusi nu a plouat toata noaptea, dimineata am gasit traseul intr-o stare destul de acceptabila, dar si asa mi-a alunecat roata din fata de vreo 2 ori, si la urcari am pedalat in gol. Dupa start am pornit foarte bine, am mers cu primii concurenti aproape pana in capatul primei ture. Sectiunea Phoo-tai mi-a venit de hac si anul asta, m-a scos total din echilibru. In rest am parcurs ok tot traseul, pe liniile alese la antrenament. Pe la jumatatea turei a doua mi s-a intamplat ceva ciudat, si am inceput sa pierd pozitie cu pozitie, eram depasit de concurenti. Am facut cateva gafe din care o sa invat si sper ca in viitor sa nu le mai repet.
Dupa desfasurarea competitiei pentru amatori, a urmat concursul rachetelor (elite), ei urmareau puncte pentru calificari la Jocurile Olimpice. Au participat rideri destul de importanti din Ungaria, Slovacia, Serbia, Polonia, Germania, si normal si din tara noastra. Concursul a fost castigat de ungurul Andras Parti, urmat de campionul Poloniei. Parti s-a impus cu un avans de 2 minute. In urma lor au fost lupte acerbe intre participanti (Buruczki, Juhasz, Blazso, Sonntag). Fiecare isi juca tactica si vroia sa-si arate albul dintilor, dar a fost ziua lui Parti care a facut o demonstratie de forta. Simt ca acest concurs ia amploare in fiecare an si cred ca in scurt timp o sa devine un eveniment important in zona Est-Europeana.
Anul asta n-am reusit sa ma autodepasesc dar simt ca evoluez, si cu antrenamentele constante sper sa am si rezultate in scurt timp. E prima oara cand concurez pe sistemul 2x9 si pot sa spun ca e fenomenal, trebuie un antrenament mai serios dar, cu siguranta este mai eficient decat cu 3 foi.
A fost un concurs si un eveniment pe cinste, cu prieteni, biciclisti amatori, profesionisti (legitimati de talie de cupa mondiala), abia astept editia viitoare 'to let it roll'. Ma bucur ca ne indreptam catre ceva mai bun, macar la MTB.
Multumesc prietenilor, colegilor  si celor care m-au sustinut de pe margine si m-au ajutat, mersi Marci pentru bikesetup si sfaturi, mersi Eli de cadou - un gest surprinzator, multumesc Freestylesport - magazinul care ma sustine, si o nota de 10 pentru cei care au venit sa faca poze si sa transforme acest eveniment intr-unul de neuitat. Locul 12  e un inceput bn.

The second competition this year for me was the Maros Cup XCO in Faget Forest, near Cluj-Napoca.
Avoiding superlatives, I can say that this edition of the contest , has been very successful in terms of an amateur competitor and a spectator too.
The current edition has been moved earlier and I was a bit afraid of rainy weather. With luck I arrived two nights before the race in Cluj and rested for friday's track inspection. Before lunch I met with my coach, and we went on the track to see what the guys from Maros Bike prepared, except I knew from previous years. The track was almost the same with some modified sections, and other lines to approach. Even the coach drew my attention to some interesting lines that could help me keep the momentum and speed. It helps enormously to consult with someone, who is doing this for years. We rehearsed the lines, the difficult sections and it worked out all right. It was a success for me on the track, but not for my coach, whos right brake system leaked("damn" a new and very expensive brake), it had to be changed completely.
Friday night it started to rain, leaving my fear come true, had no mud-tires, besides I was more prepared for dust and rocks. Lucky for us that it hasn't rained all night, and in the morning  found the trail quite acceptable, but even so my front wheel slipped 2 times, and in the climbings i was pedalling empty. After the start I went very well  with the runners almost to the end of the first lap. The Phoo-tai section took me completely out of balance. Otherwise went all the way ok, the lines chosen on practice went also ok. In the second half of lap 2 something strange happened to me, and I began to lose position by position. I made some blunders from which i have to learn and hopefully will not repeat them in the future .
After the competition for the amateurs, the rocket contest followed (Elite), they raced for Olympics qualifying points. Very important riders participated  from Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, Poland, Germany, and from our country. The race was won by Hungarian rider Andras Parti, followed by the polish champion. Party has won with an advance of 2 minutes. Behind them were fierce battles between the participants (Buruczki, Juhasz, Blazso, Sonntag). Each played their tactics and wanted to show their skills. It seems that the competition got tougher every year and I think that soon it will become an important event in the East European region.
This year I didn't managed to overcome my latest results but i'm evolving, and with constant training hope to have good results soon. It's my first time competing with the 2x9 system and I can say it's phenomenal, needs a serious workout but certainly more effective than 3 chainrings.
It was a good race event with friends, amateur and professional cyclists(World Cup class). I just can't wait for the future 'to let it roll'. I'm glad that we're heading towards something better, even if only in MTB.
Many thanks to my friends, colleagues and those who cheered, supported and helped me on the sideline and , thanks  coach for my bikesetup and tech-tips, thanks Eli fro the gift - a surprising gesture, thanks Freestylesport - the store which supports me all the time, and 10+ for those who came to take pictures and turn the race into a memorable event. 12th place its not a bad start.