This unique event brought together two popular cycling series: Poland’s Bike Maraton and the Czech Prima Cup, creating one of the most important MTB events on the Polish-Czech border.
Start in Harrachov, finish at Polana Jakuszycka
The competitors started in the Czech town of Harrachov and then followed scenic routes through the Jizera Mountains and the area around the Karkonosze Mountains. The competition ended at Dolnośląskie Centrum Sportu at Polana Jakuszycka, which served not only as the finish area, but also as a recovery zone with a hot meal and the stage for the awards ceremony for the best competitors.
Four distances and top-level competition
The organizers prepared routes for competitors with different levels of experience:
- GIGA – 80 km
- MEGA – 60 km
- CLASSIC – 30 km
- FUN – 19 km
Additional attractions included the E-Bike competition and sporting excitement for the youngest participants during Kids Jakuszyce.
International UCI C2 status
The GIGA distance was particularly prestigious, as it was held in the UCI C2 category. This meant that competitors were competing for points in the world ranking of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), giving the event an international character. Both amateurs and leading cyclists from Poland and the Czech Republic took part.
Potential to become a permanent fixture in the MTB calendar
BEST Freedom Race was the first project of its kind to combine two major cycling series from Poland and the Czech Republic into one joint event. It attracted not only competitors, but also spectators and fans of active recreation.
According to the organizers, the event demonstrated the huge potential of joint sporting projects carried out on both sides of the border and could become a permanent fixture in the calendar of the most important MTB events on the Polish-Czech border.