Trilogy of the Trails – Triada MTB, Transylvania
Ride into the forests of Europe’s last great wilderness
by Robert Thorpe & Tudor Oprea
It’s March already and the cycling season has already begun – on tarmac and trail. Riders are heading into garages and sheds all over Europe, oiling up their drivetrains and starting to think of those great trail adventures once more. With gravel riding still on the rise, there’s one more bike to add to the collection – isn’t there always – and even more excuses to travel in search of the ultimate adventure. However, look no further, because we think that we’ve found it – deep in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania – Transylvania to be process, and close to the beautiful, historic city of Sibiu, a World Heritage Site and one of thee most beautiful small cities in Europe.
Yes, Europe’s last great wilderness awaits you as Tudor Oprea and the team at TRIADA MTB develop their epic off-road event and take it to new levels. With riders all over our global cycling community, looking for the next great trail – Tudor has a wealth of them for you explore.
Ride magical forests in transfixing Transylvania
‘The Trilogy of the Trails’ is the all-new concept from this inspiring rider from Romania, a former Olympian. It takes in 3 different venues, over 3 different weekends throughout the year, and includes 3 different bike types: E-MTB, MTB XC and Gravel Bike. With races starting at Avrig, near Sibiu in April, the second event is at Romania’s oldest mountain resort, Paltinis in June, and coincides with the internally renowned Sibiu FITS Arts Festival, one of the best in the world and which is second only to Edinburgh. With so much happening, and an international airport only 15 minutes from the medieval city centre – much of which is car free – Sibiu and the ‘Trilogy of the Trails’ is definitely the place to be in summer 2024! The 3rd and final epic weekend is in mid-September, again at Paltinis.
There are categories all the way from the very youngest of riders – small kids, all the way through to Elite men and women, with everyone else fitted in too. Yes, everyone can come and find their own adventure , and choose which bike to ride: gravel bike, mountain bike or e-mountain bike. Tudor and the team have been planning this for a long time, and the Trilogy of the Trails is designed to be inclusive for everyone, to help to promote and to develop cycling and adventure in harmony with the mountains in this exceptional place.
Paltinis and these epic forested mountains have been favourites of ours for many years, being home to our friend and colleague Larisa Chinces, who raced here herself for years. You can literally ride for hours on isolated tracks, with some of the most spectacular alpine views in Europe. Paltinis as we say, will also be the host for the 3rd and final weekend of the Trilogy, in September, when the air is still warm, but with a cooling breeze, and the city squares of Piata Mica and Piata Mare are waiting for you to relax post-ride. The nearby airport has direct flights from London and elsewhere across Europe, and hotels like our favourite – the Art Hotel on Strada Centumvirilor – are ready and waiting to share their warm Romanian hospitality with you.
