17th edition of AUTHOR ŠKODA bike marathon Súľovské skaly - SHOCART
Course description 88 km / 2800 m
(0. – 36. km) The start as well as the finish are yet again situated in the centre of Súľov. In the first 3,5 km, you climb up the asphalt road to Hradná and then, near the pub, you turn left onto a rocky path to Patúch saddle. After 2/3 of the climb, the path enters the forest and becomes even steeper. Once you reach the saddle you can look forward to 4 km of moderate gravel downhill section to Kňazova Lehota. After some 600 meters of asphalt, you turn left onto a climb alongside a cemetery, at first through a meadow and then through the forest, that leads you almost beneath the saddle between Lietava and Svinná. CHANGE! Do not turn right, but immediately left and take the blue tourist trail to Babkov. WARNING! The following 500 meters of downhill on the forest path (blue trail) are full of roots. The forest leads to a meadow, where you will follow the left track and it will take you to Babkov along the cemetery. After taking the asphalt road along the farm you will get to the original route. After the asphalt downhill you will have to turn sharply right onto a gravel road which will lead you to the centre of Podhorie, where the first, small refreshment will be located (1.MOS 15.km). From here you will continue along the blue cycling trail approximately 300 meters to a Y-crossroad where you ride left and after about 400 meters you get to the edge of the village. Here the road rises, at first you climb the asphalt road, then turn left on a gravel path in the forest. After a kilometre or so you get to the place of another route change. Do not turn left to Babkov farm, but continue along the gravel track. After about a half a kilometre you arrive at the timber depot, then the track continues with a steeper incline, about 300 meters and then the path turns to a sharp wall, about 200 meters long. That will take you to a path traversing the forest and begin to decline slowly. At the next junction of forest roads turn sharply right and continue traversing Súľov mountains. After about half a kilometre turn left and you ride down over the stony path to the upper end of Babkov. Here the asphalt road begins again and it will take you to the original route to climb into Tobolky saddle. The stony descent ends near the water-station in the Patúch valley. ATTENTION! For app. 2 km, the course leads over the same section as after the start but this time in the opposite direction. A moderate climb leads you to a junction to Zbyňov, where you turn left. The gravel trail (green tourist marking) climbs for a while right under Kamenný Diel. The following descent to Zbyňov is a technical delicacy – the gravel trail changes into a section with smooth stone plates. Malá Fatra. The asphalt road between Zbyňov and Jasenové allows you to recover some strength. At the end of Jasenové, the asphalt changes into a rocky gravel path and a gentle climb through a picturesque valley together with a ford section takes you to Malá Čierna where you can find the second, classic feeding station (2.VOS 33.km) situated near the local pub. The climb to Dubica saddle begins at local church. The first part leads over the meadow, after that the trail hides itself in the forest where you have to conquer a 150 meter long steep rocky section and after app. 400 meters you are at the top.
After 500 meters downhill you join the 48 km and 25 km courses. The part of the course (36. – 69. km) is described in the 48 km course description.
(69. – 79. Km) The part of the course to Paštiná Závada leads mainly through the forest with some roots and rocks but it is a really nice descent. A short passage on the narrow asphalt road will lead you to the Municipal office at Paštiná Závada, where you turn right onto the asphalt path to Peklina. At the centre of the village on the main crossroad you will join the original route and turn right towards Rôsoviny saddle and a gentle 5 km gravel ascent takes you back to the 48 km course.
The description of the last section (79. – 88. km) is again in the 48 km course description.
Course description 48 km / 1600 m
After the start of the long course, the most numerous part of the peloton starts from the Súľov square. The first part of the course to Hradná is the same, but at the local pub, you continue straight on towards the ski resort. The road gets even steeper and narrower after passing the last houses, therefore it is crucial for the ones thinking of the podium to work their way up to the front before this section. The last 300 meters of ascent lead over a grassy field road and when it rains, it is one of very few places where the mud sticks to the wheels. The ascent ends at the boundary cross of counties in the saddle “pod Markom”.
This is where the 88 km course joins.
The course continues with a wide descent over meadows with beautiful views to the hills over Bodiná. Btw. the saddle also offers a wonderful view in the opposite direction towards Súľov castle, Brada, Roháč… Many of you will breathe a sigh of relief that the feared climb through the meadows is now a descent… After a short asphalt section through Bodiná begins a pleasant ascent to the saddle over Vrchteplá. Just before the summit, the panorama of Bodiná hills opens in front of you for a while. The descent to Vrchteplá is short and fast. The feeding station (3.VOS 43.km) (1.VOS 13.km) (1.VOS 13.km) is situated in the usual place near the pub at the local square. The old asphalt road ends with the last houses and then you easily ride up the meadow to the Minarčíkovské saddle. After some 500 meters of descent in the forest you turn right onto a traverse that leads you to the meadows under Dubovec. Here you get the most beautiful views of Súľovské skaly. A fast descent through the meadow is followed by a field path ending near the camping site below the football pitch in Súľov.
The 25 km course splits to the right after 200 meters from the starting place.
A wide asphalt road leads you through the Súľov gorge and after some 2 km begins the most technical section of the whole course, the ascent to the Javor saddle. A field path leads you directly between fantastic rock formations. If time is not on your mind, you can take as many pictures as you wish…The ascent leads directly along the natural preserve border. Just take your right leg off the pedal and you are in there! You can find here 2 - half a meter deep rock stairs that our assistants help you to conquer. Here is second. This exposed section is some 150 meters long. The rest is ridable. Few meters after the place where the green tourist marking turns to Súľov castle, you turn left onto a path that leads you up to the top of the climb. If this section does not melt your hearts then I really don’t know… Singletrail No.1! AND NOW ATTENTION - CHANGE! On the top of the singletrail turn right and continue uphill over a steep forest road to Brada saddle. At the forest meadow on the top you will get to the intersection of four roads. Turn slightly to the left and follow the blue tourist marking towards Hrabové. The descend will take you to the National Nature Preserve Súľovské skaly! The forest road continues slightly up and down, leads past rock walls and needles and brings you to the edge of the forest just at the border of Jablonové and Hrabové land areas where you will rejoin the original route. This descent offers various types of surfaces - starts with a meadow, continues over smooth field path and finishes with short rocky sections. The last kilometer leads over a narrow asphalt road between the houses. Please be cautious here. Another feeding station is situated near the church in Hrabové (4.VOS 55.km) (2.VOS 25.km). You have some time for digestion before you get to the local agricultural farm but then comes a 300 meter steep bit over a meadow up to the saddle above Hlboké. After app. 500 meters of asphalt you get onto a macadam climb between the fields. It took us some time during the course inspection before we found this nice passage alternative to It does not match the steepness of “Bodiná wall" though.... CHANGE! You will not traverse the forest edge from the saddle, but ride directly down the hill to the Municipal office in Hlboké, where you will join the original route Hričovské Podhradie. The path passes by the Ostrý vrch along the forest traverse and the edge of the forest offers you the view towards Váh valley and Javorníky in the distance. You can also watch the highway construction site from here. When you cross the meadow you get onto a forest trail leading underneath the natural preserve – Hričov Rock Needle. A nice descent brings you to the centre of Hričovské Podhradie with the next feeding station near the pub (5.MOS 62.km) (3.MOS 31.km). From here you can spot the local dominating feature – the ruin of Hričov castle. Not even here does the course join the main road but leads over a parallel route – a narrow asphalted path near the fences gets you to the end of the village, directly to the Hričov gorge. Only 200 meters of wide asphalt are enough to bring you right underneath another delicacy, the passage over the top of Rôsoviny saddle. Already the initial part of the climb leaves no one in doubts that is the hardest part of the course – with an elevation of 375 meters. The first kilometer with gravel – rocky surface underneath the Hričov castle is tough but you can make it. Then it is going to be quite different. Easy climbing, beautiful views and a hard gravelly surface with sandy bits; that is the reward for ascended meters. There is one place though in the following descent over the wide gravel road where you will have to increase your attention – a “Mammoth hole”. You certainly won’t miss it…There will be a warning board in front of it just to make sure “!!!”.
After 1 kilometer of descent over a gravel highway, the 88 km course splits to the left. Course description (79. – 88. km).
The 48 km course splits to the right to Lietavská Závadka. The last feeding station (7.VOS 81.km) (4.VOS 41.km) is situated at the end of the village where the buses turn. Then you join the Calvary leading to Roháč saddle. This is the last climb of the course. Anyone who has ever ridden it must have labeled it clearly – biker’s delicacy. The first 50 meters of technical downhill are followed by a cycling rollercoaster – forest trail with banked curves. The fine gravel surface underlines the exceptionality of this section. Just before the end of the downhill section in the forest, the 25 km course joins from the right. The final part is the same for all 3 courses. After exiting the forest you wobble over one meadow horizon and one might say that you just have to easily turn the pedals to the finish. Across the smooth meadow, where you can easily reach 70 km/h, you get to an asphalt road, brake a bit and after app. 10 meters you turn right onto a narrow path between the trees, the word tunnel would be suitable here, wade the creek, a beautiful grassy trail leads you to the main road and after some 500 meters you are at the finish. Congratulation !!!
The last to start, after the 48 km course, are the participants on the shortest, family course. The description of the first 17 km can be found in the 48 km course description.
(17. – 25.km) The climbing begins along the catholic church after turning right from the main road. ATTENTION! This section until the path to Roháč saddle is permitted only during the bike marathon! Thank you for your understanding.
Near the church you turn left onto a macadam road. The following 200 meters of climbing are really demanding. In the sharp right-hand corner you join the Educational trail along the Súľov castle. Some 100 meters behind the forester's lodge that is on the left hand side underneath the dolomite rock cliff, just to the left between the trees, you can find an interesting natural formation – mushroom rock Smrčok. And directly above, atop the rocks, you can spot another well known pair of rocks – The Owl and The Little Owl. The climb gets more moderate after a while and over your heads to the left you have the ruins of the Súľov castle and right in front of your eyes, the most significant rock formation with three summits – Brada (816 m.s.l.). The trail leads just meters from the natural preserve boundary along the forest edge. The educational trail splits to the left and you get an open view of the rock formation Roháč. The trail gently snakes itself up and down. You dive into the forest for a while, then a light descent shows up; you exit the forest and turn right on the way down before the wall of trees. Even though the path continues through the forest, it is already the natural preserve. After some 300 meters of downhill you get to a field road and turn left sharply. For you stay Brada and Roháč. This road dives into the forest as well but it is directly on the boundary of the natural preserve. After another 300 meters, you get to a meadow with a fountain and then a beautiful scenery of the rock formation Roháč opens in front of you. Having a camera with you is really worth it. Then you continue with a steep climb that ends on the meadow where once the cottage from the movie Falconer Tomáš stood. The panorama of Súľovské skaly from this place is just…, you will see yourself. From the meadow, the course leads to the forest edge, after some 20 meters of sharp climbing you get onto a forest trail where you turn right and after 1 km the trail leads you towards the tourist path from Roháč saddle where you join the 88 km and 48 km courses. After exiting the forest you wobble over one meadow horizon and one might say that you just have to easily turn the pedals to the finish. Across the smooth meadow, where you can easily reach 70 km/h, you get to an asphalt road, brake a bit and after app. 10 meters you turn right onto a narrow path between the trees, the word tunnel would be suitable here, wade the creek, a beautiful grassy trail leads you to the main road and after some 500 meters you are at the finish. Congratulation !!!
