Transilvania Bike Trails Race (TBT Race) 2024
The Transilvania Bike Trails Race (TBT Race) mountain biking competition took place on August 17, 2024, in Saschiz, Mureș County.
As part of the Transilvania Bike Trails network, the event annually attracts amateur and professional cyclists from across the country and beyond. The routes were specially designed to showcase the spectacular landscapes of rural Transylvania, passing through forests, traditional villages, and cultural heritage sites like the Saschiz medieval fortress. The competition offered multiple levels of difficulty, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced cyclists.
This year, the event evolved into a festival featuring bike trails for all skill levels, guided tours, outdoor workshops, thematic culinary events, concerts, workshops for children and adults, delicious local products, and a friendly atmosphere. It was a perfect setting for creating new friendships, both during the Fun Stage Race and around the campfire, during the concerts, and at the after-party following the awards ceremony.
Transilvania Bike Trails Race (TBT Race) 2023
This year, the 9th edition of the Transilvania Bike Trails Race (TBT Race) took place from August 9-15 in Saschiz. TBT Race is a mountain biking competition with its start and finish in Saschiz, aimed at promoting the Saxon villages, local heritage, history, nature, architecture, and traditions of the area.
In recent years, the competition has evolved into a true festival, spanning multiple days and incorporating cultural, artistic, musical, and sporting elements. It also features workshops, recreational activities, and even the sale of traditional, artistic, and local products.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were dedicated to guided cultural tours of key tourist attractions in the area, such as the Fortified Church in Criț, Hansi House (a restored traditional Saxon house), the house of King Charles III, the museum and fortified church in Viscri, the Fortified Church in Saschiz, and the pottery and ceramics center.
Participants and visitors also enjoyed culinary events like “Saschizian Food with Love,” a rock concert by the band Menhyart, medieval music performances by Family Fire from Viscri and the band Truverii, as well as poetry, life stories, and discussions with artists Adrian Ionescu and Nuți Dorobanțu.
Sunday was the main day of the competition, with over 800 cyclists participating. The event featured three courses on different routes:
- Long/Pink Route (78 km): Covering nearly the entire Saxon village area.
- Short/Blue Route (24 km): Designed for less experienced and less trained participants.
- Medium/Fluorescent Green Route (45 km): A more complex course passing through multiple villages and fortified churches.
After the awards ceremony, a concert by Trei Parale—collectors and performers of old music on traditional instruments—took place. The evening ended, as usual, with a campfire, a party, wine, and guitar music.
This year as well, TEMAD and WD-40 supported the participants by offering them WD-40 Specialist products and discount vouchers for econstrukt.ro.
Source: https://tbtrace.ro/
Transilvania Bike Trails Race (TBT Race) 2022
The 8th edition of the Transilvania Bike Trails Race (TBT Race) took place in Saschiz from August 11 to 15, 2022.
TBT is an MTB competition starting and finishing in Saschiz, aiming to promote the Saxon villages and the network of cycling trails connecting the Saxon villages in the Târnava Mare area with Sighișoara, as well as showcasing the region’s landscapes, history, nature, architecture, and traditions.
This year, over 1,000 cyclists registered, bringing color and joy to the villages and trails of the TBT Race. The registration package included, among other items, Temad products from the BISON, WD-40, and UHU brands for participants in the Family categories with children.
Those who didn’t participate in the cycling races enjoyed the natural surroundings, the local architecture, outdoor hikes, and the cultural activities organized as part of the event.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were dedicated to guided cultural tours of the most important tourist attractions in the area, including the Fortified Church in Criț, Casa Hansi (a restored traditional Saxon house), Prince Charles’s house, the museum and Fortified Church in Viscri, the Fortified Church in Saschiz, and the pottery and ceramics center. For children, an MTB School/Competition was held in the courtyard of the Saschiz Fortified Church, along with various outdoor games.
On Saturday and Sunday, unique organ and trombone concerts were held in the Saschiz Church, along with live music performances and film screenings.
Sunday featured the cycling races and the award ceremonies, with the event concluding with a party, bonfire, wine, and guitar music.
Congratulations to the winners and all the participants!
Source: https://tbtrace.ro/
Transilvania Bike Trails Race (TBT Race) 2021
The Temad Team Returns Home Victorious
Temad proudly sponsored this event and wholeheartedly supported it on Saturday, August 28, alongside the 2500+ attendees. We set up a SELF-SERVICE stand, available to all cyclists, where they could prepare their bikes—cleaning, degreasing, and lubricating them with products from the WD-40 BIKE range.
Given the less-than-ideal weather conditions, the WD-40 Bike WET LUBE was a standout, providing significant benefits on the trails by preventing mud and dirt from sticking to the chains.
The stand also showcased products for children from the UHU range and for adults from the Bison and Poly Max lines. The Temad team demonstrated the practical applications of these products and explained their benefits to visitors.
We had the pleasure of providing free samples to visitors at our stand, as well as to cyclists participating in the race through the participation kit. At the end of the event, we organized a raffle, where we offered original WD-40 products (Bike and Specialist lines) and other promotional materials from the Bison and UHU ranges.
Temad was proudly represented on the track in the 30-39 age category by two of our colleagues, Mihai Oprișenescu (87th place) and Alin Simion (109th place), as well as Alin’s wife, Florentina Simion (12th place in the women’s category).
The race covered a 43 km route (Meșendorf, Criț, Cloașterf, Saschiz), with an elevation gain of 748 meters and over 800 participants.
See you at the next edition!
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Transilvania Bike Trails Race (TBT Race) is an MTB competition taking place on Saturday, August 28, with the start and finish in Saschiz, a village near Viscri. The event’s primary goal is to promote the network of biking trails that connect the Saxon villages in the Târnava Mare area with Sighișoara, as well as to showcase the region’s landscapes, history, nature, architecture, and traditions. This is why activities will kick off on Wednesday evening and conclude on Sunday.
This year, Temad is proud to sponsor the event while also participating in the 42 KM race, encouraging all enthusiasts to join without hesitation!
The competition is in its 7th edition and will feature three race distances:
- 22 km: A short course, designed for children and families.
- 77 km: A full course showcasing the landscape and local points of interest, including Viscri.
- 42 km: A medium course, ideal for beginners or less trained participants.
The routes traverse both specially designed sections of the trail network as well as grassy hills, forest roads, and the lanes of old villages. The race courses also pass through the courtyards of fortified churches, with the long route including the Saschiz Fortress.
At the same time, the competition and event are an exploration of our shared past, of the Saxons, and the culture of the region. It’s a journey back in time and history, contrasting with a modern perspective that offers a fresh touristic approach: activities promoting an active lifestyle, unique trails, comfort within a restored traditional architectural setting, and healthy food from local producers.
In recent years, the event has expanded over several days, incorporating various other sporting, cultural, and culinary events. Due to the significant influx of participants arriving with their families, a natural camping site has been established, creating an extraordinary atmosphere each evening.
The main objective of the project is to provide a unique experience for participants, attract a large number of outdoor enthusiasts to the area, and boost local incomes through sustainable and responsible tourism. The trails are gravel-paved to prevent mud formation, are easy to follow, and are constructed with 80% of the routes passing through forests. They can be used year-round, except during snowy periods.
