{"id":1780,"date":"2021-09-13T12:53:20","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T12:53:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=1780"},"modified":"2024-11-05T22:22:54","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T21:22:54","slug":"cycling-in-romania-unimaginably-beautiful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/fietsen-in-roemenie-onvoorstelbaar-mooi","title":{"rendered":"Cycling in Romania: unimaginably beautiful"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cycling in Romania. You often see this combination in the newspaper. Unfortunately, it is then combined with the words 'theft' or 'gang'. This is no promtion for the country . It's very unjustified, because if you see the images and if you ride the routes, in our view Romania is the new Slovenia<\/a>. All they need now is a good pro who will come off hard in a race. Perhaps then we will look a bit more at what this magnificent country has to offer, beyond the insane palace of fallen dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Why you want to go cycling in Romania, we explain in this article. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(c) Transfagarasan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hairpin bends to drool over<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Romania is located in eastern Europe, some 2,000km from Utrecht. Neighbouring Hungary, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine and Serbia, it also has a stretch of land bordering the Black Sea. In the centre of the country you will find a mountainous, more rugged area, where cycling is also most beautiful. The Transylvania region is very beautiful and challenging for cycling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TRANSF\u0102G\u0102R\u0102\u0218AN<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is Romania's beast. The Transf\u0103g\u0103r\u0103\u0219an. It runs straight through the Fagaras Mountains. The views and hairpin bends make you instantly love the Alpe d'Huez<\/a>, Mont Ventoux<\/a> and Stelvio<\/a> forget. The climb is 25 kilometres long in total and in itself goes up quite gradually. 5.2% average and in those 25 kilometres you go 1,500 metres into the air. But what matters most is the scenery and the stunning hairpin turns. This makes this climb in central Romania an absolute bucket list item. Want to know if this road is passable or if the pass is closed? Then check this website<\/a>, with the most up-to-date information on the Transf\u0103g\u0103r\u0103\u0219an.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Transfagarasan Highway \/ (c) Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Basecamp Sibiu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that you would think: we fly to Bucharest and cycle from there, that comes out fairly cheated. The best thing to do from Bucharest is to travel on to Sibiu and store your basecamp there. From there, you can easily conquer the magnificent Transfagarasan. To the west you also have some nice climbs waiting for you. The climb to Poiana Sibiului is very nice but closer by you can also ride from Rasinari to Paltinis. A bit similar to the Grand Ballon<\/a>, as you pick up almost 5% average in 18 kilometres there. The Carpathians are literally at your feet here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sibua - (c) Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The real deal - Transalpina Highway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you do want to go for a brilliant queen's ride: Transalpina. The name says it all - you go through the Alps. It is a truly magnificent climb, which actually consists of several climbs if you take the north variant. You have hairpin turns, drive past Lake Oasa (with a dam) and then on. Because you (if you take the entire 67c route) do multiple climbs, it does make for a huge challenge. Long stretches of seven per cent and higher are no exception. It is also jokingly called 'the devil's path'. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The south variant actually starts in Sebe\u0219. Or you pick up the north variant from Novaci, which is shorter, steeper but just as beautiful. If you've stored your camp in Sibiu, it's handy to drive to Sebe\u0219 with (some form of transport). Otherwise it will be a monster stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Transalpina. (c) Pedal North<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Transalpina, the highest road in Romania<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n