LENGTH AND ELEVATION: 288 KM / 2300 M
While for a first time you crossed Dalešice water body over a bridge, you will leave it through majestic dam, which is with 100m height even the highest in Czechia.
Few kilometres further comes another „new thing“ of RACZ26 Route,
as you will make a loop around huge nuclear power station Dukovany.
This experience is especially gorgous in the dark, where you can get amazed by large clouds of steam.
Town worth a stop is also Moravský Krumlov
Behind which our Route will make other loop, which seems a bit unnecessary in map,
but finally become as a great one, as it leads through nice and green valley of Rokytná river.
On the end of this loop you will return closer, or better said above, Moravský Krumlov.
After short climb on minor road you will hit fotogenic St. Florian´s chapel…
Best time to get here is definitely late evening,
as you can enjoy here a breathtaking sunset over Moravský Krumlov,
Although you are very close to czech second biggest city Brno, this area is still very agricultural,
with a dense network of minor roads, almost without any traffic.
If we would have to mark „the most mysterious“ place of The Route, without any doubts we would quickly answerL Rosa Coeli. This ruin of 900 years old monastery has a unique atmposhere, that will give you goosebumps. Don´t miss a short detour to its countryard and spend here at least one minute.
On the way to Pohořelice lies one of few longer MTB sections,
along bumpy and grassy roads between fields of corn. This one has cca 1500m.
In Pohořelice we will bring you to local park,
with supersmooth gravel roads between old trees and small lake.
Another delicious gravel trail waits just behind Pohořelice,
Road along Mlýnský channel through impressive alley is one of most favourite in this area.
Near Nová Ves is other series of ponds, with another MTB trail along pond Vrkač,
which is interrupted by funny footbridge. It takes some courage to ride through on bike 😉
Behind Ivaň you will enjoy tiny asphalted cycling path along Jihlava river…
After crossing Nové Mlýny you will arrive to small village Dolní Věstonice,
which is nice, though nothing special as itself.
But it is still very famous in Czechia, because the world´s oldest (25 000 years) ever discoverd ceramic statuette was found near this village 100 years ago.
You will pass a monument reminding and copying discovery of „Věstonice Venus“.
After 50 flat kilometres follow one steep climb through traditional village Pavlov,
behind which you will almost touch limestone hills of Pálava, with ruins of castle Děvičky on its edge.
Even accommodation can bring special memories, to those who will use for overnight at almost exactly 1000.km, in wild-west-style ranch with campsite near Klentnice.
Well, we gave you rivers, glacier lakes, hundred of ponds, dozens of water dam. So why not to add some extraordinary water place via flooded quarry Janičův vrch, with crystal water and sandy beaches along the shore.
UNESCO town Mikulov is – after Český Krumlov and Telč – for a change moravian architectonic extra jewell. Although it is forbidden to ride a in its old centre, we think some short walk with a bike should serve as welcomed rest for your buttocks, after thousand kilometre on a seat.
Our Route leads through the chateaux and we also recommend to take an icecream
and feel the vibe of its busy pedestrian zone.
It would take hours to count how many bridges and footbridge you cross during RACZ26 and among the most extra ones ranks a 100m long brick bridge with 15 arches, which was built in 17th century to connect nearby summer palace Portz with the mainland.
You are approaching to Lednice, which is famous for its chateaux. But nature lovers should even more enjoy a natural reserve near another series of ponds. Our Route leads along deep double-trail through meadows and this section will be very appreciated by birdwatchers, as many species are hanging around in large flocks.
Lednice is a real queen among moravian chateaux and one of most visited places of south Moravia. Except of this neo-Ghotic jewell, you will visit also nearby vast gardens
(where you will have to walk with your bike again).
After section in fresh forest and crossing of water power station Bulhary,
we found very nice road along Obelisk game reserve and Dyje river.
Romantic ruin of castle Janův hrad waits few kilometres further, on the shores of Stará Dyje.
Also Lednice-Valtice area offers a dense network of smooth gravel roads.
We like the most road „Ládenská cesta“.
Nice experience is also the ride through arch Rendez-vous.
Břeclav is a iconic place of UltraBikers events,
as it is a finish line of our sister MTB challenge Moravia Divide.
Behind the city you will follow again river Dyje, on its last kilometres.
Then you will get to nature reserve Soutok, through which leads probably wildest section of RACZ26 Route. It is a big game reserve, a combination of vast plains and floodplain forests.
We can´t miss also cca 500m dead-end detour along wooden footbridge…
… to amazing confluence of Morava and Dyje rivers,
which creates natural CZ/A/SK triborder, and is southernmost and lowest place of Moravia.
For more than an hour you will be surrounded by fresh green forests of nature park Podluží.
Here, you can feel RACZ26 Route by not only just by sight, but also by smell of felled tree logs.
Another serie of ponds waits before Hodonín.
You can watch hundereds of birds on long straight road through Lužické rybníky.
A special curiosity on the racz26 route will be a long stretch along the double pipeline.
You can ask the AI if they are still in operation and what raw material they distribute 😀
Last district town of The Route will be Hodonín, which has nice old square and townhall …
… and mainly for night riders very appreciated nonstop gas station Shell.
Next kilometres leads along wide and slow Morava river,
along many nice bars, bistros and restaurants.
After Rohatec village you will entered one of most beautiful forests of The Route.
This area is covered by fresh pine forests with bronze-colored bare trunks.
They are pleasantly fresh even on the hottest summer days
and are imbued with a fascinating atmosphere.
However, this section will not be completely free,
you will need to wade through roads with deep and loose sand several times.
A bit of the Sahara in the middle of the forests of South Moravia could serve as an interesting impulse towards the end of the route.
And most importantly, in reserve Osypáné břehy, this small trap will be generously redeemed by another breathtaking panorama of the meandering Morava River,
which has carved out several deep sandy slopes in this area.
After a section on the shifting sand,
it will be useful to reconnect to the paved cycle path along the Morava River.
On behalf of our organizing team, we would definitely award the title of „The most photogenic bridge“ on RACZ26 Route to the old iron bridge near village Vnorovy.
It should undergo reconstruction in the spring, so let’s hope it retains its current charm after it
Veselí nad Moravou will be the last town before a final push.
We wound the route here, among other things, along the smooth gravel paths of the local castle park.
But let’s still enjoy a little of the unique charm of village life in South Moravia.
For example, on a leisurely path among the fields near Kozojízdky.
The last piece in the mosaic of Czech architectural treasures will be a listed street dotted with 200-year-old brick barns in village Hrubá Vrbka.
Behind village Velká nad Veličkou, you will see IT.
Unmissable TV transmitter on the top of Velká Javořina marks the Finish of RACZ26 main route.
Here you are superclose.
Our final push will be strict again, but not as harsh as Kohútka, Girová or Prašivá,
where the vast majority of finishers had to partially push their bike out.
This 6km/510m ascent start with steep part along terrain road.
Its middle part allows you to take a breather on asphalt…
… and the ridge will be veeery emotional.
After 1110 km you will get on the roof of Bílé Karpaty, which offers spectacular views.
Velká Javořina is a magical place of whole southern Moravia and superb finish line for this year´s edition.
Except views you will get goosebumps also under its 135m high transmitter.
And then there is just 1km descent to the Finish Line,
which we arrange at traditional mountain hut Holubyho chata.
For a first time in our history, RACZ will finish in Slovakia 😀
We are sure you will enjoy its vibe in finish line, stay here for few hours,
probably take dumplings „halušky“
and share experience with our Team, Riders and other guests.
We wish all RACZ26 Riders good luck along a Route and we hope you will make it this far!
