Mala staza

Race strategy

Short race: go all out.

• Hold your race pace up to 13.2km, but stay in control.
• All downhill to the finish: go all out!
• Control your HR on the first mountain, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 13.2km.
• Start · 0.0km–2.4km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Work · 2.4km–13.2km · Climb of 466m, high point 713m. Plus 1 more climb and 1 descent. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace.
• Home · 13.2km–14.4km · Descent of 178m averaging 15%. Kick for the line: give it everything you've got.

Course

The course climbs 869m+. With 60m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 51% of the distance is uphill, 40% downhill and 9% flat. The longest climb runs 6.6km at an average 7.0% grade (466m of vertical). The longest descent runs 4.9km at an average 9.9% grade (487m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 32.1% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 33.7% over 0.2km. Surface: 46% smooth, 41% trail, and 12% road. Flat-equivalent effort: 21.3 FlatKM.

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 1.4km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is low (index 12 of 100): a few descents worth noting, none of them decisive.

• Control your HR on the first mountain, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 13.2km.
• 6.6–11.5 km · 487 m D−, -9.9% · 2.9 km ahead → your pace

Weather

On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 14°C to 23°C, with around 19°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 41%. Heavy rain of 10.0mm or more falls on about 4% of days around this date.