Carpathian MTB Epic 2018 – Stage 3 Best Of

It’s the final day of the Carpathian MTB Epic 2018 - the ultimate mountain bike adventure in the Land of Dracula. The 2nd edition of this wild and rugged solo-format mountain bike event is Romania’s first multi-stage event to be registered in the international calendar of the UCI. 180 kilometres of pure mountain biking and 8,500 metres of pure climbing on rugged trails, never explored by riders, all traversing natural parks and wild regions unique in Europe. 131 Riders from 25 countries are competing the 4 day multistage event. The last, third and decisive stage of this scenic MTB stage race challenges the riders with 60 km of distance and 2,500 m of climbing including passing the Piatra Craiului Mountains (2238 m). The last part of the epic adventure in the Carpathian mountains is outlined by impressive views and challenging paths that offer a pure mountain biking experience. Start and Finish Line is the Cheile Grădiștei Arena in Fundata. The fastest men at the last third stage was the Czech Filip Adel with the time of 02.55.07. He celebrated his first stage victory at this year’s race and just missed the Overall podiums by a few seconds as fourth placed overall. It was the Overall leader in the yellow jersey, the Estonian XCM Champion, Peeter Pruus (EST), who secured the second place at the last third stage (60km of riding and 2.500m of climbing) and thereby he won the Carpathian MTB Epic 2018! His biggest contender, Marek Rauchfuss (CZE) finished todays really fast stage three on the third place. With this result he is overall second. The winner of the MTB World Marathon Series 2017 Belgian Frans Claes came in fourth with just eight seconds behind Marek Rauchfuss. Overall, he made it on the podium as third.
In the women category the multiple Cape Epic Champion from Switzerland, Ariane Lüthi won todays last stage and put a solid gap with 13 minutes between her and the current overall leader, Jovana Crnogorac. With this result Ariane claimed the red women leader jersey back and won the UCI women category at the Carpathian MTB Epic 2018. Second overall finished second placed Jovana Crnogorac, who challenged the big favourite Ariane Lüthi a lot. She did not feel very strong early in the morning, the 14 seconds she had the advantage of not giving her a soothing gauge, so she preferred to defend her second position both in the stage and in the overall standings. Katazina Sosna (LTU) completes the overall podium and finishes at the last stage in third.

Overall Results

Women
1 - Ariane Lüthi (SUI) - 12:44:24
2 - Jovana Crnogorac (SRB) - 12:58:08 (+00:13:44)
3 - Katazina Sosna (LTU) - 14:24:07 (+01:39:43)

Men
1 - Peeter Pruus (EST) - 10:26:35
2 - Marek Rauchfuss (CZE) - 10:32:13 (+00:05:38)
3 - Frans Claes (BEL) - 10:34:57 (+00:08:22)