National Hill Climb Championships. The location is traditionally Magyarhertelend, organized by Zengő. This also means we’ll be in a safe environment, with good asphalt, ensuring that everyone has a great time. The distance is 24 kilometers with an elevation gain of 604 meters.
A week before the National Championships, we were set to participate in the BalatonFondo, but forecasts predicted stormy winds and rain. As a result, the organizers canceled the 118 km distance, allowing all competitors to race only in the 62 km event. The MBH Bank Cycling Team decided not to take part. The team didn’t want to risk accidents or the chance of getting sick ahead of the upcoming National Championships and the Kecskeméti Kétkarikás Kerékpárverseny.
However, fate had other plans, and due to illness and foreign competitions, we could only field four representatives for the National Hill Climb Championships. From our U19 roster, only three first-year riders were able to attend, and from the U17 category, only Márk could make it.
We arrived with plenty of time to spare, allowing us to take a stroll and shake hands with some old acquaintances: Zsolt Keszericze and Gábor Skoff.
I also met Gergő Gönczy (Epronex)
And Csongor Kardos (Csömör):
My former teammate Péter Koloszár (BTS)
The route was similar to last year’s U17 race route for quite a distance. While the U17 riders only went as far as the Komló junction, this time the race extended all the way to Misina-tető, right at the base of the TV tower.
We had only one team car, which followed the U17 riders who started 5 minutes later than us. This meant we had to navigate without any technical issues because there would be no chance of catching up to the group if something went wrong and we had to wait for the team bus to come from behind the other field.
As I’ve mentioned before, this isn’t a classic mountain race like the Mátra. After Magyarhertelend, there’s a climb where everyone quickly begins to push for a breakaway, but generally, nothing major happens. Then we encounter many flatter sections, with some climbs and even a few descents along the way. It’s challenging to categorize this race.
After the U17 finish point, there’s a steep descent, followed by two very sharp turns—one with a guardrail and the other a chicane, marked by a flagger to help prevent crashes.
I felt strong and was riding well, but I messed up the tactics. When the initial surges begin, you have to commit to either the red or black; you need to decide whether to jump in or maintain your own pace, as it’s just the usual jostling, and nothing substantial is likely to come of it.
The truth is, this is really like roulette: if you don’t jump into the break and it succeeds, you’ll be left behind. If you go for everything, you’ll burn out quickly. You have to feel the situation; you need to be bold and a bit lucky.
I decided that if there’s an opportunity, I’m going for it.
By the time I realized that the surges were fading one after another, I had already expended most of my energy. It evolved into a tactical adjustment in the end: by riding at my own pace, I was able to pass riders who, like me, had previously opted for the tactic of jumping into the breakaway.
Csongor Kardos and Gergő Gönczy seized the moment with excellent timing and, through outstanding teamwork, successfully finished in a breakaway. Gergő took first place in his category and overall, while Csongor finished first in U19 and second overall. I crossed the finish line in eleventh place, which is far from the result I came for. But that’s how this year has gone. I’ll be back next year!
