Prima Evadare

Prima Evadare, "the first escape", is a point-to-point mountain bike race out of Bucharest that the organisers describe as the biggest race in Eastern Europe, with riders from more than 30 countries. It is run by NoMad Multisport Club, a Bucharest club whose stated aim is to grow Romania's mountain bike community and get more people onto bikes.

The single course leaves the capital's northern edge at Băneasa and heads north through Ilfov County on forest roads, country lanes, paths and fields to the finish by Lake Snagov, where riders can even take a boat trip on the lake afterwards. It runs under UCI rules, with an elite field at the front.

Behind the elites it is a big community day: there are categories for cyclocross and gravel bikes, tandems, couples, families and company teams, and the afternoon at the finish brings prize draws, the awards and a salute to the volunteers.