Finished 7th in Master 1 at the II. Pécs MTB Maraton
The Pécs MTB Marathon 2026 took me into the Mecsek mountains above Pécs, Hungary, for 70 km and 1,800 m of XC marathon racing. I finished 7th in Master 1 and 31st overall, with the two laps ending just eight seconds apart.
Race video
This film follows the Pécs MTB Marathon from the start beneath the TV Tower through both Mecsek laps, the finish, an interview with the race director, the award ceremony, and a Sunday e-bike ride on the local enduro trails.
7th out of 20 riders in Master 1.
Two laps through the Mecsek hills above Pécs, starting beneath the TV Tower.
The two laps finished just eight seconds apart.
160 W average power over the full 4:03:52 recording.
Opening note
The medium distance of the II. Pécs MTB Maraton runs two laps through the Mecsek hills above Pécs. Lap one and lap two finished just eight seconds apart, and the day ended 7th in Master 1 and 31st overall.
The start
The II. Pécs MTB Maraton took place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, with the medium distance starting at 10:50. The course climbs into the Mecsek mountains above Pécs for just over 70 kilometres of XC marathon racing and more than 1,800 metres of climbing.
The start sits right beneath the Pécs TV Tower, the landmark that gives this race its setting.
I raced the medium distance, which is two laps through the Mecsek.
Two laps
The medium course runs the same loop twice, so pacing matters more than any single move. Lap one and lap two ended up just eight seconds apart, which makes this one of the most consistently paced races I have ridden.
The race video follows both laps in full, with lap one running from roughly 1:24 to 10:09 and lap two from 10:09 to 19:36.
The complete recording came to 67.5 kilometres and 1,865 metres of climbing, a little under the official 70 kilometres. The official figures and my recording are both useful, so this report keeps them separate.
Race effort
Over the full recording I averaged 160 W with 206 W weighted power. That gap fits a course where hard climbing alternates with fast descents and coasting.
Heart rate averaged 163 bpm and peaked at 191 bpm. The biggest share of moving time landed in Z4, followed by Z2 and Z5, which matches a long marathon effort with repeated steep sections.
The charts below use moving time, 3:47:18 out of a 4:03:52 recording, so stops are left out rather than counted as easy riding.
Singletrack
My own verdict straight after the race was that this was a great marathon with a lot of excellent singletrack, and that the weather added to the impression. It was one of those days that simply feels good from start to finish.
My Garmin recorded temperatures between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius, which is comfortable for a four hour effort in late September.
The singletrack is what I remember most about the course, and it is a big part of why the day felt so good.
Result
I finished 7th out of 20 riders in Master 1 and 31st out of 83 overall.
After the finish I spoke with one of the organisers about the event and the trails around Pécs, and the race video includes that interview along with the award ceremony.
On a course that rewards steady pacing, the two matching laps are the detail that stands out most.
Sunday in the Mecsek
The weekend was not over once the race finished. On Sunday we swapped XC racing for e-bikes and headed back into the Mecsek to explore some of the local enduro trails.
That part of the story sits at the end of the video, from about 21:48 to 28:00, and shows how much more riding there is around Pécs than a single marathon route.
Signed trails like the Bringa bike trail point to a local riding scene that goes well beyond race day.
Why go
Between the TV Tower start, the singletrack, the good weather and a Sunday of trail riding, the Pécs weekend works well as a combined race and riding trip.
If you are planning a XC marathon in Hungary, the II. Pécs MTB Maraton is worth a look, and the Mecsek is worth extra days on top.
Effort window
Both charts use moving time from the Intervals.icu activity, 3:47:18 of the 4:03:52 recording, because no official start and finish window was available for trimming.
Heart rate distribution
163 bpm average and 191 bpm maximum, with the largest share of moving time in Z4 (167-177 bpm).
Power distribution
160 W average and 206 W weighted power, spread across the full range of a climb-and-descent Mecsek course.
Route and access
The official Pécs MTB Maraton medium distance is 70 km with 1,800 m. My complete GPX recording is 67.5 km with 1,865 m over 4:03:52, including a few minutes before the start, and the effort charts use the 3:47:18 of moving time.
The downloadable GPX records race day rather than a universal riding recommendation. Confirm local access and trail conditions with the organisers before planning an independent ride in the Mecsek.