Don’t miss to register for the second edition of the 45-SouthWest in 2025. 1st of January the starting fee will increase. For this second edition we await about 40 till 50 riders. The start of the adventure is early morning 20th of June on the main square of Krakow.
395km in your legs. Crossing the bridge over the Donau river from Slovakia to Hungary at the Danube bend, you will see the eye-catching castle and the monumental Esztergom Basilica which is the largest church and the tallest building in Hungary.
Esztergom is an important city in the history of Hungary: the founder of the state, the King of Hungary, Saint Stephen, was born and also crowned here. The town, situated in the picturesque region of the Danube Bend was the first capital of Hungary.
The 45-SouthWest, Krakow-Tarifa will be our first adventure with the sub category “Vintage Bikes”. Bicycles with electronic shifting become more and more popular and the leading riders in this years races used it. The argument for using electronic shifting: it makes shifting easier and less power needed in the hands. So should electronic shifting already be counted as electronic support in the drivetrain? We get often told, it’s supporting the hands with shifting.
In the contrast, this year 2 riders finished the Iberica-Traversa with quite old bikes, with rim brakes and mechanical shifting.
The idea was in the head since a while, let’s introduce the category “Vintage Bikes”. So for the 45-SouthWest 2025 we make it real.
What are the requirements to get listed in the category “Vintage Bikes”:
All transmissions from the rider to any component of the bike must be mechanical without any electronic support.
Mechanical brake system. No hydraulic brakes. No electronic brakes.
Mechanical shifting system by wire. No electronic shifting.
The only electronic system allowed: a dynamo to produce electricity for the light, the navigation device, a phone or a camera.
The bike must be fully functional and comply with road traffic regulations.
Riders of a vintage bike will still also be classified on the main ranking.
From the start in the center of Krakow to checkpoint 1 at Esztergom in Hungary it’s 393km and 4000m to conquer on the route. The route uses quiete backroads. After 109km riders enter Slovakia on the Przełęcz Glinne (813m). It’s a 6.7km long climb with 278 vertical meters.
In the first edition 2 years ago, three riders reached checkpoint one the first day: Steffen Streich (16:56h), Niels Jeanty (17:15h) and Javiltrron (19:26h).
The Main Square of Krakow is the principal urban space located at the center of the city. It dates back to the 13th century, and at 3.79 ha (9.4 acres) is sometimes called the largest medieval town square in Europe. The Project for Public Spaces (PPS) lists the square as the best public space in Europe due to its lively street life, and it was a major factor in the inclusion of Kraków as one of the top off-the-beaten-path destinations in the world in 2016.
The Main Square is a square space surrounded by historic townhouses and churches. The center of the square is dominated by the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), rebuilt in 1555 in the Renaissance style. The Main Square was designed in its current state with each side repeating a pattern of three, evenly spaced streets set at right angles to the square. The exception is Grodzka Street which is much older and connects the Main Square with the Wawel Castle.
And the Grodzka street is the route riders leave the main square, where the start is, towards the Wisla river passing the Wawel Castle. This first part of the race is neutralized. As soon the riders crossed the Kładka (footbridge) with it’s acrobatic sculptures, the race is on.
Following the cycling route along the Wisla river, the longest river in Poland and the largest river that flows into the Baltic Sea, riders leave the city of Krakow.
Krakow is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River, the first written record of the city’s name dates back to 965. Until 1596 Krakow was the official capital of Poland and has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life. Cited as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, its Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, one of the world’s first sites granted the status. (source: Wikipedia)
If you have the chance, travel a bit before the start to Krakow. It is worth it to spend some time in the town before the start.
The Puerto de Portalet d’Aneu in the Pyrenees is a 1794m high mountain pass and the last one riders crossing in the Pyrenees. The 28km long climb starting at Laruns France overcomes 1350 vertical meters. It brings the riders to the last country on their journey to Tarifa, Spain. Spain is also the second hilliest country in Europe.
We checked the route from Laruns France to Aurin Spain just recently and it looks like, on the French side most of the climb got a fresh new pavement.
The 45SW is more than just a route – it’s a journey through time, a celebration of diverse cultures, and an invitation to explore some of Europe’s most remarkable landscapes.
Esztergom, Hungary: first capital, the grand Basilica of Esztergom stands as one of the largest churches in Europe.
Ptuj, Slovenia: the oldest town in Slovenia and one of Europe’s most ancient settlements.
Mantua, Italy: a hidden gem of the Italian Renaissance.
Piacenza, Italy: a lesser-known treasure of Italy, where stunning aristocratic palaces line its streets, far from the usual tourist trails.
Col du Tende: With its ancient military forts and 46 hairpin switchbacks on the southern side, this mountain pass is one of the most spectacular in the Alps.
Col du Tourmalet: a legendary climb in the Pyrenees that was first included in the Tour de France in 1910.
The Windmills of La Mancha: immortalized by Cervantes in “Don Quixote.” These iconic structures, set against the vast, rolling plains, offer a glimpse into the literary heritage and timeless beauty of Spain.
