Nara

Perhaps one of the best routes to get to know Gravelcyclist races: the high share of hard surface will suit riders who have mostly ridden on the road. Half of the route follows the picturesque banks of the Nara. The other half runs on a good quiet road and narrow winding asphalt lanes, with wide views of the surroundings and fairy-tale birch groves. A dirt segment along two power lines and a lovely special stage along the Nara call for cross-country skills. That is also where you will find a very photogenic ford and a run up a very steep hill. You can race your rivals hard, or ride at an easier pace and look at the sights near the track: an old grotto, the Bulgakovskaya hydroelectric plant, a church with interesting architecture in the village of Nikolskoye, and the sites of the famous Battle of Tarutino and of the Second World War, where you can pay your respects.