Between Balatonberény and Somogyvár, this 43 km stage stays on tarmac yet shows off two strikingly different landscapes. The dividing line is the climb at Fonyód, which is also the only real challenge, whichever direction you ride. From Balatonberény to Fonyód you cruise along the familiar lakeshore cycle path; from Fonyód to Öreglak the route trades the waterfront for marshland scenery and a newly built ribbon of asphalt reserved for cyclists.
Elevation gain: The first figure shows the counter-clockwise direction, and the second shows the clockwise direction.
Difficulty: The difficulty rating is based on the perspective of riders who cycle regularly, but not competitively. We believe every stage is achievable, so if it appeals, go for it.
Recommended bike: The bike recommendation reflects the difficulty of the off-road sections. Where the terrain is not especially rough and the route alternates between asphalt, compacted dirt roads and good-quality gravel, a touring bike (trekking/cross bike) can also handle the stage. For the best balance of speed and efficiency, every stage is ideally ridden on a gravel bike. A mountain bike will get you through any stage too, but the wider tyres and extra suspension are only really needed on a few sections. Riders looking for a more relaxed challenge can also take on the route by e-bike; they are ranked in a separate category, so they can still feature on the leaderboard.
After registration and after each successfully completed stage, you will receive a downloadable online certificate that you can share on social media, and you can build a personalised record of the stages you have completed. Finish all 12 stages and you will also receive a BB365 gift as a keepsake.
