Route to the race

12. 5. 2025

In this article, you will learn:

Who the new traffic coordinator is
Details about the route

We have welcomed a new person to the position of traffic coordinator. From the very beginning, he took on his role with great enthusiasm. In previous years, he was already part of our team, working in traffic as a driver. Now, he will be looking at the race and vehicles from a different perspective. Read the interview with Šimon, who described his new role in the following paragraphs.

A New Challenge

As the new traffic coordinator for the DHL Sereďmaratón 2025, I received a unique opportunity to peek behind the scenes of organizing one of the biggest cycling events in our region. In addition to sporting passion, it’s also about significant organizational effort, responsibility, and cooperation with municipalities, the police, and dozens of volunteers. In this article, I offer my view on the route and everything connected with it – from the first ideas to the final details.

Before the start of the actual race, we organized two training rides for cyclists called "Along the Sereďmaratón Route,” during which participants could try out the key segments of this year’s course. The first ride focused on flat terrain with sprint sections. The second was the opposite, testing climbing legs on the ascents toward the village of Svrbice. During both rides, we emphasized safety with the help of escort vehicles (a big thank you to my colleagues for not letting me handle it alone), refreshments, and hydration – thanks especially to our partner Lucka. These rides helped us fine-tune critical points of the route and prepare for real race conditions.

The first draft of the DHL Sereďmaratón 2025 route was created in the autumn of 2024, when I – as the new traffic coordinator – sat down with a laptop, opened the maps, and started thinking about a new route based on memories of previous editions and a vision of where we want this event to go (as I had the chance to be a driver in the peloton during the past two editions and helped organize the race). Personally, I wanted a route that would be a challenge not only for the cyclists but also for me from an organizational standpoint.

We Already Had a Concept

The route was planned, municipalities were contacted, and all documents were sent to authorities for approval. However, in February this year, an unexpected complication arose: a key segment of the original route would be under reconstruction during the race. So we had to make a big decision – A COMPLETE ROUTE CHANGE.

All planning had to start over, now with new energy and the realization that time was short. In the end, we developed a fully-fledged new route, which was approved by the authorities in a short time – we are truly grateful for their cooperation and efficiency.

The Final Route

The result is a 122 km circuit (+ just under 3 ceremonial km through Šintava) connecting the Galanta, Nitra, and Trnava regions. The start is at Námestie Slobody in Sereď, where the peloton will set off at 10:10 AM through the streets of Sereď, continuing via Šintava, Šoporňa, Pata, and Báb to the first sprint point in the village of Rumanová, near our long-time and loyal partner, TECHNOV.

The route continues through Rišňovce, Alekšince, Lukáčovce, Pastuchov, and the "Viecha Jašter” parking lot – where we have prepared a new stationary service station in cooperation with our new premium partner DECATHLON. Then through Koplotovce and Jalšové, where the route gets tougher as the hills begin, testing the cyclists' power and tactics. The real turning point comes after the village of Sokolovce with the Svrbice climb and the first mountain bonus with the main refreshment station – a short but decisive ascent.

After a descent through Orešany and continued riding through Horné Otrokovce and Tepličky, the route offers more challenges before heading back through Pastuchov and Lukáčovce, where the second mountain bonus awaits along with an additional refreshment station. Then it's on to Alekšince, Rišňovce, and again Rumanová for the second sprint bonus. The final stretch goes through Báb, Pata, Šoporňa, and Šintava – where the tactical decisions might be made: breakaway or mass finish?

The race finishes, as usual, at Námestie Slobody in Sereď, where the winner of the 19th edition will be crowned.

For me, the DHL Sereďmaratón 2025 is not just about cyclists – it’s an event that brings together communities, organizers, partners, and fans. I’m proud to be part of a team that prepares every detail with passion and responsibility. I believe the participants will enjoy the route fully, safely, and with the feeling that behind it all is an honest effort to provide a quality sports experience.