Cycling & running events in Kardzhali, 2026

Kardzhali Training Notes

Running: Locals run Kardzhali by feel, because the brief does not pin down named running routes. The city centre gives easy starts on both banks of the river Arda, with Z2 miles rolling toward the Kardzhali Reservoir or Studen Kladenets Reservoir when you want space. “Lâstovitsa-1905” is the named local club from the brief, with no meet time listed. Green Heart Half Ultra Chepelare, DECATHLON Thracian Ultra, DECATHLON Persenk Ultra, and Thracian Ultra 50 sit as the anchor race names nearby.

Cycling: Locals ride more than they talk about riding here. Kardzhali has 134 cycling routes, while Krumovgrad has 37 routes, Ardino has 28 routes, and Dzhebel has 30 routes when base miles need a bigger loop. 2023-D09 Kardžali, Svatba-Madžarovo runs 79 km with 1,410 m ascent and 1,453 m descent. 2023-D10 Kardžali, Perperek-Shiroko Pole runs 102 km with 1,903 m ascent and 1,897 m descent, which feels more gran fondo than café spin.

Season: May and July pull most people onto bikes here, and spring and autumn bring the nicest all-day rhythm. Kardzhali has hot summers, so locals start early, keep bottles full, and leave the hardest intervals for the cooler edges of the day. The Kardzhali Reservoir to the west and Studen Kladenets Reservoir to the east give rides shape when the heat sits low. Cold winters change both sports, with runners staying closer to town and cyclists choosing steadier Z2, shorter loops, and fewer high-climb days in the Rhodope Mountains.