Krušnoman Extreme Punk Triathlon (KOT-PUNK)
Lake Barbora (start) to Sportareal Kliny (finish), Czech Republic · August · Independent (Krušnoman Triathlon Team Litvínov; Extreme Triathlon Series listing)
Why people love it
- Punk-spirit micro-event: 30 athletes, no time limits, support crews part of the show
- Lake Barbora sunrise swim to a sunset trail run
- About 5,000 m (16,400 ft) of total climbing in the Ore Mountains
- Strong community; supporters and racers help each other
Watch out for
- Mandatory caddy; no official security or refreshments
- Weather swings from 11 °C (52 °F) rain to 29 °C (84 °F) heat
- Tiny field; entry sold out in 72 hours in 2020; registration opens 1 Dec 2026
- Distances vary by edition: swim 3.8-4.0 km (2.4-2.5 mi), bike 180-188 km (112-117 mi), run 44-45 km (27-28 mi)
- Independent coverage is hard to find; reviews are organiser-hosted
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.1
Ten athlete and support reports, all positive even after a freezing 2022 ('hardest race', 'family of crazy people'), though all are hosted by the organiser. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
Friendly and personal over 11 editions, with a 30-person cap and no cutoffs; there is deliberately no official aid, security or refreshments. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyExperts only1.0
Self-supported with a caddy, about 5,000 m (16,400 ft) of climbing and 18-25 hour finish times; a shorter ROCK version exists. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialVery slow1.0
About 5,000 m (16,400 ft) of ascent and no time limit, with finishers taking 16-25 hours; a personal best is not the goal. · High confidence
- Course easeExtreme1.1
4.0 km (2.5 mi), 180 km (112 mi), 44 km (2.5, 112, 27 mi) with about 4,300 m (14,100 ft) of bike climbing; near-hypothermia in 2022. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.7
Neoprene suits are explicitly allowed (gloves are not); late-August lake water is typically 20-24 °C (68-75 °F), though no temperature is published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.2
Described as 'not cold' in the hot 2023 edition; probably 20-24 °C (68-75 °F), with no measured figure. · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.5
A sheltered lake swum in four circuits at 6 am; no chop or current reported. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.8
Four laps over 4.0 km (2.5 mi) are easy to navigate, but it is a 6 am mass start with caddy-supported athletes. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.5
A sunrise swim in a flooded-mine lake; no clarity data. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.9
Ore Mountain public roads; no surface comments. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open1.9
Open roads; the event offers no official security. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.4
The Ore Mountains, which the organiser praises; pleasant rather than spectacular. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
Wind and rain in 2022; exposed ridges, but sheltered in other years. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedVery slow1.1
180 km (112 mi) with 4,300-4,500 m (14,100-14,800 ft) of climbing and steep Ore Mountain ramps; some walked climbs in 2022. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMountainous1.0
The organiser cites 4,500 m (14,800 ft) in 2020 and athletes quote 4,300 m (14,100 ft) in 2022-23, among the hilliest of any full. · High confidence
- Bike simplicityTechnical2.4
Steep climbs and wet descents, with near-hypothermia in 2022. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportSparse1.5
Only caddies and a sunset forest run. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsThin1.5
No official aid at all; your caddy provides everything, by design. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.5
A sunset trail run, highlighted by the organiser. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsBrutal1.4
A night run after 180 km (112 mi); a 2022 finisher walked with poles in fog at 11 °C (52 °F). · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly1.9
About 1,000-1,200 m (3,300-3,900 ft) of gain over 44 km (27 mi). · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.9
Race-day air has ranged 11-29 °C (52-84 °F): cold rain in 2022 and 27-29 °C (81-84 °F) heat in 2023. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.2
Soaked in 2020, ideal in 2021, cold and wet in 2022 and hot in 2023. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.5
Ore Mountains, a lake and a ski area. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky1.5
Only participants and support crews; the course crosses hills point-to-point style. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow3.8
Lake Barbora is low at about 200 m (650 ft); the Kliny area is roughly 750 m (2,460 ft), unverified. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.6
With only 30 athletes, Sportareal Kliny, local pensions and nearby Litvínov should have rooms. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood4.0
Czech mountain pensions; no pricing data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Briefing and finish are at Kliny with pensions on site, but the start at Lake Barbora is a drive away. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.1
Prague airport is about 100 km (62 mi) and 1.5 hours by car, so a transfer is needed. · Low confidence
- LogisticsFiddly2.0
Start and finish are in different places, and caddy and gear moves are required; the briefing is the evening before. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine2.6
A small ski resort with limited services. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Lake Barbora (start) to Sportareal Kliny (finish), Ore Mountains (Krusne hory), Czech Republic
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 21 August 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Krušnoman Triathlon Team Litvínov; Extreme Triathlon Series listing)
- Field size
- About 25 athletes
- First held
- 2017
- Distances
- 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake Barbora (lake)
- Water temperature
- 0 °C (32 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- mass
- Swim laps
- 4
- Bike climbing
- 4,300 m (14,110 ft)
- Run climbing
- 1,000 m (3,280 ft)
- Air temperature
- 11–29 °C (52–84 °F)
- Nearest airport
- Prague (PRG), 100 km (62 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Kliny, Litvinov
- Booking
- Organiser points to kliny.cz accommodation; Pension Stara Skola at Kliny used by event. Briefing the evening before at Sportareal Kliny.
What racers and reviewers say
- Krušnoman.com athlete report (Marek Bouřa)Raced 2022 · blog · Mixed
Raced the full distance in cold, wet weather with three clothing changes and near-hypothermia on the bike. Nearly quit at km 18 (mile 11) of the run until his support fetched dry boots; walked the dark foggy run with poles and finished after about 25 hours. Calls it the hardest race he has done.
- Krušnoman.com athlete report (Adam Hoza)Raced 2022 · blog · Positive
Finished in 19:59 through all-day rain, wind and about 11 °C (52 °F). Nearly skipped the run after the bike but warmed up with a shower and soup. Thanks his support person and the 'family of crazy people'.
- Krušnoman.com athlete report (Lucie Kadlečková)Raced 2022 · blog · Positive
Did the shorter ROCK version (2 km (1.2 mi) / 1.2 mi swim, 90 km (55.9 mi) / 56 mi bike, 20.6 km (12.8 mi) / 12.8 mi run) in 9:48 as the only woman at the 6 a.m. start. Rain and wind started early on the bike; she finished smiling with strong praise for her supporters.
- Krušnoman.com athlete report (Jiří Koš)Raced 2022 · blog · Mixed
Started ROCK but stopped around km 74 (mile 46) on the bike due to cold, shivering, wind and steep climbs he had to walk. Admires everyone who finished and plans to return.
- Krušnoman.com athlete report (Král Alf)Raced 2022 · blog · Positive
Placed 4th on the 4 km (2.5 mi) / 186 km (116 mi) / 44 km (2.5 mi / 116 mi / 27 mi) course in about 18 hours. Compared the wet day unfavourably to the previous year's ideal weather but was happy with the result thanks to his partner and support team.
Show 5 more
- Krušnoman.com support report (Lenka Styblíková)Raced 2022 · blog · Positive
A supporter's view in her second year: praises the atmosphere, mutual help between racers and supporters, and the absence of rivalry. Calls the event unique.
- Krušnoman.com athlete report (Alena Vrátná)Raced 2023 · blog · Positive
Did the half-length version in just under 9 hours in intense heat. Found the lake not cold, results unimportant and the day deeply satisfying; thanks the Langhammer family for organising.
- Krušnoman.com athlete report (Michal Dragan)Raced 2023 · blog · Positive
Slovak finisher in 20:13 on a long course with about 4,300 m (14,100 ft) of climbing, more than often advertised. Welcomed the relaxed approach and lack of cut-offs; hard to pull on a wetsuit when wet, otherwise comfortable swim in 27-29 °C (81-84 °F) heat.
- Krušnoman.com organiser report 2020Raced 2020 · article · Positive
Organiser recap of the 4.0 km (2.5 mi) / 180 km (112 mi) / 44 km (2.5 mi / 112 mi / 27 mi) edition (4,500 m (14,760 ft) / 14,800 ft bike gain): very wet day, 30-person cap sold out in 72 hours, 25 started with 23-24 finishing. Playful punk tone, thanks to support crews and the Stara Skola pension at Kliny.
- Krušnoman.com organiser note 2024Raced 2024 · article · Positive
Short recap describing a cheerful, playful event with a sunrise swim in Barbora reservoir and a sunset run; stresses the family-and-friends support-team format. Quotes 4.0 km (2.5 mi) / 180 km (112 mi) / 44 km (2.5 mi / 112 mi / 27 mi) and 5,000 m (16,400 ft) total ascent.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Krušnoman Extreme Punk Triathlon (KOT-PUNK)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.