Assar Kütt, chief of the event course, said: "The track changes are related to the 89 and 40 km long marathon distances."

He gave an example of a 2 km long section on the 28th kilometer of the marathon track (after the Ande service station), which used to be an asphalt road, but is now through a wilder field and forest road. There is also a gravel quarry near the trail on 50th kilometer (after the Astuvere service station), from which cyclists will drive past this year, the event's webpage wrote on Wednesday.

Kütt added: "We have also made one change on 40km distance – there are different homeyards on 11th km of the trail and cyclists have to ride a little bit different road this year."

Similarly to the Tartu Inline Skating Marathon, all the rules that are necessary to prevent the conoravirus are followed during the event in order to make sure that it's safe for the participants, organizers and the team of volunteers.

Indrek Kelk, race director of Tartu MTB Marathon, said: "We are in constant contact with the Health Board (Terviseamet) and we follow the rules and recommendations that have been stated by them. For example we have separated mass-start times so that there won't be so many people in the same place at the same time. Also we insure that people have access to hand sanitizers, hand washing facilities and that organizers, who have to have a contact with a lot of people, have protective equipment."

Those, who don't want to or can't participate on the original race day, can take part in the virtual ride.

There are also changes planned for the children's events surrounding the MTB Marathon. "We will definitely share new information about the events of the Tartu MTB Marathon through our channels as soon as possible," said Kelk.

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