The event

​​What’s it all about? Maurice Brocco 400, or MB400 for short, is an annual, charitable, independent, long-distance cycling event hosted by Schleudergang e.V.. The event originated from Coco’s bike shop in Leipzig and since 2020 found its new home in the city of Dresden. The year 2024 will mark the 9th edition and to celebrate, there will be an optional total of 9 specific ascents to be conquered. 
Checkpoints? Participants will be provided with the locations of set checkpoints that will have to be visited to complete. Although we do offer all participants three scouted routes as inspiration, there’s no predefined route that has to be followed. Instead, participants will plot their routes themselves. Thanks to our partner komoot it couldn’t be easier! As an example, this is what the 2020 edition ended up looking like: click here!
Independent with sponsors MB400 is independent in a way that it’s rider-funded. This way, the event can stay free of demands and requirements that would otherwise be able to dampen the familiar atmosphere the event is known for. Sponsors are very welcome however and are happily greeted by participants. Sponsorship can take different forms in the way of providing a checkpoint, „prizes“ as well as other services such as organizing broom wagon transport or food and drinks.
Prizes, nice! How do I win? You don’t, actually. MB400 in an inclusive event. Although plenty of participants ride their MB400 very competitively indeed, something we welcome as well, our main focus is on providing everyone with a good time. In our experience, at performance-focussed events, too many people are left out from having that good time. At MB400, there’s no performance hierarchy and everyone is welcomed. This is why prizes can’t be won by riding very fast, but rather earned at random by joining the raffle at the end of the event.
Long distance In the last few years, the term ultra-distance cycling became quite prevalent. In our opinion, due to multiple reasons (cycling social media platforms, covid-19, neo-liberalism), people are riding more and further than ever before, it seems. Although Paris-Brest-Paris is age-old and the brevet / audax scene has been a stable and large group for years, we experience a greater wish for long-distance events from the larger group of cycling enthusiasts. At MB400 we want to stay independent, as said, so we try to steer clear of the word ultra-distance and keep to our original idea of a long distance event over 400 KM within 24 hours. Usually. To feed the need, the checkpoints that make up the route are strategically placed to sum up to a route with more or less altitudinal gain, alternating each year. In 2023, the route was a somewhat flatter route, as opposed to 2022, where some participants gathered over 7000 meters in altitude. This year we’ll be looking at quite some gains in the elevation department as we’ll be visiting the Jizera and Giant mountains in Czech republic as well as some highlights in Upper Lusatia and Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland.