Yavor Yakovliev – Between Video Games and Dunav Ultra

Yavor Yakovliev (39, Stara Zagora) is a technical director at a video game company—a profession that demands creativity, perseverance, and discipline. Despite his demanding daily schedule, he has found balance and passion in sports and cycling.

A year ago, Yavor made a decision that transformed both his physical condition and his perspective on adventure—he signed up for the annual mass ride along the Dunav Ultra route. With this goal in mind and the purchase of his first bicycle, he began exploring the limits of his body and spirit. Inspired by the stories of the route and the challenges it offers, Yavor prepared to participate in one of the most extreme categories—self-supported cycling, covering the 700-kilometer distance within 48 hours.

Dunav Ultra – The Journey to Fulfilling a Sporting Dream

The story we present is a conversation between Boris Begamov, the founder of Dunav Ultra, and Yavor Yakovliev, conducted immediately after the conclusion of the 2024 edition, Next Level. During this event, Yakovliev completed the distance from Vidin to Durankulak—nearly 700 kilometers—without any support crew, in an impressive time of 31 hours and 45 minutes.

In the discussion below, Yavor shares his captivating experience of balancing professional commitments with training, the challenges he faced, and the motivation that drove him to embark on this epic adventure.

From tales of athletic achievements to personal moments of motivation and self-discovery, Yavor Yakovliev illustrates that Dunav Ultra is not just a route—it’s a journey that leaves a lasting mark on anyone daring enough to traverse it by bike.

Boris Begamov: Congratulations on your incredible achievement, Yavor! Tell us more about yourself…

Yavor Yakovliev: I’m a technical director at a video game company, and I got into cycling just a year ago. Back then, I bought the bike you see in the photos and started with short rides. Soon after, I devised a training plan specifically to participate in Dunav Ultra in the sub-48-hour category. I started my preparation to achieve a high performance, as traversing 700 kilometers on this route is a challenging task that demands meticulous preparation, irrespective of whether you aim to finish in 30 or 48 hours.

.: It’s clear that cycling suits your physique, but what do you do when you’re not riding? What are your hobbies?

Yavor Yakovliev: In my free time, I mainly do strength and conditioning workouts, which I’ve recently combined with cycling. I’ve always been bigger and more muscular, but for Dunav Ultra, I followed a strict diet. Along with training, I lost quite a bit of weight to make cycling more manageable.

I’m glad I discovered this world of cycling because it was the missing piece in my daily life. I started reading about what cycling offers—health benefits, physical and mental qualities—and realized I was hooked. I truly enjoy the depth and richness of the entire experience.

.: When did the desire to complete the Dunav Ultra route arise for you?

Yavor Yakovliev: I’m good friend with last year’s fastest participant in the 48-hour challenge, Iskren Ivanov (editor’s note), as we’re both part of the SKODA Bulgaria forum community. When he participated, it created quite a buzz within our group. My friends and I followed his ride almost every second—Dunav Ultra has that effect on anyone who follows it.

It’s fascinating because I vividly remember how excited I was—far more than watching a football match or any other sporting event. I was truly living every moment with him, staring at that tiny moving dot on the GPS map (real-time GPS tracking, editor’s note). I experienced such a strong emotion, and I told myself back then that I wanted to be in Iskren’s shoes and experience this adventure for myself.

.: Had you ridden any sections of the route before?

Yavor Yakovliev: I had driven through a small part of it by car, mostly near the starting area. However, the region along the Danube and that part of Dobrudzha were entirely unfamiliar to me—I’d never visited these places before.

.: We often joke about the “flat” terrain of the Rhodopes, but many people don’t realize that the Danube’s “flat” isn’t flat at all…

Yavor Yakovliev: That’s exactly what I was talking about with the guys from Dobrich—going from Silistra down toward Dobrich, I got tired of seeing hill after hill, bump after bump. I was just so fed up! Another hill… Even when we were heading toward Durankulak, one of the guys said to me, “It’s flat, you’re good.” But flat? What flat? It was still hill after hill! (Laughs…)

.: How does such a long distance, completed in such a short time over this kind of terrain, affect an athlete?

Yavor Yakovliev: It’s interesting because you have to manage many resources simultaneously. For example, I had an issue with my right knee, which started to hurt on the second day. You need to adjust your posture or tweak your riding style in moments like that.

Essentially, you’re juggling 5–6 key resources—your stomach and nutrition, fatigue, posture, hydration—all of it needs to be kept in balance. The main goal is to avoid overloading any one aspect to the point where it completely stops you. This is one of the things I enjoy about ultra-endurance cycling—you’re constantly balancing your physical and mental resources to make it through the entire route.

 

.: During extreme physical exertion, the body sometimes pushes beyond limits you didn’t even know existed. Were there critical moments during your ride—mini-crises or similar experiences?

Yavor Yakovliev: That’s another valuable aspect of ultra-endurance cycling—it’s very similar to life. There are peaks, and there are valleys. For me, as for many others I’ve read about or listened to, these highs and lows are an integral part of the challenge.

At the beginning, everything is emotional—positive and energizing. But as you accumulate kilometers and fatigue sets in, you start asking yourself, “Will I make it? Can I do this?” Doubts creep in. Interestingly, these feelings always pass, as long as you don’t quit. Then, a peak comes—you feel great, powerful—but that, too, passes.

The entire process is like the hills from Silistra to Dobrich—up and down, up and down. Emotions follow the same rhythm, which makes reaching the finish line and completing the journey so much more meaningful because of these ups and downs.

.: Unlike previous years, when there were debates and comments, this year the fast cyclists showed exceptional sportsmanship—each taking on their challenge in their own way but with respect for the rules. What does it mean to set off during the challenge and rely solely on yourself—on your machine and your body? How is it different to ride solo versus with a support team?

Yavor Yakovliev: Well, I think these are completely different disciplines. It’s like comparing a 200-meter sprint to a 2000-meter run—there’s just no basis for comparison.

When you’re self-supported, you have far more stops, and each one takes significantly more time. For example, I carried four bidons. By the time I unscrewed their caps, bought water or someone brought it to me, added isotonic powder, and closed them up again—all of that adds up. Compared to having a support team that hands you everything instantly, the difference is substantial.

Additionally, the weight of the bike plays a critical role. My bike weighs about 8 kg without any gear, but with the full setup—bags, tools, spare parts, food, and water—it weighed around 18 kg. You really feel that extra weight, especially on climbs, where every additional kilogram makes a difference.

Another key aspect of self-support is being prepared for far more unforeseen situations. Some cyclists prefer to travel light—they take minimal gear, and if something breaks, they simply stop there. I, on the other hand, belong to the group that tries to cover 100% of potential issues. That’s why I carry so many bags with tools, pumps, spare tires, even though I ride tubeless (without inner tubes, editor’s note). I just want to be able to handle any situation on my own.

.: You mentioned that saving time in every way possible is crucial to staying within the time limit. Every year, we change the checkpoints (mandatory stops, editor’s note) with the clear goal of avoiding a fixed track and route so there are no records. In other words, no two years are alike, which allows for general comparisons but not absolute records. For us, this is part of Dunav Ultra’s mission—to highlight the promotion of the region and its settlements. What’s your opinion on this format?

Yavor Yakovliev: The idea of changing the checkpoints every year is, in my opinion, fantastic. It adds an extra layer of meaning, making your achievement unique and unrepeatable in the coming years. For example, the time you achieve is tied to the specific conditions and checkpoints of that particular year, which makes the result even more special.

As for the non-competitive format—I personally approached it with a more competitive mindset. Not to beat anyone else, but to push myself to achieve the best time I possibly could. But once you’re on the route and meet the people at the checkpoints, your perspective shifts a little.

You see the excited children, the locals who have gone out of their way to showcase their hospitality, and you realize there’s something more important than just rushing. Taking 5, 10, or 15 minutes to connect with these people—to take a photo with them and see what they’ve prepared—feels right. It doesn’t feel proper to just say, “I don’t have time, goodbye,” and leave immediately. You become immersed in the event’s atmosphere and feel the purpose behind it. That’s truly something special.

.: During the challenge, the Danube alternates between appearing and disappearing, followed by the vast horizons of Dobrudzha. How did you feel the connection with the Danube and Dobrudzha?

Yavor Yakovliev: The river, in a way, gave me strength to keep pedaling. I imagined this enormous, powerful river transferring its energy to me. Dobrudzha, too—even though I didn’t explore the region in detail, the endless views of the horizon, the vast expanse unfolding before you, are something completely different from anywhere else in Bulgaria. It’s a very beautiful and unique place in its own right.

Another special experience is riding at night and seeing these regions in a completely different light. I had never cycled at night using a headlamp before. The fact that you’re alone on the road, with very few cars around and everything immersed in darkness, connects you to the region in a truly unique way. It’s a very peculiar feeling.

During the night, I kept encountering wildlife. Before Ruse, near Dve Mogili, it felt like the road turned into a theater stage—something new appeared every 100 meters. Rabbits, foxes, and sometimes even illusions—shapes of strange animals and creatures. Everything felt incredibly surreal and left a lasting impression.

.: Completing the route over different periods—from 2 to 10 days—offers cyclists completely different experiences and emotions. In your view, how does this mix of people, each with their own challenges, connected through nature and cycling, come together? What is the atmosphere like at the gathering of all cyclists in Vidin, and what does it create?

Yavor Yakovliev: What’s fascinating is that, as you mention the event in Vidin, I realize that only two days passed from then to the finish, but it feels like it was two or three weeks ago. The experience is so intense and saturated that time seems to blur.

I don’t think there’s another event like this in Bulgaria—in terms of concept, organization, and execution. What you’ve created is incredibly valuable, offering people something they will undoubtedly remember for a lifetime if they’ve taken part in the challenge.

Personally, I rarely feel as much satisfaction from achieving something as I do now. At this moment, this accomplishment definitely ranks in the top three most significant things in my life—things I’ve worked hard for and that have truly rewarded me.

.: You tackled the route solo this time. Would you consider participating as part of a team to ride the route again?

Yavor Yakovliev: Well, after any long ride, you usually don’t feel like cycling for a day or two (laughs…), but right now my mindset is such that yes, I’d like to give it a try. It would be interesting to experience the route with someone as part of a team. For me, it would be intriguing to do it with someone I know—to see the dynamics of riding as a team, helping each other, giving and receiving support. That would add a completely different meaning and dimension to the entire experience.

Dunav Ultra

Dunav Ultra

Най-дългият веломаршрут в България, приключенската му версия достига 740 км по поречието на Дунав до Черно море. Свързаното мобилно приложение Dunav Ultra е платформа за велосипеден и алтернативен туризъм в различни населени места в страната.
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