After 290 km and 11,000 metres of climbing, the trails of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines have announced their verdict. The winners of Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2026 are Vincenzo Saitta and Greete Steinburg.
On Friday June 26, at just his second appearance at Italy’s most prestigious mountain bike stage race, the Sicilian stepped onto the top step of the final podium. Estonian Steinburg was completely won over by the beauty of this race and its surrounding region.
Saitta’s victory marks a historic first in the Elite men’s race: no Italian had ever won Appenninica in its previous eight editions. A triumph built from day one – with a stage win in Vidiciatico – then consolidated in stages three and four after the misfortune of stage two.
The Rolling Bike Team rider had already finished second here in 2025, behind Diego Arias Cuervo, whose title he has now inherited – confirming his remarkable feeling with the trails of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines. Behind him, Hans Becking secured second overall, edging out Marek Sülzle with a stage win on the final day.
Among the women, Greete Steinburg was the most consistent and dominant rider of the week. Starting quietly – including a puncture on stage one – the Estonian pulled on the Pink Barbieri PNK Jersey on stage two and never let it go, building her lead day by day.
Behind her, defending champion Lola Bakker claimed her third podium finish in four appearances at Appenninica, while Mara Parisi completed the women’s podium with a week of steady, reliable racing.
The 2026 edition closes as a week defined by balance, drama and emotion, shared by 188 athletes who explored breathtaking routes, landscapes and scenery across one of Italy’s most beautiful mountain territories.
BECKING: STAGE WIN AND SECOND OVERALL
The final stage – 53 km and 1,900 metres of climbing, starting and finishing in Piazza Matteotti in Castelnovo ne’ Monti – was decisive for the overall standings behind Saitta. Sülzle started the day with a six-second buffer over Becking and 2:38 over Spica: thin margins that made the finale a battle right to the last metre.
The Rolling Bike Team’s intentions were clear from the opening kilometres: get Spica onto the podium, and go for the stage win while they were at it. The Sicilian duo set the pace on the climb towards Monte Ventasso, but dropping Sülzle and Becking proved impossible.
As had been the pattern all week, the German struggled on the descents, and at km 35 three riders attacked: Spica, Saitta and Becking. When the road went uphill again at the foot of the Pietra di Bismantova, a mechanical problem forced Spica out of the move, while Sülzle tried in vain to close back onto a now-flying Becking.
The Dutchman was not caught, crossing the line in 2:31:19. Sülzle came in at 1:38, Saitta at 1:44. Chiarini finished fourth at 5:37, Cacchi fifth at 7:36. Spica paid 11:35.
“I felt second overall was the best result I could aim for, and that’s what I came here to get today,” said Becking after the finish. “This year there were a lot of strong climbers – Vincenzo, Marek – it was hard to do better than that. It’s been a tough week in the heat, but it’s always great to be here at Appenninica.”
The first Italian overall winner in the Elite men’s race in the history of Appenninica MTB Stage Race comes from Sicily. Vincenzo Saitta did it in a combined time of 14:40:47. Becking’s stage win lifted him to second overall at 7:58, while the ever-consistent Sülzle rounded out the men’s podium at 9:30.
Spica finished fourth overall at 22:11, while the battle for fifth went to Chiarini at 28:46 over Cacchi (+30:07).
“I’m satisfied – after finishing second last year, I came back to make things right,” said Saitta. “Today I rode for Emanuele; we wanted to get him onto the podium and help him take the stage, but unfortunately he had a mechanical. In the finale I didn’t take any risks – protecting the overall win was all that mattered.”
STEINBURG’S DAY, BAKKER SHOWS HER PRIDE
In a week with plenty of comebacks, the final stage of the women’s race could only end that way. The last stage win went to Lola Bakker, the defending champion. At yesterday’s finish, many had noticed her tears after a gruelling day made harder by physical problems. But there was always another day, and today Bakker stayed at the front and took the reward she deserved.
Luiza De Souza set a fierce pace from the gun on the climb towards Monte Ventasso. The Pink Barbieri PNK Jersey and Bakker stayed on her wheel before using the descent to move past the Brazilian. Bakker then attacked, opening a gap of over a minute – only to see it wiped out on the climb to the Pietra di Bismantova.
At the finish, Bakker crossed first in 3:20:41, just four seconds clear of Steinburg. De Souza was third at 3:23, Schulz fourth at 11:01, Parisi fifth at 14:52.
“The race was still open today and I wanted to win at all costs,” said Bakker. “I felt strong from the start and decided to go with my own pace. We swapped the lead several times, then I attacked on the descent and opened a gap of about a minute, but Greete came back on the Pietra di Bismantova climb. From there we rode together to the finish. Congratulations to her – she was the strongest rider all week, in what has been the highest-level edition of this race ever.”
Today’s finish also marked the passing of the torch from the 2025 champion to the new queen. Greete Steinburg won Appenninica 2026 in 19:42:18, with 8:16 over Bakker. Italy’s Mara Parisi took the third step of the podium, just under half an hour back. Schulz and De Souza complete the top five.
“I’m so happy with this win,” said Steinburg. “This race genuinely surprised me – I’ve done a lot of stage races, but this is absolutely among the best. The atmosphere, the routes, the landscapes – Appenninica has found a place in my heart. I hope more and more people in Estonia get to discover it.”
MASTERS, GRAND MASTERS AND GREAT GRAND MASTERS CATEGORIES
The Masters title was never really in doubt, with Dutchman Juul Van Loon dominating from stage one. It is his third category win in the last four editions, ahead of Thomas Naerland and Oscar Pujol, who also took the final stage.
Jon Roberts was equally dominant among the Grand Masters. The Welshman won four of the five stages, surrendering only the Queen Stage to Mirko Pirazzoli, who finished third in the category overall. Sven Husveg took second.
The Great Grand Masters produced a closer contest, with Bernd Büdenbender claiming both the overall title and the final stage, holding off a strong challenge from Emiel Kunkeler. Italy’s Flavio Gullì rounded out the podium.
