The Marathon MTB vice-World Champion chose Appenninica MTB Stage Race (4-10 September 2022) as final dress rehearsal ahead of the World Championships in Haderslev (Denmark). The Hubbers-Polimedical’s Colombian looks forward to his debut on the Emilia-Romagna Apennines
Pursuing goals and turning them from dreams into reality requires lots of commitment and effort. Team Hubbers-Polimedical’s Colombian Diego Arias has chosen the challenging Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2022 (4-10 September 2022) as his final test before chasing his dream of becoming Marathon World Champion.
After his second place at the 2021 World Championships in Capoliveri, the strong Colombian athlete has stepped into a new dimension, and has opted for the altimetric and technical difficulties of the Italian stage race in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines as litmus test before another rainbow charge. Hig goal will be to refine his condition for the 2022 UCI Marathon MTB World Championships, scheduled eight days after the conclusion of Appenninica, on 18 September 2022 in Haderslev, Denmark.
“I think facing the Appenninica MTB Stage Race with the right concentration and spirit can be a great preparation for the World Championships. If we do things right, I think we will arrive in Denmark in top shape. A race like Appenninica must be prepared very well, and you have to be able to manage your energy day after day. It will be crucial to arrive clear-headed at the end of the week”, says the Marathon MTB vice-World Champion.
Diego Arias has had a good season so far, with the highlights of the overall success at the Rally di Sardegna, the recent victory at the Assietta Legend and a remarkable second place at the Hero Südtirol Dolomites. There’s little doubt he will line up in Castelnovo ne’ Monti as one of the top favorites for the 2022 Appenninica overall crown.
“My goal is to perform well and fight for the general classification, or at least a place on the podium. I looked at the stages, and it certainly looks like a very hard race. I haven’t red circled any day in particular, we will have to think day by day”, Arias explained.
It will be the first time for the Hubbers-Polimedical team as well at Appenninica, and they hope to hit the ground running.
“We have decided to participate in the Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2022 because we believe it is a well organised event, and the perfect dress rehearsal for the Marathon MTB World Championships. We will be at the start with the aim of performing well and enjoying the beautiful landscapes of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines”, said Hubbers-Polimedical Team Manager Gianfranco Bechis.