Spica and Saitta return to Appenninica chasing first-ever Italian GC victory

by | Jun 4, 2026 | Highlights, Press Releases (2025)

In 2025 they finished second and third overall, behind winner Diego Arias. This year, Vincenzo Saitta and Emanuele Spica are setting their sights on the top step of the podium. The two Sicilians will line up at the 2026 edition of Appenninica MTB Stage Race, scheduled from June 22nd to 26th, with one goal in mind: becoming the first Italian ever to win their country’s most important mountain bike stage race.

The two riders from Team Rolling Bike were the biggest surprise of the 2025 edition – each won a stage, and both stood on the final podium: Saitta in second place, Spica in third. That result gave confidence to the team coached by former professional Paolo Alberati, and their strong early-season form suggests they are ready to take the next step.

At the Italian MTB Marathon Championship, Saitta finished 7th, with Spica close behind. “I’m feeling great,” Spica explains. “Over the last month I’ve had solid results – 5th at the Castro Legend Cup, 18th at the Capoliveri Legend Cup, and 8th at the Italian Championships. It’s a positive period, and I hope it continues through the end of June.”

Saitta echoes that optimism: “We’re arriving in excellent shape, as confirmed by our result at the Italian Marathon Championship. On June 13th we’ll race the Hero Dolomites, which will be the perfect final preparation for Appenninica.”

Like many riders who have passed through these mountains before, the two found the pull of the race impossible to resist: “We decided to come back above all to relive the fantastic experience of last year – an impeccable organisation and stunning landscapes,” the two Sicilians say. “It’s one of the few Italian stage races with a truly spectacular course, and we were completely won over.”

Now that they have discovered Appenninica MTB Stage Race, Saitta and Spica are ready to set out to conquer it. Both will start from Lizzano in Belvedere on June 22nd with serious ambitions – and, as teammates, they have the option of working together to wear down rivals before settling it between themselves.

“I haven’t studied the competition closely yet, but after second and third place last year, we’re coming back to win,” says Spica. “If our form holds as it is now, we’ll go for the victory,” Saitta promises.

After their 2025 performance, underestimating Team Rolling Bike would be a mistake. The trails of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines will reveal whether, for the first time in the race’s history, an Italian rider will stand on the top step of Appenninica – and take the crown on home soil.

Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2026 set for a record-breaking eighth edition

by | May 26, 2026 | Comunicati Stampa (2026), Highlights

Now in its eighth edition, Appenninica MTB Stage Race has established itself as Italy’s flagship MTB stage race and one of the most respected events on the international calendar. But the event organized by ASD Happy Trail MTB is far more than a race.

 

“Appenninica has become a genuine tourism driver for the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, the numbers tell the story. Tour operators are now repackaging the race routes as guided trips, bringing year-round visitors to an area that has struggled with depopulation.” Regional Sports and Tourism Minister Roberta Frisoni made the case at Tuesday’s press conference in Bologna, joined by Lizzano in Belvedere Mayor Barbara Franchi, Castelnovo ne’ Monti Sports Councillor Carlo Boni, and race organizers Milena Bettocchi and Beppe Salerno.

SOLD OUT FOUR MONTHS AHEAD

For the first time in its history, Appenninica sold out its initial 150 spots four months before the start. Organizers responded by expanding capacity to nearly 200 riders – a significant logistical challenge, but one worth taking to accommodate demand.

 

The international field reflects the race’s growing reputation: 30 countries represented, led by the Netherlands (37 riders), Belgium (25), Italy (23), Spain (15), and Germany (15). First-timers include Estonia, Finland, and Norway, while South American contingents from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia remain strong.

FROM SPORTING EVENT TO TOURISM CATALYST

When Appenninica launched in 2019 with around 50 participants, the goal was simple: introduce riders to a spectacular yet underexposed region. Eight years on, that vision is paying off.

Race footage and rider testimonials circulating globally have caught tour operators‘ attention. Several now offer guided trips along Appenninica routes, creating new revenue streams for local businesses and communities. For a mountain region facing demographic challenges, this represents meaningful economic opportunity.

Dubbed the “Italian Cape Epic”, Appenninica runs as a full-service individual event (unlike its South African counterpart, raced in pairs). The entry fee covers accommodation, meals, feed stations, medical support, bike washing and stage transfers – everything needed to focus on riding.

What keeps riders coming back is the “Appenninica Family” atmosphere. The region’s renowned hospitality creates genuine connections, with many participants returning year after year, and that loyalty is worth more than any marketing campaign.

THE 2026 ROUTE: CORNO ALLE SCALE TO PIETRA DI BISMANTOVA

The race launches on June 22 from Lizzano in Belvedere, beneath Corno alle Scale – the same climb featured in Stage 9 of this year’s Giro d’Italia. Registration and preliminary operations open on Sunday, June 21.

Stage 1 kicks off with a loop around Vidiciatico combining forest roads and singletrack requiring full focus. Fast but already high-altitude, its 48 km and 2,000m elevation gain offer riders a first taste of technical Apennine terrain through beech forests.

On the second day, featuring 65 km and 2,600 m elevation gain, comes the Giro d’Italia tribute stage, the “Corno alle Scale Dressed in Pink”. Riders climb the same route as the pros, continuing to Madonna dell’Acero (3km gravel terrain up to 1,779m asl) for the KOM. After iconic Scaffaiolo Lake comes a technical descent through Fanano, then up Monte Cimone before the long drop to Riolunato.

The midweek stage (40 km and 1,500 m elevation gain) could decide the overall victory. Monte Albano runs along the Tuscany border in stunning scenery. Short but technical, with a tricky final descent into Riolunato: again, no time to relax.

Thursday, June 25 brings the feared Mountain Queen Stage. Passo delle Radici, Giovarello, Lama Lite – hours on forest roads and Apennine trails before the spectacular finale at the Bismantova Rock. Energy management is everything. 88 km and 3,000 m elevation gain will take the peloton from Riolunato to Castelnovo ne’ Monti, host town for the final two stages of Appenninica 2026.

On Friday, June 26, the closing “Windy Way Home” stage tackles the Monte Ventasso routes, which demand full concentration to earn that finisher medal. A 30km climb to Calamone Lake, then technical descending to the Bismantova Rock. 56.5 km and 1,650 m of elevation gain will be the last of this year’s Appenninica.

Riders bulletin n.2 2026

by | May 11, 2026 | Rider's Bulletin, Rider’s Bulletin (2026)

Riders bulletin n.2 📒May 10th, 2026

 

If you’ve received this email, you are probably registered for the VIII edition of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, which will be held from June 22nd to June 26th. We are 43 days out.

 

This is the second rider bulletin. These bulletins will provide useful information, news, and mandatory action reminders.

 

 Basics and Updates:

  • On the website, you can find lots of information, and we add more useful info periodically. The FAQ page is updated with the questions that we get asked the most.
  • If you missed bulletin 1, click here. 
  • What is included in your race entry is listed under What you get.  

Reminders and To Do:

  • Social media.  Follow our social media channels and use #AppenninicaMTB and #Appenninicafamily on your posts. Thank you!
  • Rules. The race rules are published here. Your acceptance of those rules is implied with your registration.
  • Online registration. We’ll contact you via email if your registration is not complete or if we have questions (check your spam folder). 

Racing Licence and Medical Declaration

 It is mandatory, per race rules and to comply with the Italian Cycling Federation FCI – that all participants have a UCI-approved racing license (UCI logo and number).

Therefore, you should get or renew your national cycling federation UCI valid racing license.

The alternative is to buy an event racing license in Italy, and it will cost 50 Euro (cash to pay at accreditation).

You’ll also need a medical declaration. The medical declaration is mandatory to race with the event license. 

If you don’t comply, you won’t be able to race.

 

Luggage and Race Bags

 

Race bags

Your Appenninica MTB Stage Race race bag is a 90 lt, made in Italy, sport bag that will follow you during the week. You’ll also receive a simple bag for your camping gear and spare parts, and a day bag for items that you want with you until the start and find at the finish line. These are the only bags that we transport between stages while you ride.

 

Bags labeling

You’ll receive labels for: bike case, additional luggage that will be transferred to the last location, day bag, race bag, and for your mountain bike. Properly labeling each item is mandatory. 

 

Personal luggage and bike cases

Between 8:00 and 09:30 of Monday the 22nd (Stage 1), you must have delivered your bike case (if any) and non-race luggage because these will leave for the location of the last stage at once. You don’t have access to them during the week.

You will find personal luggage and bike case at the end of the last stage.

More information is available at the race office and by following the signage in the race village.

 

Stay tuned for the next bulletin.

Race today, itinerary tomorrow: how Appenninica MTB is opening Emilia-Romagna’s undiscovered Apennines to global cyclo-tourism

by | Apr 20, 2026 | Press Releases, Highlights

Sixteen Polish cyclists discovered the race on YouTube, booked their flights and in June 2025 made their way to the Emilia-Romagna Apennines to ride the Appenninica MTB Stage Race course – a multi-stage event crossing the mountains between Bologna, Modena, and Reggio Emilia since 2019. A year later, the story is repeating itself in German: from June 7–13, 2026, Unique Bike Rides – founded by former Appenninica competitor Holger Schaarschmidt – will bring a group of enthusiasts to those same trails, a full week before the official race start.

Since 2023, Belgian tour operator Transactief has been working with the organizers to bring competitors from Belgium. Out of that partnership grew a dedicated travel package: “Italia Coast to Coast,” a cycling tour from Rimini to Lido di Camaiore, taking in Bologna, the Via degli Dei, and Florence along the way.

The race, launched in 2019 by ASD Happy Trail MTB, has started generating more than a leaderboard: a tourist economy that now moves under its own steam. Every year, athletes from over twenty countries carry images, stories, and word-of-mouth back home – translating into cycling packages conceived abroad and summer months that are filling Apennine accommodation once again.

“It’s one of the most demanding and technical routes I’ve ever ridden, but also one of the most beautiful. We found Appenninica on YouTube and thought – why not turn this into a trip? Accommodation, restaurants: everything was easy, everything was wonderful,” said one of the Polish cyclists in Castelnovo ne’ Monti, at the end of the 2025 edition.

 

TWO WHEELS AND OUTDOOR TOURISM AS A RESPONSE TO DEPOPULATION

The growth of summer outdoor tourism in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines represents a new opportunity for a region that has struggled in recent years with a sharp decline in winter visitors. Cycling and trekking are giving local hospitality businesses the chance to welcome guests outside the traditional ski season, building a product rooted in the green season instead.

The backdrop is a demographic story that stretches back decades: depopulation that began after World War II and has never fully turned around. The inland areas of Emilia-Romagna have shrunk from 700,000 residents in 1951 to roughly 420,000 in 2021, with projections suggesting a further 8.5% drop by 2043 (ISTAT and Regione Emilia-Romagna). Yet the picture is not uniformly bleak – municipalities in the Apennines around Bologna actually recorded a migration balance five times the national average between 2019 and 2023, a shift that breaks with decades of outflow (Città Metropolitana di Bologna). Summer outdoor tourism is now seen as one of the most promising ways to build on that momentum, and Appenninica is among its most visible standard-bearers.

“Appenninica MTB Stage Race is a concrete example of how sport can become an effective tool for tourism promotion and territorial development,” says Roberta Frisoni, Emilia-Romagna’s Regional Councillor for Sport and Tourism. “Bringing athletes and enthusiasts from around the world to ride through the Apennines means shining a spotlight on an extraordinary natural and scenic heritage, and strengthening its position as a destination for active and outdoor holidays. Events like this tap into a growing demand – experiential, sustainable tourism – and bring visitors who support local economies and create new opportunities for Apennine communities. The Apennines are a strategic asset for our Region: investing in them with high-quality initiatives means strengthening territorial identity and supporting balanced, widespread development.”

SOLD OUT: APPENNINICA 2026 IS ALREADY FULL

Set to take place June 22–26, starting in Lizzano in Belvedere (Bologna) and finishing in Castelnovo ne’ Monti (Reggio Emilia) after passing through Riolunato (Modena) across five stages, the 2026 edition of Appenninica sold out well ahead of schedule.

Dubbed the “Italian Cape Epic,” Appenninica is the most important multi-stage MTB event in Italy – and unlike similar races, it runs as an individual competition rather than a pairs format. Organized by ASD Happy Trail MTB, it is a fully serviced race: the entry fee covers not just a race number but also accommodation, aid stations, meals, medical assistance, bike washing, transfers between stages, and more.

All of it adds up to something that can’t be scripted: the atmosphere the MTB world knows as the “Appenninica Family” – warmth, authenticity, and the kind of human connections that outlast the race itself. It’s what keeps people coming back, and what keeps drawing new ones in, long after the chequered flag and the finisher’s medal.

For more information: www.appenninica-mtb.com.

Riders bulletin n.1 2026

by | Mar 31, 2026 | Rider's Bulletin, Rider’s Bulletin (2026)

Riders bulletin n.1 📒March 13, 2026

This is the first rider bulletin. These bulletins will provide useful information, news, and mandatory action reminders.

Basics and Updates:
  • On the website, you can find lots of information, and we add more useful info periodically. The FAQ page is updated with the questions that we get asked the most.
  • What is included in your race entry is listed under What you get.  
  • Extra packages, such as hotels, are listed on the website, and you can book them from the ENDU shop. We close the shop for hotels and other premium packages on March 31st; do not wait.
  • If you have a companion or supporters with you, we offer specific services and packages; click here.
Reminders and To Do:
  • Wait list. Do you know of anyone who could join you? Appenninica is sold out, but you can have them join the wait list.
  • Social media.  Follow our social media channels and use #AppenninicaMTB and #Appenninicafamily on your posts. Thank you!
  • Rules. The race rules are published here. Your acceptance of those rules is implied with your registration.
  • Online registration. We’ll contact you via email if your registration is not complete or if we have questions (check your spam folder). 

    Pre-race hotel options

    The first stage of Appenninica 2026 is Monday, the 22nd. For Sunday, June 21st, you can book the following:

     

    – Shared room for two (twin beds or one double bed; specify). 
    – Private room for one rider*.
    – Shared room (best value; generally a triple room). We can match you to other riders or contact us to indicate your roommates. This item is booked per person and not per room. 

     

    The cost includes all taxes and fees, breakfast, and a fixed menu dinner (drinks are not included). 

     

    *Currently sold out

        Arriving even earlier

        If you are arriving on Saturday, the 20th, or even earlier, and you need assistance, please contact us to discuss your best options. Do not rule out visiting Bologna – the region’s capital – for a day and catching the transfer on Sunday. Write to us to let us know where/how, and when you arrive in the Emilia Romagna/Bologna.

          Arriving and Parking

           

          See you in Vidiciatico, a fraction of Lizzano in Belvedere (the first hosting village) Sunday, June 21st.

          Come to the accreditation desk between 14:00 and 18:30 in Piazza XXVII Settembre here.

           

           

          Parking for accreditation is here. Go to the accreditation area on foot or by bike. Do not drive or attempt to park there. Thank you.

          Transfer – Stage 5 location to start (pre-booked service)

          The transfer from the last hosting town – Castelnovo ne’ Monti – is planned for 13:30 on Sunday the 21st (the drive is about 3 hrs). Long-term Parking and pick-up area: parcheggio Piazzale Collodi 

           

          Please have your bikes assembled – not in the bike bag – and be ready to board at 13:00 at the latest. 

          Transfer – Airport (pre-booked service)

          Transfers from Bologna Marconi Airport (BLQ) is planned for 13:00 on Sunday, the 21st.

           

          If you have not sent your flight schedule with the flight number, please write to segreteria@appenninica-mtb.com. We must have this information (it is not enough that you have booked the transfer). 

           

          The meeting point is at the arrival terminal (ground floor). Exit from the sliding doors and gather to your right. You’ll see a staff member with an Appenninica sign.  

           

          If you arrive by train (or if you are already in town), you can reach the airport via the monorail called Marconi Express. 

           

          Stay tuned for the next bulletin.