Riders bulletin n.4/2023

by | Aug 4, 2023 | Highlights, Rider's Bulletin, Rider's Bulletin (2023)

Riders bulletin n.4 📒August 4, 2023

 

This is the 4th rider bulletin. These bulletins will provide useful information, news, and mandatory action reminders. We are 31 days out.

 

Arriving and Parking

See you in Castelnovo ne’ Monti on Sunday, September 3rd. Come to the accreditation desks between 14:00 and 18:00 in Via della Pieve here.

If you cannot do otherwise, you can also check in on Monday morning between 8:00 and 9:30 (the stage starts at 11:00).

 

Parking options for long-term and camper vans:

– Cars and camper vans: parcheggio Piazzale Collodi

This is the long-term parking for those who are parking in Castelnovo ne’ Monti for the week. 

 

Transfer – Stage 6 location (pre-booked service)

The transfer from location stage 6 is planned for 11:00 on Sunday. Parking and pick-up are by the Conca del Sole Pool in Vidiciatico. Please park in the lower parking lot. 

Please have your bikes assembled – not in the bike bag – and be ready to board at the above time. 

 

Transfer – Airport (pre-booked service)

Transfer from Bologna Marconi Airport (BLQ) is planned for 13:00 on Sunday, September 3rd.

If you have not sent your flight schedule with the flight number please write to info@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 you can reach the airport via the monorail called Marconi Express. 

 

Accommodation Pre-race

Our hotels in and near Castelnovo ne’ Monti for the night of Sunday the 3rd are sold out. Please find your own accommodation if you are still looking for a pre-race hotel. Also, we don’t provide transfers from hotels that are not Appenninica partners. 

 

Note: dorms are open after stage 1 on Monday; Race week hotel packages do not include the pre-race night.

 

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.
  • The riders’ bulletins will be saved on the website so that you won’t have to dig them out of your inbox. Make sure you read them all.
  • What is included in your race entry is listed under What you get. 

Appenninica always feels at home in Fanano

by | Aug 3, 2023 | Highlights, Press Releases (2022)

Some places smell like home, where every time you return you feel like you had never left. For Appenninica MTB Stage Race, Fanano is one of those places, the only stage venue, along with Castelnovo ne’ Monti, to have featured in all the race’s five editions so far. The stage race in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines will pay a visit to the town in the Province of Modena again in 2023, when it will take place from September 4th to 9th. 

A renowned tourist resort on the slopes of the Mount Cimone, Fanano will host the finish of the fourth stage on Thursday, September 7, running entirely through the Province of Modena from the start in Fiumalbo. The following Friday, September 8th, the fifth stage will start from Fanano, with finish in Lizzano in Belvedere.

 

The 62-kilometre Cimone Challenge stage, with a total elevation gain of 2350 meters, will be centered on the Mount Cimone and its ski area. After the start from Fiumalbo, the athletes will face the climb up to Pian Cavallaro and then descend to the town of Montecreto, passing by the picturesque Lake Ninfa through the paths of the Cimone bike park. The second ascent of the day will start instead from Sestola to reach Passo Serre before throwing in a long single track towards Fanano. After a first passage through the village, it will climb to Fellicarolo and enjoy a technical trail back to the finish.

On Friday, September 8th, the Appenninica Distilled stage of 61 km and 2,500 meters of elevation gain will also start from Fanano. Arriving in Vidiciatico, a hamlet of Lizzano in Belvedere, the stage perfectly concentrates Appenninica MTB Stage Race, including spectacular ridges, technical trails, dizzying views and villages standing still in time. There are two climbs of the day: the Passo del Colombino and the one leading to the Passo Croce Arcana ridge.

“We have believed in Appenninica MTB Stage Race from the very first minute. It is an event growing yearly, and that speaks many languages, giving global exposure to Fanano, Cimone and the Apennines. It is the only mountain bike event we host in Fanano and we want to support it for its excellent organization and ability to promote our area throughout the year”, says Fanano Mayor Stefano Muzzarelli.

FANANO, THE HOME OF FELICE PEDRONI

Fanano is a well-known tourist resort in the Modena Apennines, in the Mount Cimone ski area. Over the years, outdoor activities have been developed in the area in addition to winter sports, such as trekking, hiking and mountain in the warmer months. Awarded the Orange Flag for its sustainable tourism by the Italian Touring Club since 2001, the town is also rich in history and culture, with the Pieve di San Silvestro and the Church of San Giuseppe that are well worth a visit.

However, Fanano’s name is also associated with gold prospector Felice Pedroni, who made his fortune in Alaska by finding the largest gold deposit in the area. There he founded the town of Fairbanks, where most of the townspeople were dedicated to prospecting for gold.

Rider bulletin n.3/2023

by | Jul 28, 2023 | Rider's Bulletin, Rider's Bulletin (2023)

Riders bulletin n.3 📒July 28, 2023

 

If you’ve received this email you are probably registered for the Fifth edition of Appenninica MTB Stage Race from September 4th to September 9th. We are 38 days out.

 

Final deadline to add extras and to make changes to your registration: July 31st.

 

Don’t delay any further to book your hotel package and premium services from the “My Events” area on Active.com, which you can also access from your confirmation email.

 

Read this article if you are having problems retrieving your registration.

 

Hotels and premium packages are listed on the website

 

Not listed on the website is the Personal Nutrition service: we take your water bottle/s to the second feed zone (tape a gel or an energy bar to a bottle if you want). This item can be purchased via Active.com.

 

Massages and Mechanical Assistance Package

 

Caring for your body but also for your bike is essential in a MTB stage race. We still have some spots available for massages and premium mechanical assistance. Reserve online via Active.com.

 

Pre-race hotel options

 

The first stage of Appenninica 2023 is Monday the 4th. For Sunday, September 3rd you can book the following*:

 

– Shared room for two (twin beds or one double bed; specify and indicate roommate).

– Shared room (generally a triple room). This is a new option and one you’ve asked for. We can match you to other riders or contact us to indicate your roommates. This item is booked per person and not per room.

 

*Private rooms for one rider (sold out).

 

The cost of the pre-race hotel includes all taxes and fees, breakfast, and a fixed menu dinner (drinks are not included).

 

Pre-race hotels could be as far as 45 min drive away in Reggio Emilia. Shuttles are provided; the start of Stage 1 – in Castelnovo ne’ Monti – is in the late morning with plenty of time to get there.

 

Arriving even earlier

 

If you are arriving on Saturday the 2nd, or even earlier, do not rule out visiting Bologna – the region’s capital – for a day and catching the transfer on Sunday. We recommend a place close to the airport (the shuttle is from the airport arrival at 13:00).

See Fly On Hotel.

 

Two finishes for a debut: Fiumalbo looks forward to first time at Appenninica

by | Jul 28, 2023 | Highlights, Press Releases, Press Releases (2023)

The first time at Appenninica MTB Stage Race is always special, for the athletes as much as for the stage venues. Making its debut in the 2023 edition, taking place from September 4th to 9th, Fiumalbo will host two days of the event, with the queen stage finish on Tuesday, September 5, and both start and finish of a loop stage three that will bring an historical first for the stage race in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines.

Fiumalbo, one of Italy’s most beautiful hamlets, nestled in the Modena Apennines, between the Cimone and Abetone Mounts areas, will welcome two finishes and two starts from September 5th to 7th.

On Tuesday, September 5, after a challenging 90 km route with 3200 meters of elevation gain, the Appenninica MTB Stage Race caravan will arrive in Fiumalbo directly from Castelnovo ne’ Monti. The Mountain Queen Stage represents the longest and most demanding stage of the entire week, with a route almost entirely above 1,500 meters of altitude. After passing the Bismantova Rock, athletes will climb toward the Cisa Pass, leading them into a very long trail in the Torricella area bike park in the Mount Cusna area. Following Febbio, they will ascend to Mount Giovarello’s summit before reaching Passo delle Radici and beginning their descent, touching on Pievepelago before arriving in Fiumalbo.

On the following day, Wednesday, September 6, a loop starting and finishing in Fiumalbo will mark a historic first for the Appenninica MTB Stage Race. Covering 79 kilometers with 2550 meters of total elevation gain, the Tuscany Incipit will take the athletes across the border into Tuscany at the foot of the Abetone Pass. Once back in Emilia-Romagna, they will tackle the climb of the Strada Ducale della Foce road. After Pievepelago, a second-long ascent to Sant’Anna Pelago will challenge the participants before a thrilling downhill trail leads them to the finish line, passing through the medieval village of Riolunato.

Fiumalbo will also host the start of stage 4 on Thursday, September 7, heading towards nearby Fanano. The Cimone Challenge, covering 62 kilometers with 3250 meters of elevation gain, will take place entirely within the Mount Cimone area, passing through Pian Cavallaro, Montecreto, Lake Ninfa, Sestola, and Passo Serre, with a double passage in Fanano.

Alessio Nizzi, Fiumalbo’s Mayor, expressed his excitement for this opportunity. “It is a real pleasure for our small village to be a venue for Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2023, a competition that is rising in stature in the international MTB world, year after year. This is going to be an outstanding showcase for our territory. I am sure Fiumalbo will be remembered by the participants not only for its natural beauty but for the hospitality and friendliness of its inhabitants.”

FIUMALBO – ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN ITALY

Awarded by the Touring Club with the “Orange Flag” for the quality of its tourism and environment, Fiumalbo is nestled among numerous nature trails and boasts a historic center rich in stone workings, low walls, houses, vaults, and sandstone roofs. Also known as the “Celtic Village,” the town has a historical connection with the Duchy of Modena, having faced several invasions by Celtic populations.

A notable tradition in Fiumalbo takes place every year on August 23 when the streets of downtown are illuminated with flashlights, lamps, torches, and candles for the procession of the statue of St. Bartholomew, accompanied by the ancient Confraternities of “dei Bianchi” and “dei Rossi.” This centuries-old tradition is dedicated to celebrating the town’s patron saint.

Appenninica MTB Stage Race is set for a five-star edition

by | Jul 20, 2023 | Highlights, Press Releases, Press Releases (2023)

On July 20, 2019, the Appenninica MTB Stage Race adventure officially started from Bologna with a 12-kilometre time trial up to the summit of San Luca to mark the debut of this new mountain bike stage race on both the Italian and international mtb marathon scene.

Five years later, the Appenninica MTB Stage Race is now a solid organization that’s able to attract athletes from around the world. This unique promotional driver for the Emilia-Romagna Apennines highlights the landscapes and places still unexplored by the general public to paint a picture of the unparalleled outdoor offerings this area has for summertime visitors.

Five years later, on Thursday, July 20 — again in Bologna — the Appenninica MTB Stage Race unveiled plans and details at the ExtraBo headquarters in Piazza del Nettuno for the 2023 edition, September 4-9. The new six-stage format promises fun and entertainment for competitors ready to challenge themselves and their rivals, from Castelnovo ne’ Monti to Lizzano in Belvedere.

Doing the honours at the Appenninica MTB Stage Race presentation was Bologna City Councillor for Sport, Roberta Li Calzi, Emilia-Romagna Head of the Political Secretariat of the Presidency, Giammaria Manghi, and President of the Bologna Metropolitan City Tourist Destination, Mattia Santori. In addition, one of the organizers, Milena Bettocchi, and the president of off-road riding for the Italian Cycling Federation, Massimo Ghirotto, also shared their thoughts

A POSTCARD OF THE APENNINES

When the organizers of A.S.D. Happy Trail MTB conceived the Appenninica MTB Stage Race in 2019, the ambition was to create a small “Cape Epic”, but with a strong Italian flare: a demanding and challenging stage race that would showcase the beauty of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines while communicating the sense of welcoming and hospitality that these regions are known for worldwide. During the past five years, athletes from five continents — from Australia to Israel via South Africa, Argentina, and the United States — have participated in the stage race.

All of them got a taste of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines by riding technical and challenging trails that are nothing less than those of the Alps, but are far less known to the public. Evidence of the excellent tourist impact generated by the Appenninica MTB Stage Race in recent years comes in the form of stories of athletes who have extended their holidays in the area following the event, or who have embarked on business partnerships with local farms.

The Appenninica MTB Stage Race sold out of its 150 participant entries in five editions, with 28 nations represented in the 2022 edition. Many athletes have been at the start several times, thus demonstrating their love for the routes, landscapes and family atmosphere provided by the Appenninica MTB Stage Race caravan.

Over the years, thanks to the partnership between the organizers and #InEmiliaRomagna, the brand belonging to the Emilia-Romagna Tourism Board, the stage race has been able to showcase the beating heart of the Apennines. This has enabled area leaders to promote sport tourism, both local and on a grander scale, in key locations around the area. This is part of a long-term project aiming to create a true regional brand for the Apennines.

THE ROUTE

The race route travels from Castelnovo ne’ Monti to Lizzano in Belvedere, through the intriguing Fiumalbo and the historic Appenninica MTB Stage Race venue, Fanano. The 2023 race route covers about 400 kilometres and more than 14,000 meters of total elevation gain throughout the Emilia-Romagna Apennines.

Beginning with the 2023 edition, the six-stage format will make its debut and take the place of the previous seven-stage format. Organizers decided on this change in order to ease logistics for the athletes, while maintaining the same level of difficulty that’s elevated the Appenninica MTB Stage Race to international status throughout the past five years.

Stage 1 – La Matildica – 57 km with 1850 m of elevation gain

Monday, September 4: Castelnovo ne’ Monti – Castelnovo ne’ Monti

Stage 2 – Mountain Queen – 89 km with 3250 m of elevation gain

Tuesday, September 5: Castelnovo ne’ Monti – Fiumalbo

Stage 3 – Tuscany “Incipit” – 79 km with 2550 m of elevation gain

Wednesday, September 6: Fiumalbo – Fiumalbo

Stage 4 – Cimone Challenge – 62 km with 2350 m of elevation gain

Thursday, September 7: Fiumalbo – Fanano

Stage 5 – Appenninica Distilled – 61 km with 2500 m of elevation gain

Friday, September 8: Fanano – Vidiciatico

Stage 6 – Monte Pizzo – 36 km with 1500 m of elevation gain

Saturday, September 9: Vidiciatico – Vidiciatico

FOUR-WAY CHALLENGE

Between September 4 and 9, it will be a four-way challenge on the trails of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines. Starting in this 2023 edition will be all the male winners from the first four editions who will be ready to do battle and deliver an encore performance, which is something that hasn’t happened yet.

Among them, the front-runner is Colombian racer, Diego Arias, winner of the last edition, who’s returning to Appenninica to notch a second victory. He’ll have to face Dutch rider, Hans Becking, who’s eager to leave his second mark after success in 2020. Joining them in battle are the winners of the two remaining editions: German racer, Felix Fritzsch, who was king in 2021, and Austrian rider, Lukas Kaufmann, winner of the first edition in 2019.

Behind these four, the Italian racers, Martino Tronconi and Nicola Taffarel, will also play their hand for the win. Frenchman Miguel Martinez, gold medallist at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and winner of the 2022 Cape Epic in the masters’ category along with Mirko Pirazzoli, seems to be the first outsider.

The big favourite among the women is German racer, Naima Diesner, winner in both 2022 and 2021. Diesner is aiming for a hattrick for her third edition. Outsiders who could spoil Diesner’s plans include Australian rider, Imogen Smith, and Dutch racer, Anouk Van den Bielerd.

THE JERSEYS

As in previous editions, Natali Sports Wear will be the technical sponsor of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race leader jerseys. The blue jersey represents the leader in the men’s general classification, while the pink jersey will be worn by the leader in the women’s GC. Three more jerseys will be awarded in the race: Master (green), Grand Master (orange) and Great Grand Master (lilac).

THE APPENNINICA FAMILY

 

During the past five years, the Appenninica MTB Stage Race family has grown not only with the many athletes who have joined the race, but also thanks to the partners who have supported the event. Sustaining sponsors include carbon fibre wheel manufacturer, 9th Wave Cycling, Natali Sports Wear and Barbieri PNK.

Long term partners of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race are Barilla and the bike care brand, Squirt Cycling. Enervit, the leading Italian brand for sports nutrition, and Lavor, the leading manufacturer of high-pressure cleaning machines, have recently joined the family.

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