The former Belgian road cyclist, now a nutritionist for Van Aert’s Jumbo-Visma, is ready to take on the Appenninica MTB Stage Race (4-10 September) ten years after her Olympic adventure in London. “I’m looking for a challenge to push my limits”

The reigning queen, Naima Diesner, has cited her as a rival to keep an eye on, but Maaike Polspoel swears that she does not think about the Appenninica MTB Stage Race final victory. Whether the Belgian is bluffing or not, will be discovered as of 4 September 2022, when the Emilia-Romagna Apennines will be the judges from the start in Castelnovo ne’ Monti.

Born in 1989, ten years ago the Belgian finished 29th in the Elite Women’s Road race at the 2012 London Olympics. Today she is preparing to experience Appenninica (4-10 September 2022) after returning to her first love, mountain biking.

“Mountain biking was my first real love when it comes to cycling. As a little kid, I loved spending time in nature with my mountain bike. Before becoming a professional road cyclist, I was active as a biker in the international junior and U23 categories. I switched to road cycling after an injury during a World Cup cross-country race. However, the love for the mountain bike hasnever left me and after my career as a road cyclist, I picked up mountain biking again,” said Maaike Polspoel.

That’s why the decision to come to Emilia-Romagna for a mountain bike stage race thrilled her.

“The Appenninica MTB Stage Race is unique. It will be very challenging and pushing limits will be needed. And that’s exactly what I’m looking for… Challenging and pushing my limits. And all this in an incredibly beautiful environment and wonderful nature. These are all the ingredients for an unforgettable experience” .

After finishing her career as a professional road racer, with stage win at the Profile Ladies Tour in 2011 and the Erondegemse Pijl in 2013 standing out as her best results, Maaike Polspoel has remained in the cycling world. Once finished her studies as a nutritionist, she has recently joined the Jumbo-Visma team of the last Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard and the fellow Belgian talent Wout Van Aert.

“A well-balanced fueling and nutrition strategy is crucial to successfully finish a demanding stage race like Appenninica. The repetition of efforts, every stage demands a lot from your body, so you have to give it the energy to recover and to be fuelled for the next day. Carbohydrates play an important role in this, so Italian pasta will be welcome after each stage!”, the Belgian rider explained.

In spite of defending champion Naima Diesner picking her as one of the possible favourites for the overall victory, Maaike Polspoel prefers to shy away from the race for the overall win, but not without mentioning a name to watch out for.

“I don’t think I will be able to win this edition. It is the first time I will participate in the Appenninica, and it’s been a while since I have done some competition, so I will take it one day at a time and enjoy each stage. With her experience from last year, I think Naima has the best chance of winning again. I also expect a lot from Rozanne Slik, I know her from when she was a professional cyclist and expect that she will be at the start in excellent condition. In any case, I am looking forward to it,” Maaike Polspoel said. 

Whether it is just pretactics or not, the women’s race at Appenninica certainly promises to be exciting.

Spain’s Miguel Munoz Moreno and Portugal’s Francisco Filipe will take the start at Appenninica MTB Stage Race (September 4-10) for Andrea Marconi’s team, always in the core of the action in recent years. “We can think about the overall,” says the DMT Racing Team duo

In 2020, Hans Becking won it all, patrolled by Tiago Ferreira. In 2021, Ilias Periklis was stopped by a crash when he was wearing the leader’s jersey, which he had just snatched from eventual winner Felix Fritzsch. On every occasion so far, the DMT Racing Team has been an absolute protagonist at Appenninica MTB Stage Race.

That is why the team led by manager Andrea Marconi cannot be overlooked with thinking of the contenders for Appenninica 2022 (4-10 September). This year, the DMT Racing Team will line up an Iberian duo at the start of Castelnovo ne’ Monti: Spaniard Miguel Munoz Moreno and Portuguese Francisco Filipe.

For both, it will be the first participation at Appenninica, but considering what their predecessors have done, it’s fair to expect they will be in the discussion for stage successes as well as the overall podium.

“This is my first time at the Appenninica MTB Stage Race. I am looking forward to that, I have never competed in this area, but I have asked my teammates for information and watched some race videos. I expect a very tough week, full of pitfalls in all the stages”, said Francisco Filipe.

“It will be my first time at this race, and I think it will be a fantastic but very challenging week. Riding in this area is new for me, but I think it will be an incredible and unique experience for all participants”, said his teammate Miguel Munoz Moreno.

Among the two, Miguel Munoz Moreno will aim for the GC after finishing fourth La Leyenda de Tartessos and the Brasil Ride paired with Tiago Ferreira.

“I am getting to Appenninica in fairly good shape, so victory is in our mind. I have already studied all the stages, and the toughest will certainly be the High Mountain Queen Stage with 105 kilometres and almost 4,000 metres of altitude gain”, explained the Spaniard.

Francisco Filipe’s task will be to support his companion towards victory, pursuing some stage results in the process.

“I am preparing well and will try to help my team win. I think the third stage will be the one to make the difference”, commented the 24-year-old Portuguese rider.

Those looking for overall victory in the Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2022 would better keep an eye on DMT Racing Team. The history of this stage race in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines says so, and the Iberian duo is on its way to confirm it.

After its debut last year, the town in the province of Bologna will host the conclusion of the 2022 edition on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th September. Appenninica MTB Stage Race returns to the Corno alle Scale area, where Alberto Tomba built his greatest successes

People always return where they have had a good time. This is true in life as it is for the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, which will conclude its 2022 edition (4-10 September) in Lizzano in Belvedere. After making its debut in last year’s edition, the mountain resort in the Province of Bologna returns as the venue for the stage race in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines. 

A great comeback for the town whose name is linked to the Corno alle Scale ski area, where Alberto Tomba used to train. On Friday 9th and Saturday 10th September, Lizzano in Belvedere will decide the 2022 edition of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race with the last two stage finishes that will define the overall classification.

The athletes will arrive in Lizzano on Friday 9 September, after the start from Porretta Terme, having faced a route of 63 km and 2700 meters of total elevation gain. The stage “Il Corno” will see an initial part of the route on forest paths immersed in the woods, without human settlements, before Km 37 when the athletes face the demanding climb towards the Passo dello Strofinatoio, with the last 500 meters of portage. From there, we will tackle the ridge towards Scaffaiolo Lake before the final slope through trails and single tracks towards the finish.

The seventh and final stage “Monte Pizzo” measures 37 kilometers with 1550 meters of elevation gain. Scheduled on Saturday 10 September, this stage may appear to be the classic final parade, but pitfalls are just around the corner. Starting and finishing from Piazza XXVII Settembre in Vidiciatico, much of the route is set in the natural bike park in a loop that will take the athletes through the “Cuplina” trail twice and the “Albaré” trail once. The grand finale will then take place at the Conca del Sole swimming pool in Vidiciatico.

“Our town strongly believes in the Appenninica MTB Stage Race project, and we are happy to host a stage here again this year. This commitment was also shared with the Metropolitan City of Bologna, whose support for the initiative was key. Our local stakeholders are ready to host athletes and staff to promote the beauty of Corno alle Scale”, said Sergio Polmonari, Mayor of Lizzano in Belvedere. 

LIZZANO IN BELVEDERE, BETWEEN NATURE, HISTORY, AND SPORTS

The name of Lizzano in Belvedere recalls the Corno alle Scale Natural Park, which from its highest point, at an altitude of 1945 meters asl, offers a stunning view toward North and the Alps, East and West and the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas. In the area, the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell’Acero, which with its monumental trees and nature’s silence, is the ideal place for meditation.

Lizzano in Belvedere was also home to the well-known Italian journalist Enzo Biagi, one of Rai’s most famous characters with his “Il Fatto” program. Italian ski legend Alberto Tomba also used to train in the Corno alle Scale area, where he built his greatest successes: a winning alchemy with this magical territory.

At the end of the 2022 edition (4-10 September), Appenninica will induct the participants who were able to complete the stage race in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines for three times as members of the Appenninica Family. An exclusive club that five athletes could join already this year

The Appeninica MTB Stage Race is a challenge to yourself. Those who have already made this experience know how demanding the route of 450 km and 16,000 metres of total elevation gain is, and how much willpower is needed to reach the finish line. Completing Appenninica is an achievement: doing it several times is a real highlander’s feat.

For this reason, the MTB stage race in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines wishes to celebrate those riders who are able to wear the finisher’s medal for three times.

At the end of the 2022 edition, scheduled from 4 to 10 September 2022, the Appenninica “Hall of Family” will be inaugurated. The exclusive club will be reserved to those who have completed the hat-trick, defeating their limits and confirming their love and passion for Appenninica and its places year after year. Members of the Hall of Family will receive unique benefits and opportunities to feel increasingly part of what has become a true family over the years, as well as a place in the history and heart of Appenninica.

“We thought of creating this club to honor those who have decided to put their trust in us and participate in the Appenninica MTB Stage Race for several years. At the end of the 2022 edition, a special medal will be awarded to those who have completed the feat for the third time. We hope to see this community of enthusiasts grow over the years, creating a little hall of fame for our Appenninica Family,” said Beppe Salerno and Milena Bettocchi, co-organizers of Appenninica MTB Stage Race. 

Among the participants at the start in Castelnovo ne’ Monti on 4 September, no less than five athletes could reach the prestigious milestone. These include Peter Wouters, owner of 9th Wave Cycling, a sponsor of Appenninica since the first edition, who completed the race in 2019 and 2020, like Poland’s Zbig Mossoczy. Swiss Thomas Jauner will try to earn the triple crown after the 2019 and 2021 editions, the same challenge as Stefan Kiene and Anton Tieleman, both 2020 and 2021 finishers.

In addition to the stage finishes and the final classification, there will be an extra motivation for them: to make Appenninica MTB Stage Race history.