KeForma and Strategic Nutrition Center join Appenninica’s team

The new “Official Sports Nutrition Partners” of the MTB stage race (September 27th-October 3rd, 2020) will give athletes an essential nutritional and integrative contribution.

Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race family has grown bigger thanks to the agreement with KeForma and Strategic Nutrition Center, which become “Official Sports Nutrition Partner” for the second edition of the MTB stage race, scheduled from September 27th to October 3rd, 2020.

 To face a challenge like Appenninica, you need to pay special attention to details, like training, materials, rest time, and the choice of correct nutrition.

KeForma will give an important contribution to the athletes during the racing week on the Emilian Apennines, including its products in the athletes’ race package and making them available in the feed zones along the course, at the start and finish of the various stages.

The company from San Marino produces a complete line of supplements thought for sports and physical well-being, using active ingredients and certified raw materials of the highest quality, aimed at the specific needs of athletes of any level. Over the last few years, KeForma supplements have received remarkable awards from numerous professional teams and internationally renowned athletes. They are now ready to get involved with the challenge of Appenninica.

Joining the field is also Strategic Nutrition Center, whose mission and method perfectly match with Appenninica. The Bologna-based center’s philosophy focuses on teamwork, synergy, and confrontation with other professionals, with improvement, innovation, and continuous learning as a goal.

Born from the idea of Dr. Lorenzo Bergami, Nutritionist Biologist, an expert in Sports Nutrition, Integration and Nutraceutical and Anti-aging Potentiative Medicine, Strategic Nutrition Center will be at Appenninica with a team of experts, giving athletes the opportunity to undergo a Body Composition visit (BIA) at the start and finish of some stages.

“We decided to collaborate with Appenninica, because we love challenges, and teaming up with those who thrive for them – Dr. Bergami explains -. Seven stages in the Emilian Apennines woods are a unique opportunity for riders to test themselves and see how far they can get: any time they should be in trouble, we will be on hand to support them to the finish line”.

Appenninica welcomes Olympian Regina Marunde

The German MTB International from 1991 to 2004 took part in the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and is now ready to test herself on the trails of Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race

The passion for mountain biking never vanishes, no matter if you are no longer a professional. Regina Marunde, born in 1968, knows it well: after having trod the most important MTB international races between the 90s and 2000 as a professional, she is still looking for new challenges on her bike in her present as as osteopath and personal trainer.

Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race, scheduled from September 27th to October 3rd, is one of these challenges, and the German athlete from Berlin looks to have fun and discover the hurdles of the Emilian Apennines.

“I cannot wait to face the real mountains again after the break due to the virus – Regina admits -. Staying in Berlin without the opportunity to test myself on challenging races was really frustrating, so I am eager to discover the routes of the Emilian Apennines and do what I like most: take my MTB and enjoy some real trails”.

Regina Marunde was a German international from 1991 to 2004, taking part in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where she finished seventh, and in several World Championships and Cups. She had a good chance of being selected for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games as well, but a bad fall caused her several fractures, with no chances to recover in time to go to Greece. That year, in fact, she managed to win the challenging Transalp in the German Alps, going on to finish third the following year.

Lukas Kaufmann eyes Appenninica repeat in 2020

The 26-year-old Austrian won the individual classification in Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race’s first edition and looks to repeat this year: “It is a unique race and I will try to win it again”

Resisting the call of Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race is not easy. The winner of the first edition, Lukas Kaufmann, can confirm it, as from September 27th to October 3rd 2020 he will be back on the Emilian Apennines to try to defend the title won last year. In 2019 he showed all his qualities, both uphill and on the fast downhill trails, securing the final individual overall classification and thus becoming the first winner in the history of Appenninica.

He was born in Linz, Northern Austria, in 1994 and for about ten years has been traveling the world looking for races that feed his passion for fat wheels and technical trails. Over the years he has raised the bar more and more, finding the ideal terrain to prove his skills in stage races.

“Last year I learned about Appenninica thanks to a Facebook ad – Kaufmann says -. I was looking for a stage race in a beautiful area of Italy and I immediately registered. I should have participated in pairs with a friend of mine, but in the end he could not be there so I raced alone. I certainly didn’t expect to win, although I knew I was in good shape, since a few days earlier I had finished third in the Salzkammergut Trophy, 11 hours of racing for 210 km and 7100 meters of elevation gain”.

Lukas perfectly fits with Appenninica mood, fully enjoying the atmosphere once he gets off his bike: “The family atmosphere is one of the things that I enjoyed the most of the race. At the end of the week everyone knew each other. The marvelous food should not be overlooked too, especially the Parmigiano Reggiano”.

But a skilled biker like him was also looking for a nice course to have fun with: “I did stage races in Austria, Croatia, Switzerland, France, Spain, Costa Rica and Australia, but nowhere I enjoyed the route like I did at Appenninica – the 26-year-old Austrian said -. You need a great technique, because trails are difficult, and also excellent resistance, because after seven days of competition you are really exhausted”.

His goal is to repeat the win, taking advantage of the experience gained last year and the knowledge of the Apennines traps. In 2020, however, the competition will be higher and the rivals fiercer: “Last year, while I was travelling back home in a 10-hours-drive, I reflected on how much this race would grow over the years. The organizers are doing an excellent job and it is logical that, little by little, stronger riders will join the race. I can’t wait to challenge athletes like Milton Ramos and many others. A stage race is always unpredictable, but surely, I will start to repeat last year victory. I will train intensely until September, then if I do not succeed in winning, I will still be able to enjoy the course, the good food, the magnificent landscape and the company of the Appenninica team”.

Milton Ramos targets Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race

The Spaniard-Honduran of the Rockrider Decathlon Team, six-time winner of the IronBike, is ready to face the Emilian Apennines the next autumn: “I want to enjoy the experience, but also focus on the general classification”

Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race starting list keeps filling up with big names. The latest famed contender to join the ranks of the MTB stage race scheduled from September 27th to October 3rd, 2020 on the Emilian Apennines, in Italy, is Internationally renowned stage-race specialist Milton Ramos, six-time winner of the established and very challenging IronBike stage race, in the Western Alps.

Born in 1979 and grown up in Honduras, Ramos proved his MTB talent after moving to Spain in 1999, when he joined his mother who had emigrated to Europe a few years earlier in Zaragoza. After a short period in road cycling, he committed full-time to his passion for fat wheels and off-road tracks, soon becoming one of the most popular bikers in Spain. He is nicknamed “Zorro of the Desert”, because of his good feeling with the Titan Desert in Morocco, where he won three stages with three second places in the overall standings.

In Appenninica he will face a new challenge, as the Apennines are an unexplored terrain for him. On the starting line of Porretta Terme (Bologna) he will wear the Rockrider Decathlon Team jersey, together with the French Joseph de Poortere and competing both in the individual category.

“My teammate Joseph told me about Appenninica and when I read about it I was impressed by the routes and the overall offer of the race – Milton, who also won races like the Mediterranean Extreme, Gigante de Piedra and the Quebrantahuesos cxm in his career, explains -. I also received positive feedbacks from other friends of mine who know the race and I am very curious to discover the Apennines. I’ve never had the chance to ride there before, so it will be a very first time for me”.

The Honduran living in Aragon comes from a difficult 2019, punctuated by several physical problems that have significantly limited his bike activity, and even this 2020, with many races cancelled due to the epidemic emergency, had not started in the best way. Appenninica, postponed from summer to autumn, will therefore be one of the major goals of the season for Ramos, who is surely going to entertain the fans during the seven days along the Emilian provinces.

The 16.000 meters of elevation gain seems to fit perfectly to Milton’s skills: “Hard and technical races like Appenninica are the ones I prefer and in which I have always managed to give the best of me, so I think I can have fun. The first goal for me is to enjoy the ride and appreciate what is around me, but I am also competitive by nature and I will surely focus on the overall classification. I will then try to finish as high as possible”.

The next autumn Milton is going to be a tough rival for everyone. Registrations for Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race are open on the https://www.appenninica-mtb.com/en/register/ website till August 31st (or max number).

Appenninica changes dates, moves to September 27th- October 3rd 2020

Noted the persistent uncertainty about the regular course of sports events, the MTB stage race’s organizers decided to postpone the MTB stage race to the autumn: “We want to offer more guarantees”

There is to wait a couple of months longer than expected to live the Mountain Bike challenge in the heart of Emilian Apennines. Having assessed the constant situation of uncertainty regarding the conditions and methods of carrying out sports events after the emergency from Covid-19, Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race decided to postpone the second edition of the race to the next autumn, from September 27th to October 3rd, 2020.

The main features of the race will not change even if there will be a few more yellow leaves. Originally scheduled from July 19th to 25th, Appenninica ranks among the hardest stage races in the international calendar and the Emilian Apennines, through the provinces of Bologna, Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Parma, are the ideal setting.

“These dates give us more guarantees and meet the needs of everyone – Beppe Salerno, Head of the organizing committee along with Milena Bettocchi, explains -. We evaluated the situation day by day because a 460 km stage race in seven days requires planning and coordination, and this seemed to be the best choice for us. We are particularly grateful to the sponsors, and to the four host municipalities, Alto Reno Terme, Fanano, Castelnovo ne’ Monti, and Noceto, that have not pulled back and also supported the new placement in the calendar”.

The ambition to repeat the first edition’s success motivates the organizers: “Only a few MTB stage races are still standing in this very tough season. Despite the difficult circumstances, we are part of a small group of tenacious organizers who are still hoping to deliver a great experience to their participants.”

Determination, but also a keen awareness of the existing situation: “The Appenninica Family’s safety comes first for us. We are in touch with all the participants to inform them of every development, monitor the health and regulatory evolution daily, and we are studying the most appropriate solutions so that everyone can live the experience in the utmost safety and serenity. We hope that the good signals coming out from this lockdown phase will be confirmed and that these two more months allow us to race Appenninica in its usual entertaining atmosphere”.

As already made clear by Appenninica’s organizers, no one will lose his participation fee. “In these days we talked with our athletes, and many of them were enthusiasts for the new dates,” Salerno continues -. “Anyway, since the beginning of the emergency, we ensured alternatives for anybody who wouldn’t be able to participate under these conditions.”

The participation fees already paid for the 2020 edition will roll over to the new dates – from September 27th to October 3rd – and if the rider is not available to attend the event in 2020 for any reason, the participation fee will be valid for the 2021 event.

All the registered riders also have the option to cancel according to the current cancellation policy.