Since its inception, the Appenninica MTB Stage Race has often crossed paths with the Giro d’Italia. From Bologna’s San Luca climb in 2019 to the peaks of the Modena Apennines, and now Castelnovo ne’ Monti.

On Wednesday, May 21, the town will host the finish of Stage 11 of the 2025 Giro d’Italia, the Viareggio–Castelnovo ne’ Monti. Just one month later, the town will also set the stage for the grand finale of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race. The challenging MTB stage race across the Apennines of Emilia-Romagna returns to the Province of Reggio Emilia for its final two stages, on Thursday, June 26 and Friday, June 27, where the 2025 champion will be crowned.

This marks a memorable end of spring and start of summer for Castelnovo ne’ Monti, reinforcing the town’s growing reputation as a sporting hub in Emilia-Romagna. Among the many events hosted here, Appenninica MTB Stage Race holds a special place, as Castelnovo is the only venue featured in every edition of the event to date.

Thursday, June 26 brings the toughest test of the week – the High Mountain Queen Stage. Spanning 89 km with 3,100 metres of elevation gain, it’s the ultimate challenge for athletes and a must-see for fans.

Starting from Riolunato, the stage immediately climbs to the Apennine ridges and high-altitude forests. The initial ascent, partially paved and partially forest road, is moderate until Monte Saltello. From there, relentless climbs and technical descents stretch to km 45, wearing down even the strongest riders.

The course then plunges into highly technical trails leading to Ligonchio, demanding focus and top-tier handling skills. In the final kilometres, riders cross the Secchia River before climbing toward the Bismantova Rock and tackling one last tricky descent into Castelnovo ne’ Monti’s town centre.

Friday, June 27 will feature the closing stage: a 58 km loop with 1,850 metres of elevation, starting and finishing in Castelnovo ne’ Monti. A mountainous finale that could shake up the general classification and decide the winner of the 2025 edition – all under the gaze of the Bismantova Rock, exactly one month after the Giro d’Italia’s Maglia Rosa passed through.

“The Appenninica MTB Race once again confirms Castelnovo Monti as a true home for sport – and showcases how sport can elevate our landscapes and natural environment, from the Bismantova Rock to the mountain ridges,” said Emanuele Ferrari, Mayor of Castelnovo ne’ Monti.
“This long-standing partnership highlights how sport fosters connections and promotes our territory with a positive, sustainable image. The race brings a piece of the world here, and even if it’s just for a short time, many carry these memories with them and spread the word when they return home – which is the best promotion we could ask for.”

In Castelnovo ne’ Monti, cycling is more than a sport – it’s a way to share the territory’s soul. Between the Giro d’Italia and Appenninica MTB Stage Race, 2025 promises a summer packed with unforgettable rides.

Since its inception in 2019, Appenninica MTB Stage Race has introduced riders and fans to a number of hidden gems throughout the Emilia-Romagna Apennines (Italy). These mountain communities, though often affected by population decline, offer architectural treasures and breathtaking landscapes steeped in history, tradition, and cultural identity.

Organized by A.S.D. Happy Trails MTB, the event serves a dual purpose: creating unforgettable racing experiences while showcasing these unique locations to an international audience — reaching beyond national borders as a promotional platform for the Emilia-Romagna Region.

From June 23 to 27, the 2025 edition of Appenninica MTB Stage Race will unveil a new gem of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines: Riolunato. This charming town in the province of Modena will host the finish of the third stage and the start of the fourth. These two stages are expected to play a decisive role in shaping the overall standings, being the longest and most demanding of the five-day race.

On Wednesday, June 25, riders will take on the “Emilia Romagna Peaks” stage—a gruelling 64 km route featuring 2,750 meters of climbing that begins in Lizzano in Belvedere. This high-altitude challenge spans two of the region’s most iconic mountain areas: Corno alle Scale and Monte Cimone.

The route partially mirrors the 2024 stage that finished in Fiumalbo, dominated by two major ascents. Riders face a serious test right out of the gate: of the first 23 km, 16 are uphill. It starts with an opening 7 km climb averaging 8.1%, with punishing sections reaching 20% that could already sap the legs of those not properly warmed up.

After a short downhill respite, another brutal 8.5 km climb begins, averaging 9.1%, with the final kilometer consistently above 12%. This segment runs through the Corno alle Scale area, which last year hosted a special KOM won in a sprint by Juul Van Loon over Miguel Martinez.

From the summit, a long and technically demanding descent leads to Fanano, another Appenninica stage town from previous years. From there, riders begin the third and final major ascent—14.2 km toward the summit of another Appenninica landmark: Monte Cimone.

The climb starts with challenging gradients, though on pavement, and gradually eases in the final kilometers. From the peak, a fast descent unfolds until just 5 km from the finish, where single-track segments may prove decisive before reaching the medieval village of Riolunato.

Riolunato will also host the start of stage four—the iconic “High Mountain Queen Stage,” covering 89 km with 3,100 meters of elevation gain. Coming immediately after the prior day’s effort, this long and relentless stage could create significant time gaps and prove crucial to the general classification.

“Hosting a stage of the 2025 Appenninica MTB Stage Race is a true honor for our small town,” said Riolunato Mayor Lorenzo Checchi. “This event continues to grow in international prestige year after year, achieving remarkable success. It provides an exceptional showcase for our region, which I’m confident will leave a lasting impression—not just for its environmental, scenic, cultural, and natural beauty, but also for the warmth and hospitality of its residents.”

The medieval village of Riolunato, where history and nature meet, was once home to French writer Alberto Gallois, a leading advocate for Esperanto. Centuries later, the village will once again become a melting pot of languages as riders from around the world descend on the Appenninica MTB Stage Race. Perhaps someone might even be tempted to use Esperanto—the universal language—to recount the challenges of the third stage.

Corno alle Scale stands as the iconic mountain for Bologna locals—a beloved destination for skiing, hiking, and mountain biking adventures. This is where skiing legend Alberto Tomba built his greatest successes during his dominant years in alpine competition, and where the Appenninica MTB Stage Race has established itself as a fixture in recent years.

At the foot of Corno alle Scale lie Lizzano in Belvedere and its village of Vidiciatico, which will once again feature prominently in this mountain bike stage race through Emilia-Romagna’s Apennines (June 23-27, 2025). In a significant shift from previous editions, these locations will host the opening stages of this year’s race, welcoming riders from around the world eager to discover this hidden gem of Italy.

The event kicks off Sunday, June 22, 2025, as Vidiciatico comes alive with competitors arriving for registration and race briefings. This marks a new role for the Bologna Province location, which transitions from hosting final stages in past editions to launching an event packed with new features—including a streamlined five-stage format and a new June calendar slot.

Monday’s opening stage (June 23) offers no gentle introduction, challenging riders with 58km and 2,300m of climbing across the Corno alle Scale area. From Vidiciatico, the route crosses Fanano, immediately testing riders’ technical skills on classic Apennine terrain.

After passing through the village of Fellicarolo, the course climbs first on tarmac, then forest roads, and finally more technical singletrack toward Passo di Croce Arcana via the mountain huts of  Taburri and Capanno Tassoni. This demanding climb features gradients exceeding 15% before revealing spectacular ridge views along one of Appenninica’s signature sections. The iconic passage by Lake Scaffaiolo and the summit of Corno alle Scale marks the beginning of the final 15km descent, alternating technical singletrack with flowing dirt roads.

The second stage delivers equal technical demands with the “Monte Pizzo Trails“—another loop starting and finishing in Vidiciatico. Covering 49km with 2,200m of elevation gain, this stage demands constant focus through its relentless terrain changes.

The climbing begins immediately with a manageable 5.5km ascent (350m elevation gain) on the Albarè trail in the Monte Pizzo area. The route continues upward to Monteacuto nelle Alpi before plunging into a brief but intense descent to Molino Squaglia—just 1.2km but with leg-burning 26% gradients in some sections. Without recovery time, riders must immediately climb again toward the day’s high point before tackling the brutal Segavecchia ascent (just over 3km averaging nearly 10% gradient) and finally descending on Monte Pizzo’s technical trails.

Vidiciatico completes its hosting duties with the start of stage three, sending riders toward the new stage location of Riolunato in what promises to be one of the edition’s most grueling days at 64km with 2,750m of climbing.

Lizzano in Belvedere Mayor Barbara Franchi expressed enthusiasm for the event: “We’re proud to welcome back the Appenninica MTB Stage Race with its enhanced experience and innovations. This event celebrates authentic mountain biking while bringing significant value to our community through international visibility and tourism. We’re excited to provide all participants with an unforgettable experience combining sport, nature, and local heritage.”

The partnership between Lizzano in Belvedere and Appenninica MTB Stage Race continues to strengthen since partnering for the first time in 2021. One can only imagine what the legendary RAI journalist Enzo Biagi, born in these mountains and known for his sharp, refined writing, might have written about this challenging race through his homeland.