The 2025 edition delivered one of the most thrilling women’s editions of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race. Lola Bakker and Syd Schulz battled through five gruelling stages across the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, exchanging positions with each challenging climb.
Though Schulz dominated the early stages – notably securing victory on Stage Two – a mechanical setback in Castelnovo ne’ Monti stage proved decisive. Bakker seized her opportunity, orchestrating a commanding performance on the Mountain Queen Stage to claim the overall title and etch her name into the race’s record books. The title came in her third appearance at Appenninica, after a 2024 spent battling Ada Xinxo Moreira for second place.
Now, with unfinished business hanging between them, both athletes arrive at the June 22–26 showdown with renewed purpose. Bakker, competing for Team KMC, will defend her crown for the fourth consecutive appearance, whilst Schulz – equally determined and buoyed by her digital presence alongside her husband on the popular YouTube channel Syd&Macky – seeks redemption on the same demanding terrain.
The duel could easily replay from June 22–26, but a roster of international contenders has declared their intent to disrupt the established order. Among the most intriguing names is Estonian Greete Steinburg – a stage winner at Cape Epic 2023 and second place at the Bike Transalp 2024 (paired with Naima Madlen Diesner, a familiar name in Appenninica circles). Specialising in protracted endurance challenges, Steinburg brings the tactical acumen and physical conditioning to trouble the favourites across the Apennines’ technical passages.
Another contender is the Brazilian rising star Luiza Euzebio de Souza, who’s already graced the podium at Brasil Ride and is eager to test herself on a technical, demanding course like Appenninica’s. Should she establish immediate rapport with the course’s singletracks, her combination of youth and ambition could prove decisive.
Domestically, Italian Mara Parisi commands attention. The newly crowned Italian MTB Marathon champion (Women Amateur 1 category) arrives with an impressive season already underway: victories at the Marathon del Vulture and Marathon Bosco delle Pianelle, plus a ninth-place finish at the MTB Garda Marathon.
On paper, these are the riders most likely to fight for the 2026 Appenninica MTB Stage Race title. Whilst the names above carry the strongest credentials, the Apennines have a storied tradition of delivering the unexpected. This time, too, the mountains will have the final say.
