Registrations to the stage race on the Emilian Apennines (September 27th – October 3rd) are closed: an exiciting edition is in the cards with great riders at the start, such as Tiago Ferreira and Esther Süss
September is the month of Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race this year: there are now only 26 days left to the start from Porretta Terme (Bologna) of the MTB stage race on the Emilian Apennines, scheduled from September 27th to October 3rd, and the ordinary registrations for the upcoming edition have closed on Monday August 31st.
The Organizing Committee headed by Milena Bettocchi and Beppe Salerno resiliently ran their initiative in the tough months of the epidemic emergency, moving the race from the summer to the autumn season and working to ensure the event in full safety for both athletes and insiders.
This tenacity has been largely rewarded by a prestigious list of starters: many riders have been fascinated by the general offer of the course, a very demanding challenge with its 16 thousand meters of total elevation gain, and also by the beauty and scenery of the Apennines, an area still to be discovered, not only by bike.
There is going to be a tight battle both in the men’s and women’s competition: on the one hand current champion Lukas Kaufmann, European and former World Champion Tiago Ferreira, Milton Ramos, Hans Becking and Lorenzo Samparisi, while on the other hand the former World Champion Esther Süss, Gaia Ravaioli, Sarah Reiners, former Olympian Regina Marunde and Lorenza Menapace, just to mention some of the most anticipated protagonists.
“Despite a year with unique circumstances – Beppe Salerno explained – the participation numbers are very interesting, with some prominent names of the MTB world. Due to the COVID-19, several athletes arriving from outside Europe, particularly from the United States and South Africa, have had to give up the event, but will not miss the opportunity to be here in 2021″.
HE COURSE
Logistic reasons have forced a variation on the course of the last two stages, concerning in particular the stage venue. Collecchio (Parma) and the charming Corte di Giarola will replace Noceto (Parma) with no strictly technical changes in the course since the two municipalities are next to each other. “We thank Noceto for the availability and collaboration offered in recent months – Beppe Salerno commented – and we hope to return to visit it in the years to come. At the same time, we warmly welcome Collecchio, that will have the honor to crown the winner of a second edition that promises to be really enticing”.
Sunday, September 27th: Porretta Terme – Porretta Terme (45 km)
Elevation Gain: 1645 m
Monday, September 28th: Porretta Terme – Fanano (60 km)
Elevation Gain: 2650 m
Tuesday, September 29th: Fanano – Fanno (50 km)
Elevation Gain: 2300 m
Wednesday, September 30th: Fanano – Castelnovo ne’ Monti (110 km)
Elevation Gain: 4300 m
Thursday, October 1st: Castelnovo ne’ Monti – Castelnovo ne’ Monti (53 km)
Elevation Gain: 1900 m
Friday, October 2nd: Castelnovo ne’ Monti – Collecchio (94 km)
Elevation Gain: 2500 m
Saturday, October 3rd: Collecchio – Collecchio (35 km)
Elevation Gain: 650 m