MTB stage racing newest jewel – Appenninica MTB set for inaugural edition in July 2019

The first international mountain bike stage race in Italy will cross the Apennines starting on the 20th of July 2019.

Appenninica MTB Stage Race is set to become Italy’s first international MTB stage race crossing the Apennines – the mountain chain that is the watershed of the Italian peninsula – with a completely new course composed of seven stages plus a prologue, followed by an itinerant base camp (race village).

The race will have a total length of approximately 500km with around 20.000m of elevation gain, and will follow for the most part the beautiful Alta Via dei Parchi, a trail of unforeseen beauty and variety that zig-zags between the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany.

The two-person team format is a trademark of the world’s most famous MTB stage races and will emphasize fitness and bike handling skills but also sportsmanship and team spirit. Male, female and mixed team will all be allowed at the start, with a special classification and prize for the women teams’ category.

The grand start will be in Berceto, a small village located on the western side of the mountain range, close to the Tyrrhenian sea, and will final stage will end in Bagno di Romagna, on the east side of the chain. In between, Appenninica MTB will offer its participants seven days of adventure on the Apennines’ unexplored lands and paths, that will take the riders through scenarios of breathtaking wilderness and beauty, but also discovering the region’s hamlets and renowned food and hospitality.

The hosting region of Emilia Romagna and the towns that will host the race stages are eager to show the world the vastly unknown beauty of their mountains, a completely different landscape than Italy’s more renowned alpine regions.

Registration will start on November 1st, 2018. A promo code is available when registering on the event website.

For more information: appenninica-mtb.com

PROMO CODE

Saitta and Steinburg crowned champions of Appenninica 2026

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Steinburg: queen of stage and standings

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Steinburg wins and pulls clear

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Saitta storms in Riolunato

The script for Stage 3 of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race was already written: short, explosive and full of plot twists. That is exactly what unfolded across the 38 km and 1,500 metres of elevation of the Monte Cimone Challenge, a loop around Riolunato held...

Schulz strikes back, Steinburg takes pink

Schulz had slipped more than 21 minutes behind after the opening stage. The American showed resilience and determination to respond immediately, taking victory in Riolunato. The general classification may now be a long shot, but she has firmly re-established herself as one of the riders to watch over the remaining stages.

Win for Becking, Jersey for Spica

Becking had finished third in Vidiciatico, disappointed after failing to hold the wheel of Vincenzo Saitta and Emanuele Spica in the finale. On the 65-kilometre route featuring 2,600 metres of elevation gain, however, the Dutchman matched the pace of the Rolling Bike Team duo throughout the day and eventually took advantage of misfortune for the race leader to claim both the stage win and a valuable leap up the standings.

De Souza overcomes adversity

De Souza overcomes a crash to beat Lola Bakker and Greete Steinburg in the women’s race

Sicilian dominance in the Apennines

Saitta leads home teammate Spica and Becking

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