Brazil’s rising MTB star eyes Appenninica crown on debut

by | Jun 18, 2026 | Highlights, Press Releases (2026)

Last October, Luiza Euzebio De Souza finished fourth at Brasil Ride Bahia, one of the world’s premier mountain bike stage races. That alone would place her on every contender’s radar. At 23, already recognised as one of Brazil’s most promising MTB talents, she represents a threat any serious contender for the 2026 Appenninica MTB Stage Race (June 22-26) title must respect.

The connection between the Emilia-Romagna Apennines and Brazil runs unexpectedly deep. During World War II, Brazilian troops were stationed along the Gothic Line, establishing a historical thread that lingers. In recent years, this bond has strengthened – co-organiser Beppe Salerno and fellow Appenninica Family members ventured to last year’s Brasil Ride edition, forging mutual respect between the communities.

This year, De Souza leads a record Brazilian delegation to the Apennines: eleven athletes will toe the line at Lizzano in Belvedere on June 22.

“The Brazilian mountain bike community is very strong and numerous,” De Souza explains. “Appenninica generates great interest because it offers a unique combination of technical trails, beautiful landscapes, and top-level organisation. Many Brazilian athletes love testing themselves, and Appenninica perfectly embodies that spirit of adventure and the desire to push past your limits.”

Appenninica arrives as more than a debut – it represents De Souza’s new step into European competition. Days earlier, she contested the HERO Südtirol Dolomites, crossing the line in twenty-fifth place.

“That result at HERO didn’t capture my true potential, but I’m working to rediscover my optimal race rhythm following an injury,” De Souza shares candidly. “I arrive at Appenninica in good condition, though the injury interrupted my preparation. Recovery demands considerable patience, discipline, and adaptability. My objective is consistency from stage to stage, to savour the experience, and to contend for the strongest possible general classification result. We’ll see where it leads.“

The Brasil Ride Bahia circuit has become De Souza’s proving ground. Two fourth-place finishes (2025 and 2024) and a third-place showing (2023) have established her credentials amongst Brazil’s most promising MTB Marathon athletes. Her decision to race Appenninica stems from a deeper hunger – to test herself in contrasting, demanding environments.

“This will be my first Appenninica, and I’m truly excited,” De Souza reflects. “I expect a demanding race with technical trails, breathtaking landscapes, a fundamentally different experience from the events I typically contest in Brazil. I view this participation as both an opportunity to mature as an athlete and to deepen my understanding of Italy’s mountain bike culture.”

If the opportunity to fight for a prestigious result comes her way during the week, you can be certain that Luiza Euzebio De Souza will draw on all her talent to make her mark.

Cacchi returns to Appenninica, ready to surprise again

by | Jun 16, 2026 | Highlights, Press Releases (2026)

Since its first edition in 2019, no Italian rider has ever won the general classification at the Appenninica MTB Stage Race. This June, that could change. From 22 to 26 June, alongside Vincenzo Saitta and Emanuele Spica, Luca Cacchi lines up again at the most important stage race in Italian mountain biking: the rider from Romagna who took a surprising second place just two years ago, behind an unbeatable Hans Becking.

Cacchi will go wheel to wheel with the Dutchman again this year, and in his eyes Becking is the man to beat.

“This year I’m coming in without any fixed targets, but I know I’m ready and well prepared,” says Cacchi. “Hans Becking is a great athlete and he’s always shown it. I’m racing him again after the 2024 Appenninica, and I’m sure he’ll turn up in top form.”

Last year, Cacchi was set to start, but an injury at the HERO Südtirol Dolomites just a week earlier ruled him out. A kneecap microfracture sidelined the Bad Team rider from one of the races he had targeted most, and the mental blow cut as deep as the physical one.

“Last year really hurt, not being able to race Appenninica,” Cacchi admits. “Along with the HERO Südtirol Dolomites, it was one of the races I was counting on most. A kneecap microfracture put me out, and mentally I had to let go of my goals. But I’ve learned that this is part of mountain biking too.”

The year on the sidelines seems to have sharpened him. Cacchi arrives at the 22–26 June edition with a clearer head and fresh legs.

Becking is far from the only obstacle. Emanuele Spica and Vincenzo Saitta, the Sicilian duo from ASD Rolling Team, come in with open ambitions of winning. Cacchi knows them well: they’ve finished ahead of him several times this season, yet he doesn’t count himself the underdog.

He has reason not to. At the HERO Südtirol Dolomites he crossed the line ahead of Spica, a result he plays down but hasn’t forgotten.

“Spica and Saitta are both seriously strong,” Cacchi says. “I’ve come up against them in several races this year and they’ve always finished ahead of me, but at the HERO Südtirol Dolomites I beat Spica. We’ll fight it out over these five days.”

All three start with a genuine shot at the overall win at the 2026 Appenninica MTB Stage Race, with Hans Becking and an in-form German, Marek Sülzle, also in the mix, along with Riccardo Chiarini. Victory would put an Italian on the top step of the country’s most important mountain bike stage race for the first time.

“The chance of an Italian win at Appenninica is very real this year,” Cacchi concedes. “But you can’t underestimate the riders coming through. The start list is long, and just as I broke out in 2024, someone barely on the radar right now could do the same.”

The wait is almost over. On Monday, 22 June the cards go on the table, and we’ll find out who was bluffing and who has a real shot at the win.

Riders bulletin n.4 2026

by | Jun 15, 2026 | Highlights, Rider's Bulletin, Rider’s Bulletin (2026)

Riders bulletin n.4 📒June 15th, 2026

 

If you’ve received this email, you are probably registered for the VIII edition of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, which will be held from June 22nd to June 26th. We start in one week!.

Let’s talk about navigation

You’ll navigate via our yellow and red arrows and sometimes yellow signage tape, and also by using the GPX files of the stages uploaded to your GPS device. Get into the habit of checking your GPS device regularly to ensure you are on track. Read the race rules articles: Race marking and Navigation, Special Marking, Missing signs, and sabotage of racecourse arrows.

 

  • GPX files of the stages are available for download. Save them to your GPS, including the routes that could be used in case of bad weather (BW in the file name). We’ll tell you more at the briefings. Please make sure that they are uploaded and that your GPS device launches them correctly.

     

  • Your friends and family can follow you thanks to SeTeTrack GPS tracking devices (each of you will have one) and event page. The Appenninica live tracking event is at this link. From there, select the correct stage (not active, yet).
  • A flyer with instructions for the GPS tracker itself will be on the Telegram Appenninica channel.

 

GPX FILES DOWNLOAD

Remember to subscribe to the Appenninica MTB Telegram channel for updates during the race, links to the stage results, and links to sharable content. Turn on the push notification function.

 

Accreditation

Accreditations will take place in the splendid Apennine setting of Vidiciatico on Sunday from 14:00 to 18:30.

How to Get There and Parking:

Lizzano in Belvedere (Vidiciatico is a fraction of it) is 68 km from Bologna and 80 km from Florence.

If you arrive from Bologna DO NOT take exit Sasso Marconi Nord unless you have a telepass device on your car. Instead, take exit Sasso Marconi – SS64 Porrettana.

Camper van area: Conca del Sole Pool in Vidiciatico.

Short-term parking for accreditation is here. Go to the accreditation area on foot or by bike.

See you soon!

Syd&Macky: when Appenninica becomes a family affair

by | Jun 15, 2026 | Highlights, Press Releases, Press Releases (2026)

The Appenninica MTB Stage Race has become renowned not merely as a racing experience, but as a family journey. This year, American Syd Schulz brings her entire clan to the Emilia-Romagna Apennines – her husband Macky Franklin as a fellow competitor, and her parents as devoted supporters witnessing their first Italian adventure

Returning to the Emilia-Romagna Apennines has become a cherished tradition amongst Appenninica‘s ever-growing family of international competitors. Sharing the experience with loved ones – friends, family, partners – has amplified this sentiment, creating bonds that transcend the finish line.

Syd Schulz was a standout protagonist of the 2025 women’s competition and now joins the ranks of those bringing their inner circle to witness the Apennine challenge. In the last edition to date, she claimed two stage victories and held the leader’s jersey for two days, whilst her husband Macky Franklin offered encouragement from the sidelines. This June, the dynamic shifts: both will pin on their race numbers for the June 22–26 competition, competing side by side across five demanding stages.

The YouTube duo behind the popular Syd&Macky channel speak candidly about what drew them back. “The race was a great mix of challenging climbs and fun, rowdy descents,” they explain. “We really enjoyed the community and the fact that it is not a huge race, so you get to meet and chat with almost everyone, especially since we are all eating together every night. It really has a special vibe that you just don’t get with every stage race. Also, an excellent excuse to eat pasta multiple times a day!”

For an American couple accustomed to their home terrain, the Italian mountain experience carries a romantic allure – one they’re now extending to Syd’s parents, who join them for their inaugural Italian sojourn.

“Macky definitely had some FOMO last year when I was racing and he wasn’t, and I knew he would love the trails so we wanted to come back when we could both race – Syd reflects with characteristic candour –. Also, after losing a lot of time to multiple flat tires, I have some unfinished business here too. Since Macky’s racing, we recruited my parents to come and be our support crew – it’s also a good excuse for them to explore Italy and it will be my dad’s first time in Europe, so we’re really excited for them to have this experience, as well.”

For the American competitor – who finished second in last year’s women’s race behind Lola Bakker – this return carries the weight of redemption. A cascade of mechanical failures in a pivotal stage derailed her bid for victory; this year, she brings enhanced course knowledge and terrain familiarity, advantages she’s keen to leverage. 

“I definitely don’t have any expectations of a result, because you just never know what’s going to happen in a race like this, but I know that the more I focus on enjoying the amazing scenery and trails, the more fun I will have and the better I will perform.  I think I have a better idea of what the terrain and stages are like, which is always a plus”, Schulz explains. 

This year, the Schulz family unit offers something invaluable to Syd and Macky’s endeavour: genuine support. The secret to conquering an endurance test as demanding as Appenninica lies not solely in physical preparation, but in recovery moments – those essential interludes that restore the spirit and body. To experience these moments with those you cherish most transforms the entire undertaking. It elevates competition into something far more meaningful: a shared memory, a family legacy etched into the Apennine slopes.

STAGES RECAP 

 

Stage 1 – Monte Pizzo: 48 km, 2,000m elevation gain
Monday, June 22: Lizzano in Belvedere – Lizzano in Belvedere

 

Stage 2 – Corno alle Scale Dressed in Pink: 65 km, 2,600m elevation gain
Tuesday, June 23: Lizzano in Belvedere – Riolunato

 

Stage 3 – Monte Cimone Challenge: 38 km, 1,500m elevation gain
Wednesday, June 24: Riolunato – Riolunato

 

Stage 4 – Mountain Queen Stage: 88 km, 3,000m elevation gain
Thursday, June 25: Riolunato – Castelnovo ne’ Monti

 

Stage 5 – Windy Way Home-Ventasso: 53 km, 1,900m elevation gain
Friday, June 26: Castelnovo ne’ Monti – Castelnovo ne’ Monti

Bakker vs Schulz – and much more: Appenninica braces for women’s showdown

by | Jun 10, 2026 | Highlights, Press Releases, Press Releases (2026)

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.

Riders bulletin n.3 2026

by | Jun 8, 2026 | Highlights, Rider's Bulletin, Rider’s Bulletin (2026)

Riders bulletin n.3 📒June 8th, 2026

 

If you’ve received this email, you are probably registered for the VIII edition of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, which will be held from June 22nd to June 26th. We are 14 days out.

You can now read the 2026 Rider Guide! It’s at this link (you can download a pdf copy and you’ll get a hard copy at accreditation). Please, read it.

 

Basics and Updates:

  • The starting list is on the website. Click here. The event is sold out.
  • On the website, you can find lots of information, and we add more useful info periodically. The FAQ page is updated with the questions that we get asked the most.
  • If you missed bulletin 1 and 2, click here. 
  • What is included in your race entry is listed under What you get.  

Reminders and To Do:

  • Telegram. Subscribe to the Appenninica MTB Telegram channel for updates during the race, links to the stage results, and links to sharable content. Turn on the push notification function.
  • Rules. The race rules are published here. Your acceptance of those rules is implied with your registration.

 

Stay tuned for the next bulletin (GPS files and navigation).

Spica and Saitta return to Appenninica chasing first-ever Italian GC victory

by | Jun 4, 2026 | Highlights, Press Releases, Press Releases (2026)

In 2025 they finished second and third overall, behind winner Diego Arias. This year, Vincenzo Saitta and Emanuele Spica are setting their sights on the top step of the podium. The two Sicilians will line up at the 2026 edition of Appenninica MTB Stage Race, scheduled from June 22nd to 26th, with one goal in mind: becoming the first Italian ever to win their country’s most important mountain bike stage race.

The two riders from Team Rolling Bike were the biggest surprise of the 2025 edition – each won a stage, and both stood on the final podium: Saitta in second place, Spica in third. That result gave confidence to the team coached by former professional Paolo Alberati, and their strong early-season form suggests they are ready to take the next step.

At the Italian MTB Marathon Championship, Saitta finished 7th, with Spica close behind. “I’m feeling great,” Spica explains. “Over the last month I’ve had solid results – 5th at the Castro Legend Cup, 18th at the Capoliveri Legend Cup, and 8th at the Italian Championships. It’s a positive period, and I hope it continues through the end of June.”

Saitta echoes that optimism: “We’re arriving in excellent shape, as confirmed by our result at the Italian Marathon Championship. On June 13th we’ll race the Hero Dolomites, which will be the perfect final preparation for Appenninica.”

Like many riders who have passed through these mountains before, the two found the pull of the race impossible to resist: “We decided to come back above all to relive the fantastic experience of last year – an impeccable organisation and stunning landscapes,” the two Sicilians say. “It’s one of the few Italian stage races with a truly spectacular course, and we were completely won over.”

Now that they have discovered Appenninica MTB Stage Race, Saitta and Spica are ready to set out to conquer it. Both will start from Lizzano in Belvedere on June 22nd with serious ambitions – and, as teammates, they have the option of working together to wear down rivals before settling it between themselves.

“I haven’t studied the competition closely yet, but after second and third place last year, we’re coming back to win,” says Spica. “If our form holds as it is now, we’ll go for the victory,” Saitta promises.

After their 2025 performance, underestimating Team Rolling Bike would be a mistake. The trails of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines will reveal whether, for the first time in the race’s history, an Italian rider will stand on the top step of Appenninica – and take the crown on home soil.

Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2026 set for a record-breaking eighth edition

by | May 26, 2026 | Highlights, Press Releases, Press Releases (2026)

Now in its eighth edition, Appenninica MTB Stage Race has established itself as Italy’s flagship MTB stage race and one of the most respected events on the international calendar. But the event organized by ASD Happy Trail MTB is far more than a race.

 

“Appenninica has become a genuine tourism driver for the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, the numbers tell the story. Tour operators are now repackaging the race routes as guided trips, bringing year-round visitors to an area that has struggled with depopulation.” Regional Sports and Tourism Minister Roberta Frisoni made the case at Tuesday’s press conference in Bologna, joined by Lizzano in Belvedere Mayor Barbara Franchi, Castelnovo ne’ Monti Sports Councillor Carlo Boni, and race organizers Milena Bettocchi and Beppe Salerno.

SOLD OUT FOUR MONTHS AHEAD

For the first time in its history, Appenninica sold out its initial 150 spots four months before the start. Organizers responded by expanding capacity to nearly 200 riders – a significant logistical challenge, but one worth taking to accommodate demand.

 

The international field reflects the race’s growing reputation: 30 countries represented, led by the Netherlands (37 riders), Belgium (25), Italy (23), Spain (15), and Germany (15). First-timers include Estonia, Finland, and Norway, while South American contingents from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia remain strong.

FROM SPORTING EVENT TO TOURISM CATALYST

When Appenninica launched in 2019 with around 50 participants, the goal was simple: introduce riders to a spectacular yet underexposed region. Eight years on, that vision is paying off.

Race footage and rider testimonials circulating globally have caught tour operators‘ attention. Several now offer guided trips along Appenninica routes, creating new revenue streams for local businesses and communities. For a mountain region facing demographic challenges, this represents meaningful economic opportunity.

Dubbed the “Italian Cape Epic”, Appenninica runs as a full-service individual event (unlike its South African counterpart, raced in pairs). The entry fee covers accommodation, meals, feed stations, medical support, bike washing and stage transfers – everything needed to focus on riding.

What keeps riders coming back is the “Appenninica Family” atmosphere. The region’s renowned hospitality creates genuine connections, with many participants returning year after year, and that loyalty is worth more than any marketing campaign.

THE 2026 ROUTE: CORNO ALLE SCALE TO PIETRA DI BISMANTOVA

The race launches on June 22 from Lizzano in Belvedere, beneath Corno alle Scale – the same climb featured in Stage 9 of this year’s Giro d’Italia. Registration and preliminary operations open on Sunday, June 21.

Stage 1 kicks off with a loop around Vidiciatico combining forest roads and singletrack requiring full focus. Fast but already high-altitude, its 48 km and 2,000m elevation gain offer riders a first taste of technical Apennine terrain through beech forests.

On the second day, featuring 65 km and 2,600 m elevation gain, comes the Giro d’Italia tribute stage, the “Corno alle Scale Dressed in Pink”. Riders climb the same route as the pros, continuing to Madonna dell’Acero (3km gravel terrain up to 1,779m asl) for the KOM. After iconic Scaffaiolo Lake comes a technical descent through Fanano, then up Monte Cimone before the long drop to Riolunato.

The midweek stage (40 km and 1,500 m elevation gain) could decide the overall victory. Monte Albano runs along the Tuscany border in stunning scenery. Short but technical, with a tricky final descent into Riolunato: again, no time to relax.

Thursday, June 25 brings the feared Mountain Queen Stage. Passo delle Radici, Giovarello, Lama Lite – hours on forest roads and Apennine trails before the spectacular finale at the Bismantova Rock. Energy management is everything. 88 km and 3,000 m elevation gain will take the peloton from Riolunato to Castelnovo ne’ Monti, host town for the final two stages of Appenninica 2026.

On Friday, June 26, the closing “Windy Way Home” stage tackles the Monte Ventasso routes, which demand full concentration to earn that finisher medal. A 30km climb to Calamone Lake, then technical descending to the Bismantova Rock. 56.5 km and 1,650 m of elevation gain will be the last of this year’s Appenninica.

Riders bulletin n.2 2026

by | May 11, 2026 | Rider's Bulletin, Rider’s Bulletin (2026)

Riders bulletin n.2 📒May 10th, 2026

 

If you’ve received this email, you are probably registered for the VIII edition of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, which will be held from June 22nd to June 26th. We are 43 days out.

 

This is the second rider bulletin. These bulletins will provide useful information, news, and mandatory action reminders.

 

 Basics and Updates:

  • On the website, you can find lots of information, and we add more useful info periodically. The FAQ page is updated with the questions that we get asked the most.
  • If you missed bulletin 1, click here. 
  • What is included in your race entry is listed under What you get.  

Reminders and To Do:

  • Social media.  Follow our social media channels and use #AppenninicaMTB and #Appenninicafamily on your posts. Thank you!
  • Rules. The race rules are published here. Your acceptance of those rules is implied with your registration.
  • Online registration. We’ll contact you via email if your registration is not complete or if we have questions (check your spam folder). 

Racing Licence and Medical Declaration

 It is mandatory, per race rules and to comply with the Italian Cycling Federation FCI – that all participants have a UCI-approved racing license (UCI logo and number).

Therefore, you should get or renew your national cycling federation UCI valid racing license.

The alternative is to buy an event racing license in Italy, and it will cost 50 Euro (cash to pay at accreditation).

You’ll also need a medical declaration. The medical declaration is mandatory to race with the event license. 

If you don’t comply, you won’t be able to race.

 

Luggage and Race Bags

 

Race bags

Your Appenninica MTB Stage Race race bag is a 90 lt, made in Italy, sport bag that will follow you during the week. You’ll also receive a simple bag for your camping gear and spare parts, and a day bag for items that you want with you until the start and find at the finish line. These are the only bags that we transport between stages while you ride.

 

Bags labeling

You’ll receive labels for: bike case, additional luggage that will be transferred to the last location, day bag, race bag, and for your mountain bike. Properly labeling each item is mandatory. 

 

Personal luggage and bike cases

Between 8:00 and 09:30 of Monday the 22nd (Stage 1), you must have delivered your bike case (if any) and non-race luggage because these will leave for the location of the last stage at once. You don’t have access to them during the week.

You will find personal luggage and bike case at the end of the last stage.

More information is available at the race office and by following the signage in the race village.

 

Stay tuned for the next bulletin.

Race today, itinerary tomorrow: how Appenninica MTB is opening Emilia-Romagna’s undiscovered Apennines to global cyclo-tourism

by | Apr 20, 2026 | Highlights, Press Releases (2026)

Sixteen Polish cyclists discovered the race on YouTube, booked their flights and in June 2025 made their way to the Emilia-Romagna Apennines to ride the Appenninica MTB Stage Race course – a multi-stage event crossing the mountains between Bologna, Modena, and Reggio Emilia since 2019. A year later, the story is repeating itself in German: from June 7–13, 2026, Unique Bike Rides – founded by former Appenninica competitor Holger Schaarschmidt – will bring a group of enthusiasts to those same trails, a full week before the official race start.

Since 2023, Belgian tour operator Transactief has been working with the organizers to bring competitors from Belgium. Out of that partnership grew a dedicated travel package: “Italia Coast to Coast,” a cycling tour from Rimini to Lido di Camaiore, taking in Bologna, the Via degli Dei, and Florence along the way.

The race, launched in 2019 by ASD Happy Trail MTB, has started generating more than a leaderboard: a tourist economy that now moves under its own steam. Every year, athletes from over twenty countries carry images, stories, and word-of-mouth back home – translating into cycling packages conceived abroad and summer months that are filling Apennine accommodation once again.

“It’s one of the most demanding and technical routes I’ve ever ridden, but also one of the most beautiful. We found Appenninica on YouTube and thought – why not turn this into a trip? Accommodation, restaurants: everything was easy, everything was wonderful,” said one of the Polish cyclists in Castelnovo ne’ Monti, at the end of the 2025 edition.

 

TWO WHEELS AND OUTDOOR TOURISM AS A RESPONSE TO DEPOPULATION

The growth of summer outdoor tourism in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines represents a new opportunity for a region that has struggled in recent years with a sharp decline in winter visitors. Cycling and trekking are giving local hospitality businesses the chance to welcome guests outside the traditional ski season, building a product rooted in the green season instead.

The backdrop is a demographic story that stretches back decades: depopulation that began after World War II and has never fully turned around. The inland areas of Emilia-Romagna have shrunk from 700,000 residents in 1951 to roughly 420,000 in 2021, with projections suggesting a further 8.5% drop by 2043 (ISTAT and Regione Emilia-Romagna). Yet the picture is not uniformly bleak – municipalities in the Apennines around Bologna actually recorded a migration balance five times the national average between 2019 and 2023, a shift that breaks with decades of outflow (Città Metropolitana di Bologna). Summer outdoor tourism is now seen as one of the most promising ways to build on that momentum, and Appenninica is among its most visible standard-bearers.

“Appenninica MTB Stage Race is a concrete example of how sport can become an effective tool for tourism promotion and territorial development,” says Roberta Frisoni, Emilia-Romagna’s Regional Councillor for Sport and Tourism. “Bringing athletes and enthusiasts from around the world to ride through the Apennines means shining a spotlight on an extraordinary natural and scenic heritage, and strengthening its position as a destination for active and outdoor holidays. Events like this tap into a growing demand – experiential, sustainable tourism – and bring visitors who support local economies and create new opportunities for Apennine communities. The Apennines are a strategic asset for our Region: investing in them with high-quality initiatives means strengthening territorial identity and supporting balanced, widespread development.”

SOLD OUT: APPENNINICA 2026 IS ALREADY FULL

Set to take place June 22–26, starting in Lizzano in Belvedere (Bologna) and finishing in Castelnovo ne’ Monti (Reggio Emilia) after passing through Riolunato (Modena) across five stages, the 2026 edition of Appenninica sold out well ahead of schedule.

Dubbed the “Italian Cape Epic,” Appenninica is the most important multi-stage MTB event in Italy – and unlike similar races, it runs as an individual competition rather than a pairs format. Organized by ASD Happy Trail MTB, it is a fully serviced race: the entry fee covers not just a race number but also accommodation, aid stations, meals, medical assistance, bike washing, transfers between stages, and more.

All of it adds up to something that can’t be scripted: the atmosphere the MTB world knows as the “Appenninica Family” – warmth, authenticity, and the kind of human connections that outlast the race itself. It’s what keeps people coming back, and what keeps drawing new ones in, long after the chequered flag and the finisher’s medal.

For more information: www.appenninica-mtb.com.

Riders bulletin n.1 2026

by | Mar 31, 2026 | Rider's Bulletin, Rider’s Bulletin (2026)

Riders bulletin n.1 📒March 13, 2026

This is the first rider bulletin. These bulletins will provide useful information, news, and mandatory action reminders.

Basics and Updates:
  • On the website, you can find lots of information, and we add more useful info periodically. The FAQ page is updated with the questions that we get asked the most.
  • What is included in your race entry is listed under What you get.  
  • Extra packages, such as hotels, are listed on the website, and you can book them from the ENDU shop. We close the shop for hotels and other premium packages on March 31st; do not wait.
  • If you have a companion or supporters with you, we offer specific services and packages; click here.
Reminders and To Do:
  • Wait list. Do you know of anyone who could join you? Appenninica is sold out, but you can have them join the wait list.
  • Social media.  Follow our social media channels and use #AppenninicaMTB and #Appenninicafamily on your posts. Thank you!
  • Rules. The race rules are published here. Your acceptance of those rules is implied with your registration.
  • Online registration. We’ll contact you via email if your registration is not complete or if we have questions (check your spam folder). 

    Pre-race hotel options

    The first stage of Appenninica 2026 is Monday, the 22nd. For Sunday, June 21st, you can book the following:

     

    – Shared room for two (twin beds or one double bed; specify). 
    – Private room for one rider*.
    – Shared room (best value; generally a triple room). We can match you to other riders or contact us to indicate your roommates. This item is booked per person and not per room. 

     

    The cost includes all taxes and fees, breakfast, and a fixed menu dinner (drinks are not included). 

     

    *Currently sold out

        Arriving even earlier

        If you are arriving on Saturday, the 20th, or even earlier, and you need assistance, please contact us to discuss your best options. Do not rule out visiting Bologna – the region’s capital – for a day and catching the transfer on Sunday. Write to us to let us know where/how, and when you arrive in the Emilia Romagna/Bologna.

          Arriving and Parking

           

          See you in Vidiciatico, a fraction of Lizzano in Belvedere (the first hosting village) Sunday, June 21st.

          Come to the accreditation desk between 14:00 and 18:30 in Piazza XXVII Settembre here.

           

           

          Parking for accreditation is here. Go to the accreditation area on foot or by bike. Do not drive or attempt to park there. Thank you.

          Transfer – Stage 5 location to start (pre-booked service)

          The transfer from the last hosting town – Castelnovo ne’ Monti – is planned for 13:30 on Sunday the 21st (the drive is about 3 hrs). Long-term Parking and pick-up area: parcheggio Piazzale Collodi 

           

          Please have your bikes assembled – not in the bike bag – and be ready to board at 13:00 at the latest. 

          Transfer – Airport (pre-booked service)

          Transfers from Bologna Marconi Airport (BLQ) is planned for 13:00 on Sunday, the 21st.

           

          If you have not sent your flight schedule with the flight number, please write to segreteria@appenninica-mtb.com. We must have this information (it is not enough that you have booked the transfer). 

           

          The meeting point is at the arrival terminal (ground floor). Exit from the sliding doors and gather to your right. You’ll see a staff member with an Appenninica sign.  

           

          If you arrive by train (or if you are already in town), you can reach the airport via the monorail called Marconi Express. 

           

          Stay tuned for the next bulletin.

          Appenninica 2026 reaches capacity four months ahead

          by | Feb 27, 2026 | Highlights

          With just over four months to go until the opening stage of Appenninica MTB Stage Race, ASD Happy Trail MTB already has a significant achievement to celebrate: the maximum number of participants for the 2026 edition has been reached – and slightly exceeded – officially declaring the race at full capacity.

           Eight years after its debut, Appenninica has firmly established itself among the most respected multi-day MTB stage races on the international calendar – a reputation built season after season and reflected today in a start list featuring riders from across the globe.

           A well-deserved reward for the dedication and relentless commitment of the organizing team led by Milena Bettocchi and Beppe Salerno. Year after year, the organizers have continued to refine the format, introducing new elements and testing innovative solutions to ensure that no two editions are ever identical.

           The race’s international outlook has always been one of its defining strengths, turning the event into a powerful showcase for the Emilia-Romagna Apennines. Following the highly positive feedback received after moving the race to a late-June slot in 2025, the 2026 full capacity further confirms the solidity of that strategic choice.

           In response to exceptional demand, the organizers agreed to slightly increase the originally planned field limit of 150 riders, while fully preserving their commitment to preventing trail overcrowding and maintaining high-quality standards for every athlete on the start line.

           Appenninica MTB Stage Race is a full-service event, including accommodation, feed zones, medical assistance, bike washing, transfers between stages, and a wide range of additional services. The deliberately limited field also contributes to a distinctive atmosphere – one that encourages genuine connections, shared experiences, and the spirit that defines the Appenninica Family. An approach that enhances operational management while making the overall experience even more immersive and memorable.

           “We are extremely proud to announce this milestone with more than four months still to go before the start,” say Milena Bettocchi and Beppe Salerno. “On one hand, it represents tremendous satisfaction and rewards the commitment we have invested over the years in developing Appenninica MTB Stage Race. On the other, it gives us even greater motivation to continue raising the bar and live up to the expectations of the many riders who have chosen to place their trust in us.”

          WAITING LIST NOW OPEN

           For those who had planned to take part in Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2026, a waiting list has now been activated and is available via the official website, www.appenninica-mtb.com. In the event of withdrawals or deferrals to the 2027 edition, riders on the waiting list may be contacted.

          Waiting list