Team Garmin South Africa at Appenninica MTB Stage Race
We recently reached out to Team Garmin (South Africa) as they have confirmed their participation to the 2019 Appenninica MTB Stage Race. With their team, Appenninica adds a new country and another continent to the starting list.
Yolandi du Toit and Ben Melt Swanepoel are very familiar faces in the MTB stage race circuit and they are ready to tackle the Apennines next July.
– How was your 2018 season? Give us a highlight.
We are very happy with our 2018 season. We raced 64 days in total making it a full year for us with many wonderful experiences and memories. If we have to mention a highlight then it would be our participation at The Pioneer NZ. It was our first trip to that part of the world and participating on unknown terrain is always an exciting experience no matter the outcome. As a bonus New Zealand turned out to be one of the most beautiful and bike friendly destinations we have ever visited.
– Have you been to Italy before and why Appenninica appealed to you?
We have raced in Italy before but only in the North during the Craft Bike TransAlp and some marathon races in the Tirol and the Dolomites. Back then we already fell in love with the beautiful countryside and the warmth of its people. When the opportunity arose to explore a different part of Italy by bike, especially an area as attractive as Emilia Romagna and the Appennine Mountains, we couldn’t resist. Now we can’t wait to see what the Appenninica MTB stage race has in stall for us.
Team Garmin is a solid and experienced mixed team. Yolandi and Ben know how to approach a long stage race and we expect them to be competitive while charming everyone with their usual great attitude.
Follow Team Garmin on FB: https://web.facebook.com/TeamGarminMTB
Appenninica4All, The stage race for everyone
More approachable, less demanding but equally intense and complete, Appenninica4 condenses in 4 stages the essence of a proper Stage Race: make sure you don’t underestimate it.
While the long-distance Appenninica is going to mean business only for the most physically and mentally prepared athletes, thanks to Appenninica4 the dream of a MTB adventure over more days is going to be within reach for all, and still not an easy undertaking, by any means. For many riders, it is going to be the sporting challenge of a lifetime. For others, it will be the springboard and the rehearsal for the bigger brother, in which stages will be seven (plus the Prologue).
Appenninica4 is still going to be a 265 km-long Stage Race with 8,780 m of climbing spread over 4 days of competition; a race that requires serious preparation, planning, managing; a challenge in which an expert observer would find all the same ingredients that characterize the Full Race.
Leaving aside the fact that this race is specifically dedicated to SOLO participants, plenty of other things are common to both Appenninica4 and its bigger brother, Appenninica Stage Race:
- A tough race course that reaches its crescendo in the Queen Stage: once that stage is in the bag, it will only be a matter of enjoying the grand finale, staying focussed all the time though.
- Stages that go across 3 different provinces following a route known as Alta via dei Parchi, throughout unique and unexplored territories stretched over 5 Protected Natural Areas
- Regional Park Corno alle Scale
- Regional Park of Suviana and Brasimone Lakes
- Regional Park Vena del Gesso Romagnola
- National Park of Casentinesi Forests, Monte Falterona and Campigna
- Interregional Park Sasso Simone e Simoncello
- Amazing atmosphere in the Race Village, that will make the time spent between finish line and start of the following stage an equally memorable experience for all participants, no matter what race they are in. All competitors will become part of a community, where friendships will grow stronger than competitiveness.
- Complete package of services for the athletes here.
Exactly like it happens for the Full Race event, some riders will take part in Appenninica4 mainly to live the experience and face the challenge of reaching the finish line, while others will be racing with the ranking in mind, to be on the podium of this very first edition of the event.
Despite that, they will all participate in the grand finale of Bagno di Romagna to be awarded – once they have crossed the finish line – the Appenninica4 finisher’s t-shirt. And then, back on their home trails, they will realize how this absolutely outstanding experience in the saddle has made them stronger.
These are the details of the 4 Stages (corresponding to the second part of the race route of Appenninica) that will take place between Wednesday 24 July and Saturday 27 July:
24 July – Porretta Terme: La Cronoscalata del Monte Piella (time trial)
Length 23 km – Elevation Gain 830 m
25 July – Porretta Terme – Castel del Rio: La Linea Gotica [The Gothic Line]
Length 90km – Elevation Gain 2300 m
26 July – Castel del Rio – Bagno di Romagna: Queen Stage
Length 112 km – Elevation Gain 4000 m
27 July – Bagno di Romagna – Bagno di Romagna: La Tecnica [The Technical]
Length 40 km – Elevation Gain 1650 m
Total distance: Km 265 – Total Elevation Gain: 8,780
Registration with Promo Code until January 27
APPENNINICA SOLO CATEGORY TO OPEN SOON WITH PROMOTIONAL ENTRIES
Appenninica is announcing the SOLO format in addition to the Team of two format.
“While we believe that the best way to experience a MTB stage race such as Appenninica is by participating as a team, we’ve got to recognize that there are several reasons that make the SOLO category a viable option.” Beppe Salerno – race co-organizer
MTB Stage racing has evolved and grown. The classic team of two formula is no longer the status quo and it’s emblematic that for the first time Transalp has opened to single riders. Several “newer” races were started and strived without following the team of two format.
Many riders perceive a MTB adventure as a single-rider endeavor and that comes down to personality, personal goals, and awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses.
“As racers ourselves, we know that finding the right teammate is crucial but that’s not simple because of logistics (time off for the race and time for training), character, and shared goals.” Milena Bettocchi – race co-organizer
On January 9th Appenninica opens registration to SOLO riders with the following two categories:
– Man SOLO
– Woman SOLO
Race rules are being updated to reflect that.
If the announcement was somehow in the air the biggest news of 2019 is another one: Appenninica4 MTB Stage Race.
It’s possible for SOLO riders to be part of Appenninica, but on a smaller scale. From Wednesday July the 24th through Saturday July the 27th riders can race the second part of Appenninica and therefore the following stages:
July 24 – Porretta Terme: La Cronoscalata del Monte Piella (time trial)
Length 23 km – Elevation gain 830 m
July 25 – Porretta Terme – Castel del Rio: La Linea Gotica
Length 90km – Elevation gain 2300 m
July 26 – Castel del Rio – Bagno di Romagna: Queen Stage
Length 112 km – Elevation gain 4000 m
July 27 – Bagno di Romagna – Bagno di Romagna: La Tecnica
Length 40 km – Elevation gain 1650 m
Pricing
Full race (prologue + 7 stages): Euro 1.450
Appenninica4 (4 stages): Euro 725
Promotion
Before Sunday January 27th entries:
Full race (prologue + 7 stages): Euro 1.050
Appenninica4 (4 stages): Euro 525
Finishers of the Appenninica4 will receive a dedicated Finisher t-shirt.
BARBIERI PNK
BARBIERI PNK is the new partner Appenninica MTB Stage Race.
BARBIERI PNK, already supporter of two Appenninica teams at the 2018 Cape Epic, will sponsor the Appenninica MTB 2019 bike parks in the Race Villages, which therefore will be named “Barbieri PNK bike park“.
The goal of this operation is to communicate how the Bologna-based company BARBIERI PNK pays attention to the care and maintenance of the bike.
The BARBIERI PNK established by Mr. Adriano Barbieri, became famous with the invention of the chain cleaner in 1983. This tool, simple and brilliant at the same time, has revolutionized the way to clean the chain and together with other innovative products, as well as the distribution of important brands, have allowed Barbieri PNK to become a leader in “bicycle accessories” industry.
MARCONI COLLECTION
We are happy to announce Marconi Collection as the new partner of Appenninica MTB 2019!
Colors, design, quality and style are distinctive elements of the Marconi Collection brand whose products are now highly sought-after and appreciated by athletes all over the world.
Marconi Collection socks are practically a cult object Made in Italy.
We could never let you leave Appenninica MTB without a nice pair of Marconi Collection socks on your feet so be prepared for your choice 😉
THE CITY OF BOLOGNA WILL PLAY HOST TO THE PROLOGUE OF THE 2019 EDITION OF APPENNINICA MTB STAGE RACE
With today’s Press Conference announcing that the Prologue stage will take place in Bologna, the last piece of the jigsaw for the 2019 race-course falls into place at Appenninica MTB. Matteo Lepore, councillor for Sports and Tourism of the Municipality of Bologna, and the whole organizing staff attended the event
The first edition of Appenninica MTB will kick off on 20 July 2019 at 12:00 in Bologna, with an opening stage Prologue sponsored by the Municipality of Bologna.
The race course, as exciting for the attending public, as fun to ride for the participants, will follow a loop that from Arco del Meloncello will climb steep gradients up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca before going back to town along cracking trails.
The stage will be around 12 km in length with approximately 470 m in elevation gain and gradients up to 18%, as on the S. Luca section, a very testing climb that has also played an important role in the opening time trial of Giro d’Italia, in May of this year.
There are not many mountain-bike stage races in the world that can boast a start line location as prestigious as the one in Bologna and a race course as varied and complete as the one put on here.
“The Prologue stage in Bologna is meant to be our welcome to all participants and industry media that will follow the event. Getting off on the right foot is important for the following seven days of racing” Beppe Salerno, event organizer, states.
Far from being just a parade across the city centre, the Prologue will shed light on the forces at play and will help establish the line-up for the following day’s start line in Berceto (Parma Province) for the stage ‘Thousand Lakes, Berceto – Castelnovo ‘ne Monti’.
Setting off from a city so steeped in art and continuing the journey in the saddle for more than 500 km, across the countryside, getting to know the culinary heritage and the history of all places reached by the course, will be a truly unique experience. It is going to be a journey across a region – Emilia Romagna – that will attract a high attendance of high-level athletes from the national and international scene, beside obviously arousing the curiosity of cycling industry companies and media.
For more information:
https://www.appenninica-mtb.com/en/stages
2019 APPENNINICA MTB: THE RACE COURSE
Appenninica mountain bike Stage Race lays the cards on the table and unveils the details of the 2019 race course. The Prologue, still secret, will be announced during a press conference on the 3rd of December in Bologna.
During the last two weeks seven of the eight stages of Appenninica MTB Stage Race have been revealed, one by one. The race will be in its first edition and for the first time in the history of the sport will see the participants crossing the whole Emilia Romagna region along the Apennines watershed – about 550 km in length and with 20,000 meters of elevation gain – roughly following the route of Alta Via dei Parchi.
However, the launch of the race course is not yet complete, as the Prologue still has to be revealed: it will be unveiled, finally, during the press conference on the 3rd of December in Bologna, when the itinerary and all involved locations will be announced too.
The Prologue – time to let something leak – will really make for an amazing show in a unique and special setting, something that will leave everyone speechless. But it will also give the participants the first chance of getting the measure of the field of competitors. The result of this very first round, as a matter of fact, will help to establish the line-up at the start line of the following day’s stage (Stage 1).
The feedback on the race course the organizers of Appenninica MTB have been receiving up to now is exactly what they were hoping for, and worth a competition that is going to find its place in the international panorama amongst the best stage races.
The race course is going to be tough and challenging – that’s for sure – but at the same time it will be fast-rolling and for the most part rideable, with a good mix of intense stages and easier days, and techy trails that will alternate with sections where legs and sheer power will make the difference.
During the first half of the race the high-mountain terrain will dictate the rules of the game; a difficult ground, with long passes and serious gradients. The race course will make its way across magnificent woods of beech trees, throughout meadows and along high-altitude ridges. The stages of the second half of the competition will take the participants over lower hilly ground, on a limestone and clayish type of terrain covered with woods of oaks that gradually give way to ancient chestnut trees and conifers.
Appenninica MTB is a unique adventure of its kind, a journey throughout 5 Regional Nature Parks and 2 National Parks, an immersion in the ancient roots of this part of the country, an experience for the senses in a region that boasts an extraordinary culinary heritage and plenty of renowned spas.
Seven different municipalities will play host to the event, and no less than 21 feeding zones will be arranged along a race course that will run above 1,000 meters of elevation for 60% of its length, with breathtaking views, forests and enchanted lakes.
Great work and consideration have been put into the choice of the race course, bearing in mind the natural context the event will take place in. Appenninica organizers in close collaboration with IMBA Italia (International Mountain Bicycling Association) are working on creating a round table with the representatives of the Parks and with Emilia Romagna’s section of CAI (Italian Alpine Club). The aim is to draw up a ‘low-impact Appenninica‘ protocol that will make possible to go through the experience and participate in a top-notch competition with the smallest possible environmental impact.
Find here further info about the Stages.
Register
More pictures here
Credits: Edoardo Melchiori | appenninica-mtb.com
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WILL THIS BE THE WOMEN TEAM TO BEAT AT THE APPENINICA 2019?
Lorenza Menapace and Danièle Troesch, two stage race veterans who never give up and who are used to battling until the last finish line of the last stage, have joined forces to form a remarkable team.
Talent and condition are the foundation of successful stage racing. But mind and determination are just as important, not to mention experience, which these two bikers do not lack: Lorenza will celebrate her 25th stage race and Danièle was French MTB marathon champion. Not bad!
It is by all means a very strong team and a sure candidate for the podium. Are they the team to beat in the Women’s category?
We immediately reached Lorenza upon registration for some questions 😉
What prompted you to race the Appenninica?
I feel unique emotions during stage races and the urge to capture more of those emotions in a new environment, and most importantly in Italy, sparked my interest. Also, I could not resist the challenge of 20.000 mt to conquer. I am ready to suffer but I also want to end with a smile and to bring home a new, great personal experience.
Why did you decide to race with Danièle Troesch?
I knew Danièle from past Transalps and other races around the globe. During the last Transalp we really bonded, there was a nice energy between us. We talked a lot and we found that we had many things in common.
Have you ever raced together?
We’ve raced at the same events as adversaries but never together.
What is the most important aspect when choosing a teammate?
Finding a person whose human aspects (character, goals, and attitude towards the sport) well match with mine. When you race with a man – other than the human aspects – it’s important to find a very strong rider. On the other hand, when you race with another female rider, it’s important to be athletically at the same level; admittedly, rider character greatly impacts the overall Team result.
Take advantage of the W-Special promotion for teams of two female riders and register to Appenninica MTB for a memorable challenge!
[Pianeta Mountain Bike] All’Appenninica MTB Stage Race arriva Lorenza Menapace per puntare in alto
