by Appenninica MTB | Jul 30, 2019 | Press Releases (2019)
The first edition of the Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race ended in Bagno di Romagna after eight days on mountain bike through the Emilia-Romagna Apennines starting from Bologna.
After more than 400 km and 16,000 meters of altitude gain, the bikers of the first edition of the Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race ended their 8-day journey through the mountains, villages and magnificent panoramas of the Emilia Romagna.
The medieval village of Bagno di Romagna welcomed riders from 16 nations and 4 continents who had challenged each other for 8 days, always with a smile on their faces, along a highly spectacular and scenic ridge route, which traces a big part of the itinerary of the Alta Via dei Parchi.
All the competitors fell in love with 360-degree panoramas of the mountains and valleys, high-altitude pastures and forests that descended down to the valley. The volunteers and the communities of the villages crossed were waiting down the routes: Berceto, Castelnovo in the Monti, Fanano, Porretta Terme, Santa Sofia and Bagno di Romagna.
There were 4 categories in the competition: Team Men, Team Women, Mixed Team (man / woman), Solo. Appenninica4, a race of just 4 days for the Solo category, started from the Porretta Terme’s stage.
The fastest and the winner of the Solo category was the young Austrian Lukas Kauffman, who wore the leader jersey from the first stages, followed by the American Coulton Hartrich, while the Italian Lorenzo De Sanctis closed in third position. A really tight challenge considering that after 8 stages and over 23 hours spent in the saddle the gap between the first three was only 45 minutes.
“What we experienced here in the Apennines is true mountain biking. The route is complete with everything: we have met some important technical sections and climbs but my favorite part was the long single track on the ridge on the high mountains“, says Lukas Kauffman.
On the Team Men category the Dutchmen Maurits Buist and Henk Bos won with a total time of 25:11:45, followed by the Swiss team composed by Thomas Jauner and Christian Biffiger. The Czechoslovak team of Michal Prokop and Peter Gunter finished in third position.
Beautiful and tight the challenge in the category Team Women with Lorenza Menapace (Ita) and Danièle Troesch (Fra) who won in front of the English Sophie Hemming and Melanie Alexander second by only 21 minutes, but with four stage wins.
With the time of 29:16:31 the winning Team Mixed was the South Africans Yolandi Du Toit and Ben Swanepoel.
Started from Porretta Terme Appenninica4, the race that only covered the last 4 stages, saw the victory of the Italian Matteo Bravaccini, followed 13 minutes later by the Dutchman Casper Van Oosten who had worn the leader’s jersey after the time trial in Porretta Terme. Scott Cornish from Great Britain finished third.
“We are very proud to have successfully completed the first edition of this event with a complex organization. There have been 8 very important days for the promotion of our territory. The feedback we are receiving from competitors is really great. Everyone is enthusiastic both for the quality of the route chosen and for the hospitality which we have been able to offer thanks to the support and involvement of all the locations involved“, said organizer Beppe Salerno.
Results: https://www.winningtime.it/admin/admin.php?mac=circuiti&item=12
Photo Selection: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/inqmyq0cg22nktu/AAA-aZAo6L-xoGhuJrZCIYmJa?dl=0
by Appenninica MTB | Jul 17, 2019 | Highlights
Like all major events, the Emilia stage race also offers its members a rich goodie bag including a duffel bag that is ideal for transporting your kit from stage to stage.
The first edition of the Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race will start from the center of Bologna on Saturday 20 July 2019, at 12.00. For 8 days the bikers will be riding on a course that will take them for a total of 405 km and 15,000 meters in altitude.
Thanks to the support of the numerous sponsors who firmly believed in this race, which wants to become one of the best italian stage races, Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race is able to offer a very rich goodie bag to all participants.
At the time of registration the day before the start the bikers will receive a practical 90 lt duffel bag with three large pocket, made in Italy and customized Appenninica MTB Parmigiano reggiano Stage Race.
Within this you will also find products Squirt Cycling, EthicSport supplements, Barbieri PNK accessories, a pair of Marconi Collection socks, a bottle of Acqua Pejo, a water bottle 9th Wave, and a Garmin gadget.
Don’t miss the chance to ride on the most beautiful ridge in Italy. See you at the start.
by Appenninica MTB | Jun 21, 2019 | Highlights
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
MODIFICATIONS TO THE RACE COURSE OF APPENNINICA MTB PARMIGIANO REGGIANO STAGE RACE
Due to the bad weather in May, the organization of the race decided to ensure maximum enjoyment and above all maximum safety for the participants to modify the routes of Stage 5 and Stage 6.
The route of the Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race is inspired by the Alta Via dei Parchi trail (a hiking itinerary of over 500 km) and in particular by its MTB version designed by the Club Alpino Italiano.
The main idea is to follow the watershed of the Italian peninsula, the spectacular ridge between Emilia Romagna and Tuscany, and the organizers’ main objective was to create a tough but safe race, and above all with very few portage sections.
Unfortunately, sometimes nature reminds us of who really commands on this Earth and then we men are forced to change our plans.
During the last year, various reconnaissance and checks were carried out, the last in April 2019 and everything seemed perfectly rideable, the winter had left the trails ready for Appenninica MTB riders.
But… the unusual wave of bad weather that, with very strong winds, storms and even snow at low altitudes, hit North Italy and the area of the Apennines in May saw the fall of many large trees on part of the route of the Apennines MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race and landslides of some sections of the trail.
Photo: Il Resto del Carlino
Following these events, to put the participants in total safety, but also to allow the forests of the Apennines to regain their natural state, the organizing committee made the difficult decision to MODIFY THE STAGE 5 (Alto Reno Terme – Castel del Rio) and THE STAGE 6 (Castel del Rio – Bagno di Romagna).
Race Course
The two stages of the race will be replaced by the following variations both for Appenninica 7 and Appenninica 4.
- Until stage 4 everything remains unchanged.
- Stage 5: Santa Sofia – Santa Sofia (FC) – Loop route on Santa Sofia after a bus transfer from Porretta Terme (about 2h15′).
- Stage 6: Santa Sofia – Bagno di Romagna (FC) – the Queen stage will be shortened, but mind that you will not miss the climbs and amazing panoramas!
The variation of the stages does not affect the spectacular nature of the route. Stage 6 in its new route will cross one of the most iconic places in the Apennines, the Lama Forest. In the heart of the Casentino Forest National Park, Monte Falterona and Campigna: a large forest at the foot of Monte Penna and the Apennine bastion. A place that can only be accessed by mountain bike following a long forest track on the old route of a decauville railway that at the beginning of the last century was used to transport lumber.
Logistics
The Race Village will no longer be located in Castel del Rio (BO), but in Santa Sofia (FC), which the organization thanks for having given the go-ahead to host the race in record time. We also want to thank the town of Castel del Rio (BO), a beautiful village, for the passion shown towards the Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race. With great regret, we move the race village, but for the safety of the bikers, this is the best choice.
If you have made your reservations for your stay in Castel del Rio, please cancel or contact the organization immediately.
For the new mileage of the 2 modified stages, we refer you to future communications. The organization of the Apennines MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race plans to publish the new GPS tracks by June 30, 2019.
by Appenninica MTB | Jun 18, 2019 | Highlights
Naomi Freireich, British national champion 24h Solo, and Scott Cornish will be one of the couples to beat in the Mixed category at the Appenninica MTB.
Just over a month at the start of the Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race and as the wait rises, international teams entries begin to arrive, teams that will surely be in contention for the category win.
Among these is the Gore Bike Media Team composed of Naomi Freireich and Scott Cornish. An English duo specializing in long distance and ultra distance races, just think that Freireich graduated British 24H Solo National Champion as well as European 24HR Solo Champion, while Cornish, a physiotherapist and professional trainer, we can say that never goes out biking except to do at least 6 consecutive hours, in short…. a true ultra-biker.
We asked Naomi and Scott what attracted them to race Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race.
“I love trying new events. The early adopter in me likes to be the first to do something”, answered Naomi. “I rode Glacier 360 in Iceland in the first year it was run and really enjoyed that personal feeling of involvement in the race and the knowledge I was supporting something new. I’m excited to be riding in the Apennine Mountains. Having ridden and raced in the northern Ligurian Alps I know just how spectacular the trails can be in Italy and I look forward to expanding my knowledge of them and the surrounding area. The Alps are well known for riding but I know that there are gems to be discovered in these less visited places. This is a perfect way to explore Italy’s countryside and discover trails that are otherwise less well known.
“The adventure of exploring new areas to ride has always been one of my underlying reasons for riding bikes”, Scott added. “I am excited by the opportunity to race in the Apennine range. It may not boast the 3000m peaks of the Dolomites but from what I have seen the riding will be fun, fast and no less exhilarating. New experiences, a host of exciting new trails to ride, fabulous Italian hospitality food and coffee, tough competition out on the trail but sharing stories and laughter at the end of each day over dinner”.
Naomi Freireich and Scott Cornish will be at the start of Apenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race from 20 to 27 July 2019 in the Mixed category. Follow their stories from the race on MarathonMTB.com and Proper Adventure magazine.
