6 Stages Enough?

If you ask us, an MTB stage race should have no fewer than 5 stages and no more than 8. Ideally, it should take place on a mountain range. Hey, it’s the name of the sport: mountain biking. Mountains represent the ultimate adventure challenge: you against the mountain. You against your limit.

If you are racing mostly others. and not your own demons, you are not racing our kind of race. We dreamed, thought, designed Appenninica to be the race in which you find that aspect.
It’s not about the clock, or at least not only, but it’s mostly about being under test. You test yourself in a deep way, physically and mentally.

A football match lasts 90 minutes; a marathon is 42.195 km long. Our sport is different: when it comes to UCI Marathon events, riders face racecourses between 60 and 160 km. Meanwhile, UCI states that stage races run for “four days or more and feature at least one long-distance stage covering the minimum length of an XCM event, i.e., 60km”.

Granted that UCI’s formats are arbitrary, yet widely accepted, MTB stage racing is and should be shaped by the vision of the organizers who are the ones who know the territory and trails best.

We have downsized from 7 to 6 stages for 2023. We have good reasons, but honestly there’s no perfect answer and for sure there’s no one right answer to the question “how many stages should Appenninica run?”. And the feedback was sometimes positive, sometimes doubtful. The decision was NOT taken lightly but we had our own vision to follow.

Appenninica is hard. If the weather does not cooperate, it can be brutal. 2019 – boiling hot – and 2021 – with a very wet Queen stage – put everyone to the test. There is no lack of climbing and long technical sections at Appenninica and that will be unchanged. We have so many alternatives to propose to riders, so many trails that we can ensure a race that is always different, but complete at the same time: tough, enjoyable, technical, fast, and of course panoramic. All those features will be in the race equally.

At the end of each stage, we see you, we talk to you, we gather feedback. We even notice the unsaid. We know that you want a tough race, and we keep it as such. When we had mercy and shortened a stage in the second part of the week, your bodies thanked us.

Logistics – another impacting aspect.
We have not hidden the fact that 6 is better than 7 logistically, because many of our riders make it to Italy from other continents. It makes sense to try to fit the race + some recovery + flights within a working week. If you have days to spare, you are in Italy!

These are some of the reasons why we say: six is enough and plenty.

Third time’s the charm: Hans Becking returns to Appenninica for the hat trick

First Elite Man to win two editions of Appenninica MTB Stage Race, the Dutch defending champion of BUFF-Megamo will go for the hat trick from September 2 to 7, 2024. “This race has won my heart,” says Becking.

The Appenninica 2024 route: kicking off in Bologna with 14,000 meters of elevation gain

The organizers have unveiled the route for the MTB stage race, scheduled from September 2 to 7. Confirmed stage venues include Lizzano in Belvedere, Fiumalbo, and Castelnovo ne’ Monti for the grand finale, with Loiano making its debut this year. Participants will face a total of 400 km and 14,000 meters of elevation gain

The Appenninici – An Olympic champion discovers Appenninica

Among the protagonists of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race are many stories of sport and life. Miguel Martinez, Mountain Biking gold medallist at Sydney 2000, participated in the 2023 edition and was impressed by the routes and landscapes of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines and the familiar atmosphere of the race

From Tour the France to the MTB: Appenninica 2024 to kick off in Bologna

The main town of Emilia-Romagna is poised to inaugurate the sixth edition of Appenninica MTB Stage Race on September 2, 2024. Bathed in the afterglow of the Tour de France’s visit in July, the MTB challenge is set to bring more cycling emotions to the city

Appenninica MTB Stage Race Adventure Returns from September 2 to 7, 2024

The renowned MTB stage race in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines confirms its six-day format, announcing its schedule for the 2024 season. Early Bird registration commences on December 1

Becking and Piana conquer Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2023

The Dutch rider of Buff-Megamo is the first male athlete to win two editions of Appenninica MTB Stage Race. Becking sealed the overall win by raising arms again in the last stage, followed by Tiago Ferreira and Tim Smeenge, who join him on the podium in second and third position respectively. Debora Piana takes the women’s GC, while Ilina triumphs again in Vidiciatico. “We are really proud of the athletes’ feedback” said the organizers

Happy day for DMT Racing Team in Vidiciatico. Becking and Piana keep the lead

Tiago Ferreira went all-in in the penultimate stage of Appenninica MTB Stage Race from Fanano to Vidiciatico, trying to pursue the leader’s jersey, but Becking kept everything under control. Same plot in the women’s category, with Russian Kristina Ilina taking her second win and Piana in control

Appenninica’s colour is Orange: Smeenge and Becking the stars of stage 4

The Dutch MTB Marathon National champion raises hands in Fanano, while Becking increases his gap in the GC on Tiago Ferreira. Debora Piana keeps dominating and makes it three in a row. Tomorrow, September 8th, the penultimate stage of Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2023 runs from Fanano to Lizzano in Belvedere

Becking and Piana strenghten their lead in Fiumalbo

The two leaders got the second win at Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2023. The Dutch rider of Buff-Megamo Team sprinted over Tiago Ferreira, while things are getting spicy for the bronze medal, with four riders fighting for the third position. In the women’s field, the Italian of Team Cingolani-Specialized secured the leader jersey with another success in Fiumalbo over Ilina. Tomorrow, September 7th, the peloton heads to Fanano

Ferreira and Piana tame the Mountain Queen Stage

The Portuguese athlete of DMT Racing Team answered back to Becking’s success in the opening stage, while Tronconi and Smeenge remain in contention behind them. Debora Piana took the win and the lead in the women’s category. Tomorrow, September 6th, marks the first-ever border crossing from Emilia-Romagna to Tuscany for the race, with the stage starting and finishing again in Fiumalbo

Becking and Ilina secure victory in the opening act of Appenninica 2023

The Dutch rider from Team Buff-Megamo the Russian of DMT Racing Team have made an impact on the inaugural stage of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race. Completing the men’s podium were Tiago Ferreira and Martino Tronconi, while Debora Piana and Nina Brenn claimed spots on the women’s top-3. Tomorrow, September 5th, comes the anticipated Queen Stage

Castelnovo ne’ Monti and the Bismantova Rock welcome back the Appenninica show

The program of the MTB stage race (4-9 September) was anticipated by the “Appenninica lovers” Granfondo. Starting from tomorrow, the main event will kick off with Hans Becking and Tiago Ferreira leading the title race, while Naima Diesner emerges as the top contender in the Women’s field