New day, new stage, same result: Hans Becking and Tiago Ferreira keep being number 1 and 2 of this Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2023. In the third stage held today, 6th September, with 79 km and 2350 m of elevation gain starting and finishing in Fanano, crossing the border with Tuscany for the very first time, the Dutch athlete of Buff-Megamo Team left his second mark of this edition, closely chased by the Portuguese of DMT Racing Team.

Their pace seemed once again too high for all other riders, and the fil-rouge of the race followed the pevious days’ once. After a group start with the leading duo, Bart Classens, Lukas Kaufmann and Tim Smeenge, Becking and Ferreira dropped the opponents once passed the Abetone area in the Ducale della Foce climb, and arrived together in 3:46:52.

Behind them, the fight for bronze is getting spicy. Bart Classens took today’s third place with a 4’00 gap, followed by Lukas Kaufmann (4th, X:XX) and Tim Smeenge (5th, X:XX). In the GC, Becking leads with 2’19” on Ferreira, while there are four riders chasing the last step on the podium. Dutch National MTB Marathon champion Smeenge is the new temporary third place (25’44”): fellow Dutchman Bart Classens is only 4” behind, while Lukas Kaufmann and Martino Tronconi trail by less than 5’ from the third place.

“The race is hard and very technical, but I’m in the position that I wanted to be halfway in the week. We are both there on the same level, it will be a matter of details and the final outcome can still change a lot. I can’t point out what will be the decisive moment, we might even get to the last stage with this gap and the we will have to see in the last kilometers”, argued Becking at the finish line.

DEBORA PIANA TAKES OFF IN THE WOMEN’S CATEGORY   

Second consecutive win for Debora Piana of Team Cingolani-Specialized. The Italian brought home both stages with finish line in Fiumalbo on September 5th and 6th, first taking the leader jersey and then securing it with a solid X:XX gap on the first chaser on Russian Kristina Ilina.

In the third stage, Piana showed great shape and immediately got a little advantage on Ilina since the start, but the DMT Racing Team rider got back and took the lead at about the first Feed Zone (km 29). However, the Italian athlete rode her way back in the leading position and didn’t look back, finishing in X:XX . Ilina arrived second with X:XX gap, while Swiss athlete Nina Brenn, third place in each stage and in the GC, ended her day X.XX behind Piana.

“It’s great to have confirmed yesterday’s win in the Queen Stage with another strong performance. I probably could have earned even more time on the second place, but I’m still really happy with my day. I’m looking forward to having more fun in the upcoming days”, said Piana at the end.  

FROM FIUMALBO TO FANANO: IT’S TIME FOR THE CIMONE CHALLENGE

Stage 4 on September 7th, will take the peloton from Fiumalbo to Fanano through 62 km and 2350 m of elevation gain. The “Cimone Challenge” will take place almost entirely in the Mount Cimone Ski area, with a first ascent towards Pian Cavallaro, before the one leading to Sestola and Serre Pass. The finish line is in the heart of Fanano, right after the Fellicarolo climb.

They were expected to be the strongest riders of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2023, and they are showing it day after day. Tiago Ferreira took the win of the Mountain Queen Stage, sprinting past the GC leader and winner of the opening stage, Hans Becking.

The second episode of Appenninica 2023 took place today, September 5th, starting from Castelnovo ne’ Monti and finishing in Fiumalbo. The 90 km and 3200 m of elevation gain were still not enough to determine who is the fastest among the two former teammates: the DMT Racing Team athlete took the win, but the Dutchman of Buff-Megamo Team crossed the finish line with the same time, keeping his leadership untouched.

As it happened in stage 1, Becking and Ferreira set the tone together with Tronconi and Smeenge. The strong group of escapees quickly took off and created a gap on the Cisa Pass and the Radici Pass. At around km 70, Becking tried to push and get another solo win, but Ferreira kept the pace and secured the win in the final sprint in Piazza Umberto I, in the heart of Fiumalbo. The Portuguese rider completed the Queen Stage in 4:27:18, immediately followed by Becking.

Third place went to the Dutch National MTB Marathon champion Tim Smeenge, with a gap of 2’31”, the same as Italian Martino Tronconi. Fifth place was claimed by Felix Fritzsch, 6’02” behind the winner. In the GC, Becking maintains the lead with 2’19” over Ferreira, 6’14” over Tronconi, 15’04” over Tim Smeenge, and 21:34 over Felix Fritzsch.

“It was a long stage with challenging climbs. We escaped with a small group and stayed together for most of the stage, until Hans tried to force the pace with 15 km to go, and on the Radici Pass, we were alone in the lead. It is an important win for me personally, as it allows me to increase the gap with the third position and keep Becking in sight. Today was a good day, but there are still four days to go, and a lot can happen,” argued Ferreira at the end.

DEBORA PIANA STRIKES BACK

After being the runner-up in the opening stage yesterday, September 4th, she had promised to come back and try to take the win in the toughest stage of the race. Debora Piana proved to be true to her word, and after a solid performance throughout the whole Queen Stage, she could raise her arms solo in Fiumalbo. Russian Kristina Ilina, the winner of stage 1, didn’t have her best day on the bike and secured a second position, but was far behind the new GC leader.

Indeed, the Italian rider of Team Cingolani Specialized managed to escape immediately and didn’t look back, calling it a day after 5:13:41. Behind her were Ilina, 26’36” late, and Nina Brenn, once again in the third position with a gap of 50’42”. Piana now leads in the women’s ranking with 26’09″ on Ilina, while Brenn has over one hour of delay.

“It was a great race day for me, both on the bike and with these landscapes. I felt good and after the first Feed Zone, I tried to push on the climb: Ilina didn’t follow, and then I just kept going strong to increase the gap. Now it is crucial to get the energies back and focus on the next four stages, which are still very challenging,” commented Debora Piana.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Tomorrow, September 6th, will be a historical day for the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, as the route will cross the border with Tuscany for the first time ever. The “Tuscany Incipit” is a loop of 79 km and 2550 m of elevation gain, with the start and finish in Fiumalbo, winding through the natural beauties of the Abetone Bike Park.

Hans Becking secured the victory with Tiago Ferreira finishing as the runner-up, just like in 2020. However, on this 4th of September, the former teammates challenged each other in the opening stage of the 2023 Appenninica MTB Stage Race, which started and finished in Castelnovo ne’ Monti (Reggio Emilia). Becking and Ferreira were expected to be the primary contenders for the overall prize, and they demonstrated their intentions right from the start on the opening effort, “La Matildica“.

The battle was intense for almost 50 kilometers on the 57-kilometer route with an elevation gain of 1850 meters during the opening stage. Italian rider Martino Tronconi managed to keep pace with the leading duo until the final stretch of the race, where he was ultimately dropped and finished in third place. Five riders had set the pace at the start, with Dutchmen Bart Classens and Tim Smeenge briefly joining the frontrunners. However, around the 20-kilometer mark, the two Dutch riders lost ground and couldn’t regain the wake of the leaders.

Becking gradually built his lead over the last few kilometers. Following a daring descent just before the end, he put in a final surge on the last climb and crossed the finish line alone. In the men’s rankings, Becking leads with a time of 2:31:17, holding a 2’20” advantage over Ferreira and a 3’45” lead over Tronconi. 

Behind the podium, Classens and Smeenge maintained their positions as dark horses, with gaps of 11’27” and 12’34”, respectively. Lukas Kauffman (12’58”), Felix Fritzsch (15’34”), Holger Schaarschmidt (22’43”), Juul Van Loon (23’34”), and Lionel Poletti (23’43”) round out the top ten.

“I’m delighted to return to the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, and all the memories of my previous experiences and the breathtaking landscapes rushed back. I cherish this race with its challenging terrain and the high level of technical skill among the riders. It will be a demanding week, and tomorrow we already face the Queen Stage, a pivotal moment. Today, three of us set the pace, and I managed to launch an attack on a lengthy descent to secure the win,” said Hans Becking at the conclusion of the stage.

ILINA TAKES CENTER STAGE, PIANA CLOSE BEHIND

In the women’s category, Russian rider Kristina Ilina left her mark on the opening stage, finishing with a 36-second lead over Italian rider Debora Piana. Riding for the DMT Racing Team, Ilina kept up with the men’s peloton’s pace early on, and maintained her advantage until the finish line, crossing it after 3 hours, 20 minutes, and 12 seconds. Piana made an effort to catch up in the latter part of the stage but couldn’t completely bridge the gap with the leader, settling for the runner-up spot on the day.

Further behind this duo, Swiss cyclist Nina Brenn secured the third spot on the podium, trailing by 28 minutes and 59 seconds. Australian rider Imogen Smith (32’16”) and German cyclist Naima Diesner (35’02”), the winner of the past two editions of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, rounded out the top five.

“I’m extremely satisfied with my start. I could immediately tell that this is a challenging race, especially with those highly technical descents, but it’s also incredibly enjoyable to ride. I didn’t want to fall behind, so I tried to keep pace with the men’s group, and I succeeded in breaking away. I’m curious about what lies ahead, as I’ve never raced in such a long stage race, and I don’t really know what to expect. I’ll give it my all,” said the victorious Kristina Ilina.

QUEEN STAGE: HERE WE GO

If today’s opening stage served as a warm-up, tomorrow, September 5th, marks the longest day of the week. The Mountain Queen Stage boasts a challenging 90 kilometers with an elevation gain of 3200 meters, covering the entire route at high altitude. The finish line in Fiumalbo will provide a clearer picture of the riders’ skills and aspirations in the overall standings. For those with big overall goals, the time for hiding is already over.

Castelnovo ne’ Monti (Reggio Emilia) has established over the years as a must-be location for Appenninica MTB Stage Race. From the base of its majestic Bismantova Rock, the MTB Marathon stage race (4th – 9th September, 2023) will kick off its fifth edition.

A total of 150 athletes from 24 nations are prepared to take on the Appenninica challenge in its renewed 6-stage format, aiming to secure the coveted finisher’s medal and possibly the overall victory. Among the favorites in the men’s field are 2020 winner Hans Becking and Portuguese rider Tiago Ferreira, who benefits from a strong teammate in Andreas Miltiadis, ready to contend for the title. Another potential contender is Martino Tronconi, although his teammate Nicola Taffarel was a late scratch from the race due to a last-minute injury.

Other riders with top ambitions include Felix Fritzsch and Lukas Kaufmann, winners of the Appenninica in 2021 and 2019, as well as Dutchmen Tim Smeenge (XCM National champion) and Bart Classens, who was among the leading riders in 2021.

In the women’s category, back-to-back champion Naima Diesner is the clear favorite for the overall victory. Her main rival is expected to be Russian MTB Marathon champion Kristina Ilina, with growing attention on Swiss rider Nina Brenn, who recently showcased excellent form at the Swiss Epic. Italian hopes rest with Deborah Piana, who secured second place at the 2023 National Marathon championships.

Today, September 3rd, the Appenninca MTB Stage Race program was opened by “Appenninica Lovers”, a non-competitive MTB and e-MTB gathering on the route of stage 1. Organized by MTB Vetto, the event acted as a true mountain bike festival and a fitting warm-up for the atmosphere in Castelnovo ne’ Monti.

THE ROUTE

Appenninica 2023 covers approximately 400 km and includes a challenging 14,000 meters of elevation gain from Castelnovo ne’ Monti to Lizzano in Belvedere, passing through new locations like Fiumalbo and another long-standing host, Fanano.

This edition marks the introduction of a new 6-stage format, as opposed to the previous 7. This decision by the Happy Trail MTB organization aims to simplify logistics for the athletes while preserving the route’s remarkable difficulty, which has earned the Appenninica MTB Stage Race global recognition over the past five years.

The journey begins on Monday, September 4th, from Castelnovo ne’ Monti, covering 57 km with an altitude difference of 1,850 meters. It commences from the foot of the Bismantova Rock and traverses the lands of Matilda di Canossa.

Only one stage into the race, and the Queen Stage awaits on Tuesday, September 5th. While shorter (90 km) than previous editions, it remains a demanding stage with a 3200-meter altitude difference to conquer before reaching the finish line in Fiumalbo.

There’s no time to rest, as on Wednesday, September 6th, riders will face a circuit around Fiumalbo that will once again test their ambitions. The “Tuscany Incipit” is a highlight of the 2023 edition, taking the race across the border into Tuscany at the Abetone ski resort, featuring a 79 km course with 2550 meters of altitude difference.

Thursday, September 7th, brings Stage 4, with Mount Cimone as the focal point. The “Cimone Challenge” route starts from Fiumalbo and concludes in Fanano, covering 62 km with a 2350-meter elevation gain.

The subsequent stage on Friday, September 8th, from Fanano to Vidiciatico, embodies the true spirit of Appenninica. “Appenninica Distilled” encompasses 61 km and 2500 meters of altitude difference, offering a mix of the race’s best elements: long but manageable climbs, technical descents, and breathtaking landscapes.

The grand finale is set for Saturday, September 9th, in the “Monte Pizzo” stage. This 36 km loop with 1500 meters of elevation gain starts and finishes in Vidiciatico, a hamlet of Lizzano in Belvedere, serving as the ultimate judge of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, much like in 2022.

In July 2019, the world of mountain bike stage races welcomed a new event in Italy – a challenging race nestled in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, a wild territory relatively unexplored by mountain biking enthusiasts. The declared goal was to unveil a different side of the Apennines to both national and, particularly, international audiences – similar to the most significant off-road stage events, from the Cape Epic downwards.

As it approaches its fifth edition, Appenninica MTB Stage Race has won its bet. Year after year, the number of participants has grown, luring an international contingent and athletes from various countries to take part in the stage race through the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, drawn by the opportunity to discover enchanting landscapes and test themselves on high-level technical MTB routes.

The Appenninica MTB Stage Race is set to continue along the same path, evident from the sold-out status reached two months before the official start. A total of 150 athletes from 24 Nations, representing 6 continents, will be at the starting line. Organized by ASD Happy Trail MTB, the race will cover over 400 km and 14,000 meters of elevation across six stages – from the departure in Castelnovo ne’ Monti (RE) to the arrival in Vidiciatico, a hamlet of Lizzano in Belvedere (BO).

The largest contingent comes from the Oranje team, with an impressive 33 athletes from the Netherlands. Following closely are Italians with 22 participants, and other nations with strong cycling traditions are also well represented: Belgium (19), Germany (9), the United Kingdom (8), the United States (7), and Denmark (6).

However, the fame of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race has reached far and wide, with athletes from Guatemala, South Africa, Israel, Argentina, Canada, and Australia also taking their places at the starting line of the next edition. This achievement certifies that the trails of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines are becoming increasingly attractive in the panorama of mountain bike stage races.

“Once again this year, the figures confirm the international nature of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, with participants coming from all over the world,” state Milena Bettocchi and Beppe Salerno, co-organizers of the event. “New Nations join us every year, while others expand their presence, and we are also very pleased to have a substantial group of Italian athletes at the start.“

APPENNINICA TEEN CAMP

From September 4th to 9th, alongside the stage race, a new project called Appenninica Teen Camp will also take place. This initiative is intended to involve young adolescents in an international and competitive sports environment characterized by the typical sports solidarity of stage races. A group of youngsters will experience the Appenninica MTB Stage Race from the inside, sleeping in tents supplied by Decathlon Italia, a sponsor of the initiative.

Every day, the young participants will wear different jerseys made by Respect Me, featuring awareness messages in support of cyclist safety. The Appenninica Teen Camp will provide an opportunity for them to engage in volunteer work, interact with formidable athletes and riders pushing their limits, while assisting the organization and providing support to everyone within the friendly atmosphere that characterizes the race.