The motivations behind individuals’ decisions to take on a challenge like the Appenninica MTB Stage Race are diverse and plentiful. Some engage for personal growth, some for enjoyment, and others to bear witness. Among them are “The Appenninici,” athletes who aren’t necessarily driven by achieving top results but for whom success means conquering the finish line day after day.

From September 4 to 9, 2023, out of the 150 participants at the starting line, many will embrace the spirit of this challenge as they navigate the trails of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines. Leading this group of athletes will be a true mountain biking legend: Miguel Martinez. The Frenchman, a former gold medalist in Cross Country at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has also clinched victory at the Cape Epic within the Master category, paired with Mirko Pirazzoli.

At 47 years old, Martinez is an authentic mountain biking legend and a pioneer of racing across various cycling disciplines, including road and cyclocross. During the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, he will encounter another mountain biking great, Mark Anolik, who aims to complete the race for the third time, officially joining the “Hall of Family” of Appenninica – an exclusive group of individuals who have finished the stage race at least three times.

Tobias Guggemos and Patrik Nespor also aspire to join the ranks of the three-time finishers’ club. Among those who have already achieved this milestone are Peter Wouters, Anton Tieleman, Stefan Kiene, and Zbig Mossoczy, all of whom will be present at the start line.

Also marking their return to the Appenninica MTB Stage Race is Mirko Pirazzoli, who will lead his Piraz Coaching Academy Team, featuring Federico Mandelli – the best-placed Italian rider in the 2022 edition – and Federico Arcidiacono. Representing Italy is also Gabriele Verzella, who, at the age of 67, continues to relish mountain biking challenges. Joining him is Riccardo Giulio Acuto, recently crowned champion of the Swiss Epic in the Great Grand Master category and a previous victor at Appenninica within his age group. In this category, some participants have chosen the Appenninica MTB Stage Race as a way to celebrate their 70th birthday, such as Lorenzo Lelli.

Among the athletes at the starting line are those who prefer to tackle the challenges of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines in pairs, such as Tim and Louise Ferreira, who are making a return after last year’s experience. Another eagerly awaited comeback is from the American duo of Gordon Wadsworth and Emily Hairfield. Meanwhile, Ori Leonzini will journey from Israel alongside his father, Sharon.

The starters’ group includes those who are drawn to Appenninica due to their fascination with Italy, its history, and its beauty. Canadian participant Trent Basarsky is a prime example; he plans to explore the enchanting country before and after the race. On a different note, Argentine rider Lino Arboit is making his way to Italy to reunite with his family during the Appenninica MTB Stage Race.

Among the returning friends of the race is Mark Leeper, who is excited to revisit Castelnovo ne’ Monti after spending a few additional weeks there in 2021 before heading back to Hong Kong.

Lionel Poletti will also make a return to Lizzano in Belvedere, where he discovered the roots of  the triumphs of his childhood’s idol, Alberto Tomba. Similarly, Sophie Halhead, a distinguished member of the England women’s national rugby team with 71 caps, will once again grace the starting line. Another noteworthy returnee is the 2019 champion, Lukas Kaufmann, who not only savored the beauty of the Apennines that year but also developed a fondness for Parmigiano Reggiano di Montagna. Since then, every time he comes back to Appenninica, he ensures to carry back home at least one wheel of this cherished cheese.

Now in its fifth edition, the rise of Appenninica MTB Stage Race continues, not only from a sports point of view, as shown by the top-class contenders at the start, but also thanks to the partnerships with established international cycling brands as well as significant realities from the Emilia-Romagna territory. This positive trend underscores and rewards the efforts of the ASD Happy Trail MTB team led by Milena Bettocchi and Beppe Salerno.

For the 2023 edition, scheduled from September 4th to 9th, several partners have confirmed their support to the MTB stage race through the Apennines of Emilia-Romagna, highly regarded by its athletes, and with a special strategical value for the region it crosses.

This strong connection with Appenninica MTB Stage Race has positioned Emilia-Romagna Region as a prominent destination not only for road cycling, but also in mountain biking, which is in high demand among tourists and enthusiasts at all levels.

Taking on the significant role of Sports Nutrition Partner for Appenninica, a race covering hundreds of kilometers with over 13,000 meters of elevation gain, is Enervit, a leading Italian company in sports supplementation and functional nutrition, with over 40 years of experience in the cycling sector, as well as a partner of the Italian National Team.

Among the companies from the cycling world, renowned French brand Look has extended its presence as official pedal sponsor of the event for the third consecutive year, while the jerseys worn during the stages by the classification leaders will be crafted by Natali Sports Wear, renewing a technical partnership that has accompanied Appenninica since its inaugural edition.

Barbieri PNK, a Bologna-based brand of bicycle accessories and parts, has confirmed its long-time support to Appenninica too, as has 9th Wave Cycling – the top-class Dutch high-performance wheels producer, which also supplies MTB Marathon world champion Henrique Avancini. Another returning partner is bike lubricants brand Squirt Cycling, while the crucial mechanical assistance service will once again be supplied by the expertise of Sport Bike Alicante.

Recognizing that bike performance starts with cleanliness and maintenance, the 2023 edition of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race will benefit from the Bike Wash service offered by Lavor, a company producing pressure washers based in Pegognaga (Mantua), part of the Comet Group, a holding from Emilia-Romagna with interests in over 130 Countries.

Prestigious Official Suppliers will also characterize the experience of the participants: water will be provided by the Gruppo Sem, one of the leading bottling companies in Italy. Iren will offer bikers the chance to refill their water bottles. Coop Alleanza 3.0 will provide organic products from the Vivi Verde range at refreshment stations along the route and at the finish. Joining the Appenninica partners’ family is the Meliconi group with its My Bike brand, utilizing the technology of one of Italy’s most famous companies in the production of TV accessories and TV supports to create bike stands.

In a region renowned globally for its culinary excellence, the presence of Barilla stands out once again as a key presence in the pasta parties at the end of the races, alongside the salumi and cheese supplied by Gran Terre.

Official Radio Partner Radio Bruno will bring music and fun at the starts and finishes, while SeTeTrack will offer the Official Live Tracking, essential to follow the stage progress in real-time and ensure safety for all athletes. Evodata will provide timing and rankings. 

As part of the Appenninica Teen Camp project involving young adolescents in the race’s staff, Decathlon will also contribute as a sponsor, providing tents, sleeping mats, and camping essentials. Respect Me will supply shirts and eyewear with messages related to respect for cyclists and their safety.

After being the outright ruler of the last two editions of Appenninica MTB Stage Race, you can’t escape the role of big favourite. From September 4th to 9th, 2023, Naima Madlen Diesner will try to win the overall standings for the third time in a row, but she’d better be ready to face some tough competition on the Emilia-Romagna Apennines’ trails.

Debora Piana and Kristina Ilina are expected to be the top rivals in the way of Diesner’s hat-trick. The Italian rider from Team Cingolani Specialized will be at the start of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race for the first time, after crowning the first half of the season with second place at the Italian Marathon National Championships in Telve Valsugana. It will be the first time for her in a solo stage race, but in 2022 she already demonstrated her ability to handle herself over multiple racing days, finishing second in the Swiss Epic paired with Janina Wüst.

“I’ve been curious about the Appenninica MTB Stage Race for several years because it’s raced in an area I’ve rarely been to. I’m ready to take on this challenge and test myself on a six-day stage race, tackling it alone. Plus, you are racing in Italy, so the motivation will be greater”, says Debora Piana.

Kristina Ilina will also try to test herself on a six-day stage race. The Russian comes from the Cross Country discipline, but she has become MTB Marathon national champion this year, and she is coming to the starting ribbons of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race with the ambition of learning and growing fast, supported by the DMT Racing Team.

“MTB Marathon stage races are a new world for me, but I’m learning fast, and I know that the DMT Racing Team staff will be able to teach me a lot. The goal is to try to win a stage. I come from XCO, so I will try to live the race day by day, listening to every word of Andrea Marconi, who will help me to get into the reality of this type of races. I know that with him and his decade-long experience I am in good hands”, explains the Russian riders.

While these three athletes should be regarded as arguably the top contenders for the Women’s race, right behind them are other competitors with a shot to squeeze into the top positions. Swiss Nina Brenn, recent winner of the Swiss Epic with Simone Stroll in the Masters Women category, stands out, while Imogen Smith arrives from Australia with an extensive background. To hold on to the Apennine sceptre, Naima Diesner must keep her eyes wide open.

Once you’ve ridden it, you can’t do without it. Among those former Appenninica MTB Stage Race competitors who think so, count also Hans Becking. The 2020 Appenninica MTB Stage Race winner has decided to return in 2023, and from September 4th to 9th, he will be one of the main contenders for the final victory.

“I have always kept a list of races that I wanted to do again, and among them was Appenninica MTB Stage Race. I skipped World Cup races this year, and the World Championships were on the calendar before Appenninica; I have the opportunity to return to Italy. I have beautiful memories of the views and MTB trails of this stage race, with long days in the saddle and big climbs, the way I like it. Appenninica MTB Stage Race is a pure, old-school mountain bike race, and it’s great like that!”, says the Dutch riders of the Buff-Megamo Team.

Becking returns to the starting line of the stage race in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines as one of the main overall contenders. After the Epic Andorra Pyrenees and the Volcat BTT victories, the Dutchman is cultivating ambitions to make Appenninica MTB Stage Race history by becoming the first athlete in the men’s field to win two race editions.

“This season hasn’t been the best, but in September I usually arrive in good shape, and I think it will be the same at Appenninica. I always want to win when I attach the number on my back. It would be an honour to win the overall again, but the days in a race like this are long, and everything has to go right. This year I will take the race day by day, trying to have some fun and not suffer too much”, explains Becking.

On the trails of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, the Dutchman will cross path with an old friend, Tiago Ferreira, his former teammate with whom he dominated Appenninica 2020.

“I like to challenge friends like Tiago, certainly wearing different jerseys than in 2020 will make the race very interesting. I will have to focus on my race and recovery day by day. The advantage of Tiago Ferreira is that he can work as a team with Andreas Miltiadis, helping each other in case of mechanical problems, while I will have to manage everything by myself. But I accept the challenge: I will try to make life as difficult as possible for the riders of Team DMT Racing”, says Becking.

With these assumptions, the Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2023 challenge promises to be exciting. It will be up to the the Emilia-Romagna Apennines’ trails to determine Diego Arias’ successor.