The MTB stage race taking place in Italy, in the Emilian Apennines, is warming up for an exciting edition from July 19th to 25th, 2020
Ph. E. Melchiori
Only six months are left to the second edition of Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race, and the countdown has started. From July 19th to 25th, 2020, the Emilian Apennines will welcome bikers from all over the world for a seven-day MTB race, looking to continue in the wake of the success of last year’s first edition. Again this year, hard work will be needed to the riders to earn the cherished finisher’s medal: given the profile of the Italian Apennines, an area still largely unexplored by the MTB world, that could have been taken for granted.
From the first edition, the organizers chose for a demanding course, putting a strain on the riders’ capabilities, but also giving them every chance to realize what they are surrounded from: a breathtaking landscape and a typical Italian atmosphere, which make “Appenninica” a truly unique experience.
It is more than a race, a real adventure to discover the territory, each rider’s limits, the authentic values that can be found in living a week fully immersed in the “big family” of Appenninica. A challenging and intense race that will be remembered beyond the final result, just like the Cape Epic, the South African stage race that is considered the most important in this specific sector. Also for this, considering Appenninica “the Italian Cape Epic” might sound ambitious, but not out of place.
THE COURSE
The route follows, wherever possible, the MTB trail of the Alta Via dei Parchi that leads all over to Tuscany, touching the provinces of Bologna, Modena, Reggio Emilia and Parma. The bikers will face a total of 460 kilometers distributed over seven stages, with steep climbs and technical descents, for an elevation gain of about 16 thousand meters.
On Sunday, July 19th, the start and the finish of the stage will be in the thermal city of Porretta Terme (Bologna), with 43 challenging kilometers and the climb of Mount Piella as a key point, on top of which the beautiful scenery of the Reno valley will open for the riders.
More hurdles expect the athletes on Monday, July 20th, with stage 2 from Porretta Terme to Fanano (Modena) of 65 kilometers, featuring the ascent to the Passo dello Strofinatoio, with the charming coasting of the Scaffaiolo Lake, to continue with the Passo della Croce Arcana, the Passo del Colombino and the descent along the mythical CAI 425 trail.
The third stage on Tuesday, July 21st presents 50 kilometers with start and finish line in Fanano: it will offer one of the best sceneries of the week, with the majestic chestnut woods to frame the first part of the race, before facing highly-entertaining trails, with technical descents, ridges with view and toboggan.
The next day, on Wednesday, July 22nd, it is time for the “Queen Stage”, from Fanano to Castelnovo ne’ Monti (Reggio Emilia) for a total of 105 kilometers and over 4,000 meters of elevation gain. Passo del Saltello, Passo di San Pellegrino, Passo delle Radici, Passo del Giovarello and Passo della Cisa will be the climbs on the menu, making for an epic day.
On Thursday, July 23rd, Castelnovo ne’ Monti will host the start and the finish of the fifth stage (50 kilometers), taking place by the banks of the Calamone Lake in the first part, and in the nearbies of the Pietra of Bismantova massif in the second, for a rippling race full of ups and downs.
From Castelnovo ne’ Monti the riders will go to Noceto (Parma) for the 105-km-long sixth stage on Friday, July 24th, and leaving behind the Apennine chain and diving into the Po Valley, with rivers and valleys that will keep company to the riders during the whole stage.
This great week of racing will end with the Noceto-Noceto stage, on Saturday, July 25th, with 40 kilometers in the background of the Boschi di Carrega park, that is sure to be remembered for the ride through the courtyards of historical villas, home to Maria Luigia (duchess of Parma and Napoleon’s wife).
Ph. E. Melchiori
SOLO OR IN PAIRS
As in the first edition, it is possible to participate in the Apenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race both individually– men and women – and in pairs, with three different modalities: men, women and mixed.
In order not to overcrowd the trails, many of which ride through regional and national parks, and to ensure the highest level of quality to all the athletes during and after the race, the organizers chose for a closed number of maximum 150 registered athletes.
Like all the main MTB stage events, such as Cape Epic, Apenninica MTB Stage Race is a full-service race: from meals to accommodation, from refreshments to mechanical assistance in the race, from out-of-race transportatio to technical equipment and medical assistance, every aspect is guaranteed by the organization at the highest levels of quality. Further services are available for athletes on request, from hotel accommodation to the bike setup after the race, or even the massages after the effort.
In addition, in collaboration with Tourissimo – Active Travel in Italy, Apenninica offers packages for those willing to accompany the bikers without racing, with the possibility to move easily and discover the beauty and atmosphere of the Emilian Apennines.
PARMIGIANO REGGIANO: ITALIAN EXCELLENCE
The promotion of the territory, and the Emilian Apennines in particular, in the perspective of summer and outdoor tourism, is one of the main purposes for Appenninica, and in this sense no better companion could be found than Parmigiano Reggiano.
Title sponsor from the start, the most famous Italian cheese in the World comes to life right in the areas crossed by the athletes of the Apenninica. Parmigiano Reggiano will lead a journey at the discovery of genuineness and authentic tastes, to be found at the feed zones along the route and as well as every night at dinner. All the efforts of the athletes will be paid back by the warm welcome of the Emilian cuisine.
THE ATHLETES AT THE START: A WORLDWIDE EVENT
At the start of the Apennines there will also be an official “Parmigiano Reggiano” team, led by experienced Italian cross-country athlete Andrea Tiberi, who took part in the Rio Olympics, now looking for new challenges in his last season as a professional biker. In addition to him, several more remarkable riders are expected in Porretta Terme, with a bigger international participation comparing with the debut season.
Among those who have already confirmed his participation in the event, there are the winners of the teams classification of last year, Dutchmen Maurits Buist and Henk Bos, Italian Lorenzo De Sanctis, third in 2019 in the solo classification, and Mirko Pirazzoli, also a former cross country specialist and now active in the Marathon activity.
Until Saturday, February 29th, 2020, it will be possible to enroll for a lower price, while the period of late registration will open from March the 1st until May 30th (or max number).
The Italian veteran will be ambassador of title sponsor Parmigiano Reggiano in the second edition of the MTB stage race. “Four years ago I beat cancer, now I am living cycling from a different perspective: Appenninica is a new and exciting experience”
This is why “IronTibi” decided to be at the start of the second edition of Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race, the MTB stage race bringing Mountain Bike racing in the wildest and unexplored areas of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, from July 19th to 25th, 2020. And Andrea will do it with the ambition of winning it.
The crave for a new challenge is the greatest boost for an athlete towards greatness. For certain athletes, though, this desire simply reaches higher standards. That’s the case of Andrea Tiberi: the 34-year-old, a long-time top rider of the Italian Cross-Country MTB movement, Italian national champion in 2015, has recently announced that 2020 will be his final season as a professional. For someone like him, who battled and defeated tough opponents throughout his career, in the race and beyond, this only means another can’t-miss opportunity to go for unprecedented challenges, always at full throttle.
“Four year ago,” recalls Tiberi, a member of Team SantaCruz-FSA, “I was preparing for my first Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro, when I was diagnosed a thyroid cancer. I underwent surgery, and from there, I started a race against the time to be ready for Brazil: on August 21st I took the start and finished 19th. Nevertheless, the way this experience changed me – both as a rider and as a man – was the real achievement.”
Four years later, Tiberi’s sights are set on new goals, not necessarily marked with a banner. Last year in September, his desire to do an MTB trip, the Tour of Mount Blanc and return, became the “Dreamlines” project. Five-hundreds kilometers and 20.000 mt elevation gain, for the pure sake of exploring, discovering and pedaling.
The same kind of drive now leads him to take on the Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race challenge, one of the toughest stage races in Europe with over 450 km and 16.000 mt elevation gainover seven stages. Andrea won’t be alone in this feat, as he will have Parmigiano Reggiano, the event’s title sponsor, on his side. In Tiberi, Parmigiano Reggiano found the perfect ambassador to lead the public to the discovery of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, where the World-famous Italian cheese comes to life.
“You can’t help falling in love with a challenge like “Appenninica”, in it I see the same spirit of my “Dreamlines”,” Tiberi told. “The Apennines are a spectacle of nature, beauty and opportunity (in cycling and beyond), waiting to be discovered, and I think this is what makes the event so special: keeping and enhancing the wild nature and authenticity of these places, while creating a top-level competitive event.”
It’s another Olympic year, but Tiberi’s goal will not be the five-ring race, but rather testing himself in unprecedented ways. “I wish to seize cycling in full, like I always have, but with a greater sake for discovery and adventure, and maybe with more opportunities to share something. At Appenninica, I will meet riders from everywhere in the World, and hopefully I can give some valuable advice, in the racing action and beyond, and even on nutrition. In that sense, having Parmigiano Reggiano on my side is the best insurance.”
APPENNINICA MTB “PARMIGIANO REGGIANO” STAGE RACE
Appenninica MTB “Parmigiano Reggiano” Stage Race is an MTB stage race taking place in Italy, on the Apennines mountain range, between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. The second edition takes place from July 19th to 25th, 2020. Riders can participate either in two-athlete teams (men, women, mixed) or as individuals (men and women).
With over 450 km of distance and 16.000 meters of elevation gain, Appenninica places itself among the toughest MTB stage races in the World and is the only Italian event to belong in the same “family” of events like Bike Transalp (Eastern Alps), TransRockies (Canada) and Cape Epic (South Africa).
The race is run over seven stages, including an opening and a “Queen Stage”, all of those immersed in the nature of the Emilian Apennine, full of still-unexplored opportunities for MTB and outdoor activities. That’s what makes “Appenninica” a legitimate trip “into the wild”, all to be discovered: a new frontier for international mountain bike.
The warm welcoming of the people from Emilia-Romagna is another plus of “Appenninica”s atmosphere: from climbs to smiles, to cuisine, the Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano stage experience is designed to leave a mark.
Another edition of legendary Paris-Dakar is in full swing but we have our own dirt-bike heroes at Appenninica.
The medical team at Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano stage race will again have doctors from RMT – Racing Medical Team – to care and assist all of the riders no matter the terrain. Simone and Michele charmed everyone with their professional yet easygoing attitude, surfer look, and riding skills. Here’s what one rider had to say:
“What one must appreciate – especially in the Italian summer heat – is the fact that all the time around the riders circled two doctors on enduro bikes and constantly asked if the competitors were okay and if they needed water. Mind that this type of service is not often met at races.”
The full Medical Team will be:
2 ambulances with advanced equipment, strategically located and that will move tactically along the race course
2 medical ER in motion who will follow the race along the route
3 assistance motorbikes
1 doctor in the MEDICAL TENT at the camp of each Race Village
It is with great pleasure that we’ve learned that Lorenzo De Sanctis (Italy, team D’Orsogna) will return to Appenninica next July. He is a very competitive amateur who was on the podium at the 2019 edition and he has one goal: do better.
Lorenzo De Sanctis is one of those stories that make minor sports great. He kept up with Austrian talent Lukas Kaufmann (one of the best long-distance European elites) and former American pro Coulton Hartrich. It ranked third but without ever seeming in difficulty, we have never seen him really drained at the finish lines but rather always smiling. In the longest stage he lost the change for victory in the last descent. Too bad!
Lorenzo is not only an amateur but almost a novice. Yes, his MTB career years can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
He played football but gets injured at the end of 2015. Six months of crutches, the extra kilos that accumulate, and the advice to pedal to start rehabilitation.
And so begins the MTB chapter of the sporting life of Lorenzo De Sanctis from Guardiagrele (Chieti in the region of Abruzzo) riding a 26 with a triple (you do remember!) In April 2016.
A few XC races in 2017 but towards the end of the season he understands that marathons and the big elevation gains suit him best. The first epic challenge is the Hero of 2018 completed in 6 hr 20 min and the following year, in preparation for the Apennines, he betters his time of half an hour.
We asked him what his 2020 goals are.
Appenninica MTB is the event that he targets and he literally tells us that he wants to do the race of his life. He tells us “I want to improve myself, not spare myself in any stage”. Because he took third the year before, it is clear that Lorenzo is thinking big. Obviously the others will stand still but they will have to deal with him.
The queen stage Fanano – Castelnovo Monti (105 km x 4200 m) does not seem to frighten him, on the contrary, it is exactly what galvanizes him: “I hope to get ahead, far ahead”.
Winning the queen stage for an amateur who trains as he can manage and with many sacrifices would be thrilling. Of course, he competes for fun, but to take the win would be nice.
Then we asked him where he needs to improve to do better. Uphill, he did all right.
“I suffer short and fast stages and last year I’ve lost ground in the time trials. On the long ones I think I can be with the best. “
And what about the 2019 edition? What is your most beautiful memory?
“The environment you created, the relaxed atmosphere even if the competitive spirit was there. I met all wonderful people and I’ve stayed in touch with them. “
“The other beautiful memory is the long ride uphill – infinite – made with Lukas to chase Coulton and then play my chances for the victory.”
Class 1993, Sarah Reiners is a young mountain bikers but a very successful one in long distance races. She is already one of the top MTB stage racers in Europe.
She took part in BEMC (Belgium), Bike Transalp, 4Islands (Croatia), Trans Schwarzwald (Germany), Bike Adventure (Poland), Trans Zollernalb (Germany), Zillertal Bike Challenge (Austria), Rally di Romagna (Italy).
In 2016 she won the BIKE Transalp in the women category, and won the 4Islands in Croatia in 2017 in the mixed category. She represented Germany in the past XCM UCI World Championship in Switzerland and she races for the team EDELSTEN MTB ladies.
Let’s hear why Appenninica in 2020:
“For 2020 I wished to do again a longer stage race (up to 7 or 8 days) in a team of two because I wanted to do a stages race together with my boyfriend who has now been training with me several years, but we’ve never done a race together. We both love Italy and as we heard that the food should be so great at Appenninica, we know that Appenninica should not only be our first race together but also our holidays.
As the race is limited to 150 participants, we hope to enjoy a unique familiar atmosphere there before and after the races and during the race we know that hard and challenging stages are waiting for us.
We are looking for a lot of climbing meters, fantastic single tracks and a wonderful (and for us a new) landscape.”
In 2020 is special for Sarah because it will be her 10th year doing MTB races. So, she wants to celebrate with a special race. She added this final comment when we connected: “I am dreaming about Appenninica because it sounds challenging, it’s long with 7 stages, it takes place in one of my favorite countries, and I can race it in a team of two”.
Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race 2020, which will take place between July 19th and 25th , has the goal to give its participants a total immersion in the “real mountain bike”, both as regards the tracks and as the atmosphere that is created before, during and after the single stages. A spirit that is so deep in competition and performance, but also fun and passion for off-road, all with the aim of creating not only a stage race, but also an exciting event for the bikers coming from all around the world.
And it is this philosophy of MTB experienced at 360 ° that convinced one of the legends of Italian off road cycling to take part in the 2020 edition, we are talking about Mirko Pirazzoli aka “Il Piraz”.
Pirazzoli, after growing up in the BMX world, started racing in MTB in the early 90s, and since then he has been one of the main actors of the off-road movement so as to win a European Cup XC in 2001, 7 podiums in the Italian XC national championships between 1999 and 2008, numerous World Cup XC races ended in Top 20, and be part of the Italian national team for 10 years.
He then decided to put his knowledge at the service of others through Piraz Coaching and his work as technical director and supporter for top level athletes including Andrea Tiberi, Miguel Martinez and Leonardo Paez … among many others.
Born and raised in Emilia Romagna has always stood out for his unique style and for his riding “bike sideways” well before Nino Schurter changed the rules of the game in cross country racing.
Mirko found in Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race a perfect event to launch its 2020’s Piraz Coaching Team, a project in which the “old” Pirazzoli takes talented young riders of the Italian MTB scene and, thanks to his experience and a qualified and experienced staff, takes the commitment to lead them to excel in Italian and international Marathon and Stage races.
All taking advantage of the territory and the trails where he himself has learned to ride a MTB, those of the Apennines of Emilia Romagna, or those where the Appenninica MTB Stage Race will pass next year.
“I learned here to ride Mtb,” says Pirazzoli. “Castel San Pietro, Imola, Corno Alle Scale, Fanano are my mountains. Even in 2000 I organized a competition on these trails, for this reason it was natural for me to support the Appenninica project. I would have liked to take part in the first edition, but you know… work. But this year I will use the 7 days of the Apennines to make the Piraz Coaching boys experience a unique race. I will not only be a participant, but also a real ambassador for Appenninica MTB, in fact as an athlete I went out of Italy to try to be the best and find great trails to ride on, while now I want to use my knowledge to bring the others to discover the beauties, the warmth and above all the highly technical and spectacular trails of my Apennines ”.
The territory is what Mirko Pirazzoli cares about the most: “The Apennines are perhaps one of the best areas in the world where MTB can be practiced, it has terrain that is practically impossible to find elsewhere, you are immersed in the woods with a terrain that we call “Pongo” and offers more grip than asphalt, all sprinkled with technical passages on roots, rocks and everything a biker dreams of. It is more varied and nervous than the endless Dolomite highways and less barren and rocky than the areas of Southern Italy. It allows you to play with your Mtb, allows you to improve both technically and physically. In addition, the trails are often in Natural Parks so perfectly maintained and in breathtaking scenery ”.
Another strong point is the climate that “in July in the Apennines is really perfect for sports. Warm, but not torrid, cool in the woods and you can pass in a very short time from the 2000 meters of the peaks, down to the valley bottom where often a river awaits you to dive in and rest the legs after a demanding ride ”.
As we said, Mirko Pirazzoli will compete at the Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race 2020 together with his Piraz Coaching boys.
“The races in team are the most beautiful, I discovered it at the 2017 Cape Epic. An exhausting but wonderful adventure, only in team you can experience the perfect synergy with your teammate, something that normally in Mtb you don’t feel. Your teammate becomes a part of you. For this reason I want my young guns to experience this feeling, just to enrich their experiential background with something unique. Also from the physiological point of view a stage race is better than competing every weekend, in 7 days you learn to know yourself and learn to drive like in an entire season in the saddle; also, you have the community with which you compare yourself every evening at dinner and this enriches you mentally. The more REAL MTB you chew and the faster you grow, the more you are in a group the more you grow. Everything must be shared and the opponents are not enemies, but companions of adventure, only the track and yourself are the real opponents “.
The Piraz and Appenninica MTB immediately find a connection because they both pursue the same things: transmitting passion for Mountain-biking creating something positive.
“If you have fun you don’t feel fatigue. The spirit with which we will face Appenninica MTB is just this: see the race as a game. But at the same time give the 100% during the stages, without say NO to ravioli or tortellini at the end of each stage, because too often those who compete have a wrong mentality that instead to benefit, create limits. The head is essential in a 7-day race and the human mind reaches 100% when it is happy and free. The kilometers in the saddle, the hours on the bike, the sacrifices and the training are fundamental, but there must be balance with fun and a light heart. This is why I chose Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race 2020, because balance it’s what I saw in the eyes and in the actions of those who organize it ”.
It’s hard to pass the opportunity to defend the title after a victory, whatever the sport or the situation. And so it goes that the organizers of Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race were not all that surprised to receive among the first entries for the 2020 edition to be held from July 19 to July 25 2020 in Emilia Romagna, the one of Maurits Buist and Henk Bos, the winning couple of the 2019 edition.
The two strong Dutch athletes have decided once again to leave the lowlands of the Netherlands for 7 days and tackle the challenging trails all uphill and downhill in the Apennines.
We’ve interacted with them after several stages and they always finished with big smiles but they also reminded us what a “tough race” it was. In between smiles, you could tell that it was harder than they thought.
They engaged in a tight battle with Swiss team Meyer-Seifried. Things had a turning point on stage 5 when Seifried had to withdraw with an injured hand and Buist-Bos wore the green Natali team leader jearseys ever since. What ever competition they will face in 2020, they can now rely on a better understanding of the terrain and of how the terrain enhances their strenghts.
Buist – Bos #31
We were curious to know why they wanted to come back to compete in the Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race and we went to investigate:
Do you still have such good memories of Appenninica that you want to compete again this year?
We won’t forget the third stage for the rest of our life. A very narrow trail upon a high hill ridge. We had to focus every second to prevent crashing. Difficult for Dutchmen coming from a flat country.
Which part or which moment of the edition 2019 you want to relive in 2020?
We prefer the long distance stages. So we would like to relive the second and longest stage.
What led a Dutch team to compete in the Apennines?
We were told this region is one of the most beautiful regions of Italy..
Is it a region of Italy that you knew already?
No, this year it was our first visit.
What do you expect to find in the 2020 edition?
A repetition of this well organised event with delicious local food.
To whom would you recommend Appenninica MTB stage race?
This race is not only for very experienced bikers, but also for those who only bike now and then.
Yours plans for 2020? other races besides Appenninica?
We bike in Dutch competitions (crits, road classics and multi-day stages).
We have several dutch teams and solo riders already registered and we can speculate that there will be lots of orange on the podium of Appenninica MTB 2020.
