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.
by Appenninica MTB | May 29, 2019 | Uncategorized
Wheelsets are such an important part of our mountain bikes. They can enhance the performance – both in terms of speed and traction- they make for a great look, but they can also cause disastrous crashes if they fail.
9th Wave is a company owned and operated by riders. They don’t follow trends but they rather seek what works best by testing their products in the toughest competitions around (including MTB stage races).
Bike mag test winners and champions in strength and durability, 9th Wave carbon wheels add a touch of class to any high-end bike. The Dutch visionary company lead by Peter Wouters and Guido de Jong is often at some of the coolest events around Europe. They are kindly and enthusiastically supporting the first edition – with a long term plan – of Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano, our stage race that will take place in the summer of 2019.
Their first priorities since the start were quality, honesty and always stay innovative. 9th Wave strives for quality on all fronts: from products to service, from delivery times and post-sales service.
“Honesty means to us: don’t sell or tell nonsense and being able to look at yourself proudly in the mirror every day. And innovation is for us to continue to think outside the box and pay attention to every tiny detail of products. (Feel free to ask any of us. You will notice that in each product by 9th Wave a lot of invisible small “smart” details are processed.) – 9th Wave”
9th Wave will be more than just a Technical Sponsor.
The collaboration will include co-promotion between the two brands and some important benefits for the riders: mechanical service (official mechanical service at the race), spare wheelsets at the neutral mechanical aid station, a generous discount for all registered riders (not available to the general public).
So, stay tuned for more details and for the orange 9th Wave van at the Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano race village. An email will follow specifically about the partnership and therefore make sure to register to the newsletter on our website.
Peter Wouters of 9th Wave is a veteran of MTB stage races
by Appenninica MTB | May 28, 2019 | Highlights
Confirmed the presence at the start of the Italian stage race of Marzio Deho, Italian MTB legend and one of the few bikers who have raced in every corner of the world.
Any Italian mountain bike enthusiast has heard of Marzio Deho at least once. A true legend that began competing in the early 1990s and has never stopped since. He has collected the beauty of almost 350 career victories, but above all he has raced in every corner of the world, from Europe to Asia, from South America to Africa.
His specialty is the long distances races, in his palmares there are 1 Italian marathon championship and numerous national team jerseys, he won prestigious races like the Dolomiti Superbike and the Roc D’Azur.
The stage races are his love, he has won twice the Mongolia Bike Race, the Himalaya Highest mtb race and also the TransRockies, a tough stage race in British Columbia.
The desire to race and ride has never diminished and in 2019 he decided to compete again in something new and for this reason will be the first edition of the Appeninica MTB Stage Race Parmigiano Reggiano.
We took the opportunity to have a chat with Marzio and let us explain his point of view on Appenninica (and on its possible future), on stage races and on how to approach one of them.
Photo credit Pianetamountainbike.it
– Why did you choose to participate in Appenninica MTB Stage Race Parmigiano Reggiano and what do you think makes it different from other Italian stage races?
Marzio: The stage races have always thrilled me, since I started practicing Mtb, I immediately tried also this type of races. In Italy a real stage race currently does not exist and one comparable to the more famous stage races around the world there has never been. So I see Appenninica as finally the stage race that was missing in Italy.
– For an 8-day stage race, do you think the couple formula or the solo is better?
Marzio: There is no better or worse, both solo and team competitions are good. In my opinion, every event must stand out with its own identity, or compete in team or individually. The Cape Epic teaches, born in couple continues to be so, then there are many other less famous 4-stage or one-week individual competitions (Andalucia bike Race or Volcat, Ruta de Los Conquistadores or Crocodile Trophy) or just in team (Brasil ride, Portugal Mtb or Epic Israel).
– You have competed practically all over the world, what do you expect from the Emilian Apennines? Is it an area you know?
– From the way they talked about it is a competition that they want to make known outside national borders and grow at good levels, to do this the Apennines is a good area because it presents a big variety of terrains ideal for a stage race. I know the areas but not very well, I’ve been there several times but I’ve competed very little in those region. I am very curious to discover the stages that I certainly expect hard and beautiful, with nothing less as races in the Alps.
– With which bike will you be running and what will be your basic kit for the individual stages?
– I don’t know exactly how much technical and what the stages will be like, but I think I’ll compete with my front Olympia F1. As in all stage races, a minimum of kits for your mechanical assistance is a good thing: take a multitool with chaintool and all the material needed for repair a puncture.
– Appenninica4, the reduced formula of the Apennines, do you think is the right gateway to a stage race for those who have never done it before?
– It can be a good starting point, but I believe that the race must find its identity, understand if it wants to be a 7-day race in team or on 4 days alone, the event must give the same emotions to all the participants and this first edition could be the one that will make Appenninica MTB Stage Race Parmigiano Reggiano understand its true nature.
– What are your suggestions for an amateur who at the Appenninica MTB Stage Race Parmigiano Reggiano will make his debut in a stage race?
– Definitely get prepared with a good amount of training, especially a lot of hours in the legs. In the race knowing how to administer himself well without burning-out or going over strength limits in the first few days, otherwise, you can pay it in the following stages.
The appointment with Marzio Deho and with Appenninica MTB Stage Race Parmigiano Reggiano is from 20 to 27 July 2019.
All information on www.appenninica-mtb.com
by Appenninica MTB | May 25, 2019 | Highlights
Melanie – Mel – tells us about her passions and how they come together. We loved to find out about her artistic side and therefore we asked her about her creations and racing in the Women category with Sophie Hemming (UK).
I am fairly new to throwing on a wheel having tried it for the first time a year ago. It is a fantastic process; I like both the processes of throwing a form and then turning the form to shape it. Once I got the hang of making a few small cylinders, I started making some pots with Puffins on for an exhibition based on the coast of West Wales. Puffins are a small bird native to the area, quite an interesting little sea bird.
I then made a few cups as Christmas presents painted to suit the individuals and this developed into making some cups as prizes at a local beach race where I set up a stand to sell a few “bike mugs”. Every cup I make is unique. The shape and size of the cup, the handle, the image to place on them and how the image is applied are all elements I am still exploring. Some of the images are painted on, others are in the techniques of Scraffito and inlay. I would like to develop the cups into pairs or small groups of four but still keep their unique character. I have no interest in mass production.
Why bikes?
It just seemed obvious, they are great, practical, take you to fantastic places and make you feel good. I would like to expand on the bike designs and include other cycling related images – places I go and things I see – often on a bike. I’ve also created some bike themed bowls that I will develop further.
For a few years mountain biking has taken over my creative time. Mountain biking is a fantastic sport but racing takes a lot of energy and focus. Last year I decided to make time to explore new skills such as throwing on the wheel, stone carving and bronze casting. Throwing grabbed me much more than I was expecting, I liked the immediacy, the challenge, the process– it takes a lot of focus so can be very relaxing. I like the fact it can be developed in so many ways and there is so much to explore. It has got me excited about making again. I want to continue combining painting and drawing on my ceramics and to develop my throwing skills.
This year I am excited to see where the ceramics goes but also to have a couple of races to aim for. It’s great to have Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano as a target. Part of the excitement for me is the opportunity to ride and race in new parts of the World and to take part in new events. I love riding in Italy and the Appenninica takes places in a part of Italy I have not raced before so I’m looking forward to experiencing what the area has to offer. It’s going to be an epic week and I’m looking forward to racing with Sophie for the first time as a team. We have ridden some pretty awesome trails together in Wales, Scotland, and Switzerland and soon we’ll be able to include Italy in this list. Hopefully, I can strike the right balance between throwing on one wheel and riding on two!
Our Team
We met when racing XC three years ago. We always have close battles, climbing and descending at similar speeds which will work well for stage racing as a team. We have ridden some pretty awesome trails together and have been talking about racing a stage race together for a couple of years now, but we have waited for the right time and race to appear. There doesn’t appear to be many stage races which are 8 days long and technical which is why Appenninica grabbed our attention.
I have been mountain biking for many years, first attracted to stage racing due to the places it took me and the challenge to aim for before focusing on XC for a few years.
Sophie is relatively new to mountain biking in comparison, but with a background playing Rugby for England she has adapted to the sport very quickly. Whilst I have competed in a Mountain biking World cup Sophie has competed in, and won, a different World Cup playing Rugby for England.
Sophie is not only a competitive athlete she is also a mother to Sam and has a demanding job as a vet, which she did alongside training and representing England at Rugby before moving onto her newer passion of mountain biking. My day job is as an Art teacher in a prison and I’m also developing my own range of ceramic pieces with a cycling theme.
by Appenninica MTB | May 20, 2019 | Press Reviews (2019)
by Appenninica MTB | May 8, 2019 | Highlights
Squirt Cycling Products is the official chain lubricant partner of Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race.
Achieving your goal at a mountain bike race is as much about training hard, using the best equipment, getting your nutrition dialed in, and hopefully riding your dream bike, right? Yes, but that’s not all.
On a 7-day MTB stage race, as in the format of the Appenninica, you need to make sure your bike is clean and lubed properly every day. The chain and drivetrain are typically the dirtiest parts of your bike and if you don’t use the right lube, well, your bike performance will be impacted and, let’s face it, you will hate yourself when your chain comes off or brakes at a critical point during the race.
That’s why we are happy to partner with Squirt Cycling Products, a South African company. Their liquid lubricant has unique properties that make it ideal for use in any cycling condition. Squirt lube is a wax base, long lasting dry lube that does not contain harmful solvents, is 100% biodegradable and environmentally friendly. They also produce a concentrated biodegradable bike cleaner, a puncture sealant, and a long-lasting application for skin protection on endurance events.
Whichever is your ambition, know that Squirt products are tried, tested and trusted by the biggest names in the world of mountain biking such as Julien Absalon, Rudi Van Houts, Bart Brentjens, Alan Hatherly, Robyn de Groot, Ariane Luthi, and Mariske Strauss, Stefan Garlicki, Bradley Weiss or Johann Potgieter.
Squirt is involved in a number of activities to promote cycling, adventure racing, running and multi-sport around the world. They strive to produce products that are thoroughly tested and accepted by the cycling world as functional and of high quality.
Follow Squirt Cycling Products on Facebook
by Appenninica MTB | May 3, 2019 | Highlights
The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium is the title sponsor of the first edition of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race!
The organizers of Appenninica are honored to be able to combine the name of their competition with one of the most popular and appreciated Italian products in the world. The prerequisites for this partnership come from a shared vision for enhancing the territory and from the approach – without compromise – that leads to creating something unique, genuine and authentic.
The element that links Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race and the King of Cheeses is chiefly and above all the territory. The race will take place on the heights that house the dairy farms that produce Parmigiano Reggiano Mountain Product (Prodotto di Montagna) – we shall remind that the production area of the Parmigiano Reggiano Dop includes the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Mantova to the right of the Po river and Bologna to the left of the Rhine river (an area of about 10,000 km2). The second key element is the desire to promote sports activities and enhance the passion of athletes who undertake an out of the ordinary endurance race.
Appenninica MTB Parmigiano Reggiano Stage Race is a hard test that will involve an incredible expenditure of calories but good food and typical recipes of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines will not be missing. With Parmigiano Reggiano we have added another truly “tasty” ingredient.
Parmigiano Reggiano is the perfect food for every sportsman, especially for endurance sports, because it is rich in minerals and nutrients, with a precious lipid component and able to provide readily usable energy. Thanks to its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, it is an inevitable element in the athletes’ diet both in the pre and during and after the competition. Thanks to its production process, the King of cheeses is also naturally free of lactose, additives and preservatives.
The new name of the race is, therefore, APPENNINICA PARMIGIANO REGGIANO STAGE RACE and the logo has been redesigned as will all the communication to accommodate the Consortium’s brand.
by Appenninica MTB | Apr 8, 2019 | Highlights, Uncategorized
We are proud to introduce our very own race village concept
After completing the March reconnaissance trip and meeting with the local municipalities that will host the race village, we are pleased to announce the concept of the Appenninica MTB race village.
The race village will be in actual towns with services and housing scattered throughout and proper signage indicating the facilities. We’ll be in the center or in close proximity of the center of the hosting villages and therefore part of the lively summer activities of those Apennine local communities. This style of village is borrowed from the albergo diffuso (scattered hotel concept), an idea that started in the 1980’s in Italy as a way to revive small villages off the tourist track and give visitors a way to feel like a local in the places they are staying.
While we love aerial shots of race villages in soccer and rugby fields or in the wilderness, we feel that our albergo diffuso village will make our athletes feel at home. A race village that is housed among the streets and piazzas of our hosting communities was possible thanks to the amazing support of our local partners. Our hope is that all riders will get to look around and enjoy the fact that we have local businesses and services all around us.
Since we will be hosted in actual villages and not in the wilderness, we will be surrounded by lively communities. We will be housed in indoor dorms (gyms, schools, sports arenas) and not in tents.
Riders – and companions with a supporter pass – will have to bring their own sleeping bags and mats. Showers and bathrooms will be inside the buildings. Portable toilets will be also close to the starting line.
Go to the Race Village page.
by Appenninica MTB | Apr 2, 2019 | Highlights, Uncategorized
Appenninica mountain bike Stage Race announces Garmin as sponsor and a Garmin Challenge within each stage.
Garmin is the world leader in GPS navigation and a well-respected brand in the outdoor world. For years, both adventure cyclists and those seeking performance have considered a Garmin bike computer and navigator as an essential tool for their rides.
Performance and adventure are two ingredients of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, whose first edition will take place on the Apennine Mountain Range in Italy in July 2019.
Garmin has come on board as a sponsor of Appenninica and will link its brand to the Italian stage race. Garmin will offer assistance in the field with Garmin product specialists in the race village during the week of the race. Garmin GPS devices will surely be on the bikes of many of the competitors and Garmin personnel will be on hand to check that they are in top working condition. They will also provide information on new products.
Many riders – no matter the discipline – see their Garmin as a tool that grants a wealth of performance data and metrics.
Precisely in order to strive for performance under the Garmin brand, the organizers at Appenninica MTB are excited to announce the Garmin Challenge: a timed section within the route for each stage. In many cases the Garmin Challenge will correspond with a significant climb of the stage.
The more than 500 km of Appenninica and 270 of Appenninica4will not be a walk in the park but they will surely be an exciting challenge. There will be parts that will require more effort and determination than others and that will decide the ranking for those who battle for the podium. Among these will be the Garmin Challenge section of each course. These sections will be recorded, logged and will generate a special ranking thanks to the GarminConnect segments function.
The Garmin Challenge brings Garmin into the event as not only a sponsor but as an important part of the event, setting the stage for a successful collaboration betweenAppenninica MTB Stage Race and Garmin.
