The most important Italian MTB circuit was introduced on Thursday February 20th. In addition to Andora, Nals, Pineto and La Thuile, the challenge will return in Verona on Saturday April 18th. First round: Andora MTB Race on Saturday March 7th
With two weeks to go to the first round of the 2020 edition, on Saturday March 7th in Andora (Liguria, Northern Italy), the Internazionali d’Italia Series organizers (CM Outdoor Events) presented the programme of the news season in Milan’s Upcycle Bike Cafè, on Thursday February 20th.
In attendance, among others, were Italian Cycling Federation Councillor Paolo Fantoni, Italy’s Deputy Coach and Bike Park La Thuile’s Technical Director Enrico Martello, Shimano Italy’s Marketing and Communication Manager Marco Cittadini and Northwave’s Art Director and Communication Manager Niccolò Mattos.
Backed by the appreciation of athletes, teams and fans, and the collaboration of two main partners like Shimano and Northwave, the circuit relaunched its ambitions in the Olympic year, adding a new event to a calendar with four confirmed races from the previous season: Andora, Nals, Pineto and La Thuile.
“Tokyo 2020 OG” is the common dream and the big goal for the top bikers in international cycling. With five international races scheduled in the early part of the season, Internazionali d’Italia Series represents a springboard and an opportunity for gain UCI points and the call-up for the National Team in view of the biggest event for every sportsman.
After the opening round, Andora MTB Race, and the Hors-Categorie Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race in Nals (Bozen, Northern Italy, April 4-5) – also hosting the Italian stage of the UCI Junior Series – Internazionali d’Italia Series returns to the city of Verona with a new event, Trofeo Città di Verona, organized by CM Outdoor Events in collaboration with the Municipality of Verona.
The event is scheduled on April 18-19 in Verona’s fascinating bastions.
The Internazionali d’Italia Series races will take place on Saturday, giving riders the opportunity to face back-to-back fixture in the same weekend, with a hors-categorie event in Haiming (Austria) taking place on the day after.
After the stage in Verona, the circuit will return to Pineto (Abruzzo, Central Italy) for the Aprutium Race (May 2-3), whilst La Thuile (Aoste, Northern Italy) will host the final round for the second edition in a row, on June 13th and 14th. The UCI C1 fixture has collected big appreciation in its debut thanks to the challenging and spectacular track designed under the guidance of Enrico Martello.
THE CALENDAR
March 7-8 | Andora MTB Race | Andora | C1 April 4-5 | Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race | Nals | HC April 18-19 | Trofeo Città di Verona | Verona | C1 May 2-3 | Aprutium Race | Pineto | C2 June 13-14 | La Thuile MTB | La Thuile | C1
From 2000, Internazionali d’Italia Series – organized under the aegis of the Italian Cycling Federation and the International Cycling Union – is the leading MTB Cross Country circuit in Italy, and one of the biggest in Europe along with Swiss Bike Cup and MountainBike-Bundesliga.
In the 2019 edition, South Tyrol’s Gerhard Kerschbaumer and Eva Lechner won the Open titles, seeing off Stephane Tempier and Martina Berta, respectively, in exciting duels decided only at the very last.
In addition to the Open categories, Internazionali d’Italia will also award titles for the Under 23 and Junior categories, both Men and Women: the six leaders’ jerseys have been crafted by Northwave, that confirmed its commitment as main partner of the circuit, along with Shimano.
COMMENTS
“Internazionali d’Italia Series’ return to Verona is a goal we pursued with determination – CM Outdoor Event’s Luca Carton explains. – The International Cycling Union has agreed our request of a C1 classification, despite being a first edition. La Thuile’s experience, characterized by a great success in its first edition, has played a key role in this sense: with the collaboration of Enrico Martello, we are ready to organize a big event”.
“Today, we unveiled a calendar similar to last year’s, in a sign of continuity – said CM Outdoor Events’ Michele Mondini. – Andora hosts an ambitious event that could evolve into an important early-season fixture, whilst Nals is a stalwart of mountain bike in Italy, the most important event in our Country behind the Val di Sole World Cup. With Pineto, we continue the collaboration with the goal of taking the XCO show in the Central Italy, whilst La Thuile has confirmed the great expectations, organizing a big event last year”.
THE STAGES
March 7-8: Andora Race Cup (Andora, SV). Cat. C1
Andora Race Cup, will have the honor of opening the Internazionali d’Italia Series calendar for a second year in a row. It’s an early-season race, perfect to search for the best race rhythm after training over the winter months. The Ligurian mild climate and the technicity of the course (4 Km, 160 mt elevation gain per lap) will do the rest. Hailing from Andora, Italian National MTB Team Coach Mirko Celestino will act as a special technical consultant for the event.
April 4-5: Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race (Nalles, BZ). Cat. HC
The great classic of Italian MTB, the HC fixtures of Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race in Nals (Bozen) turns 20 in 2020. The South Tyrolean event will be raced on the classic course, characterized by the Nachtigall climb that launched the likes of Stephane Tempier and Sina Frei last year. As usual for the Hors Categories races, the best of International Mountain Biking is expected in Nals, in addition to the best prospects of the Junior category that will take part in the Italian UCI Junior Series stage.
April 18-19: Trofeo Città di Verona (Verona, VR). Cat. C1
Internazionali d’Italia Series will return in a big city, Verona, with an ambitious event. The fascinating location of the Verona bastions and the supervision of Enrico Martello are the starting points for an event dealing with high expectations from the go. The race will be run a 4-Km course, made more challenging by natural and artificial obstacles.
May 2-3: Aprutium Race (Pineto, TE). Cat. C2
Mountain biking returns by the sea with the Aprutium Race, in its third year in the Internazionali d’Italia Series calendar. The event set up by ASD Cerrano Outdoor, will be mostly run in a wood area, in the nearbies of Pineto’s promenade.
June 13-14: La Thuile MTB Race (La Thuile, AO). Cat. C1
Internazionali d’Italia Series will once again live its grand finale in Aoste Valley for the second edition in a row. Coming off three successful Enduro World Series stages, from 2019 La Thuile hosts an ambitious C1 international race characterized by a very technical and challenging course.
