Superenduro PRO 3, Gemona, Saturday Prologue

Jun 1, 2013
by Matt Wragg  
As the blinds went up this morning, something wonderful came streaming in: sunshine. The optimists were right, at least until we got to about the middle of the morning. This afternoon, it was not what you'd called sunny, but the rain that has plagued the area for the last week seems to have run out of steam. As I'm British, I'm sitting here waiting for the big, dirty storm clouds to roll back in again, but us Brits are life's pessimists, so let's hope I'm wrong...

photo
photo
Walking around Gemona today it would be easy to miss the troubled past this town has suffered. It s only when you start looking for what is not there that you understand what must have happened. Look closely and there are few old buildings here in a country where most of the towns have hundreds of years of history Gemona is surpirsingly new yet the pattern of the streets is distinctly medieval. In 1976 an earthquake hit the town in those fifty seconds most of the town was razed to the ground more than 18 000 people lost their homes and around 870 lost their lives.
  Walking around Gemona today it would be easy to miss the troubled past this town has suffered. It's only when you start looking for what is not there that you understand what must have happened. Look closely and you realise that there are not many old buildings here, in a country where most of the towns have hundreds of years of history. Gemona is surpirsingly new, yet the pattern of the streets is distinctly medieval. In 1976 an earthquake hit the town, in those fifty seconds most of the town was razed to the ground, more than 18,000 people lost their homes and around 870 lost their lives.

One of the few building to come through the earthquake largely unscathed was The Duomo the main church.
  One of the few building to come through the earthquake largely unscathed was The Duomo, the main church.

The rebuilding from that earthquake is still happening today. The first priority was people s houses but now that is complete attention has turned to the historical buildings and towering above the town are the steel scaffolding that flank the remains of the castle. Inside it is being meticulously rebuilt stone-by-stone.
  The rebuilding from that earthquake is still happening today. The first priority was people's houses, but now that is complete attention has turned to the historical buildings and towering above the town are the steel scaffolding that flank the remains of the castle. Inside it is being meticulously rebuilt, stone-by-stone.

For this weekend Superenduro has been welcomed into the very heart of the town with the paddock area sitting proudly in Piazza Ferro. This is where the prologue will finish and tomorrow the final stage will also finish here.
  For this weekend, Superenduro has been welcomed into the very heart of the town, with the paddock area sitting proudly in Piazza Ferro. This is where the prologue will finish and tomorrow the final stage will also finish here.

It s been a fairly quiet day today it s a much more relaxed affair this weekend compared to the EWS race two weeks ago. As the trails dry up people were heading up to get a couple of sighting laps in but most people were just chilling enjoying the bars in the paddock and waiting for the racing to begin...
  It's been a fairly quiet day today, it's a much more relaxed affair this weekend compared to the EWS race two weeks ago. As the trails dried up people were heading up to get a couple of sighting laps in, but most people were just chilling, enjoying the bars in the paddock and waiting for the racing to begin...

This is an important sticker - once riders have signed on for the race they are given stickers for their frame fork and wheels. That means that if they want or need to change one of those components afterwards they need to get permission from the race director. They would also receive a time penalty for doing so. Any rider who was found to have changed parts illegally would be instantly disqualified. You need to have kit that you are confident will survive the weekend and it s why for example many of the top riders were avoiding some of the sketchier step transfers in the prologue as a ruined wheel could mean race over.
  This is an important sticker - once riders have signed on for the race they are given stickers for their frame, fork and wheels. That means that if they want or need to change one of those components afterwards, they need to get permission from the race director. They would also receive a time penalty for doing so. Any rider who was found to have changed parts illegally would be instantly disqualified. You need to have kit that you are confident will survive the weekend and it's why, for example, many of the top riders were avoiding some of the sketchier step transfers in the prologue, as a ruined wheel could mean race over.

The life of a privateer. Getting ready for the prologue Toby Pantling went to his van in the car park got down on his knees and started polishing his helmet.
  The life of a privateer. Getting ready for the prologue, Toby Pantling went to his van in the car park, got down on his knees and started polishing his helmet.

Up on course he was one of the handful of riders hitting the big step transfer into the finish area.
  Up on course, he was one of the handful of riders hitting the big step transfer into the finish area.

Before racing got underway a minute s silence was held for a friend of the race organisers Loris who raced the Sprint race here last year but collapsed and died when he got home afterwards. Sobering stuff indeed.
  Before racing got underway a minute's silence was held for a friend of the race organisers, Loris, who raced the Sprint race here last year, but collapsed and died when he got home afterwards. Sobering stuff indeed.

The prologue started at the top of the town in this ruined church.
  The prologue started at the top of the town in this ruined church.

Riders then left through the remains of the door and dropped down the stairs into the towns streets.
  Riders then left through the remains of the door and dropped down the stairs into the towns streets.

photo
They then faced a series of sprints and stairsets.
  They then faced a series of sprints and stairsets.

photo
Finally they hit the last triple stairset and sprinted under the Red Bull arch to the finish.
  Finally they hit the last, triple, stairset and sprinted under the Red Bull arch to the finish.

Chiara Pastore took second in the women s race tonight one second behind the winner Laura Rossin. Valentina Macheda was a second behind Pastore but lost her pedal on the first stairset losing what looks like it would have been the victory.
  Chiara Pastore took second in the women's race tonight, one second behind the winner, Laura Rossin. Valentina Macheda was a second behind Pastore, but lost her pedal on the first stairset, losing what looks like it would have been the victory.

There was a good crowd at the bottom and at least three bars to make sure they were well-beered. It seems like they take their drinking nearly as seriously as their bikes here in Gemona.
  There was a good crowd at the bottom, and at least three bars to make sure they were well-beered. It seems like they take their drinking nearly as seriously as their bikes here in Gemona.

Last year Matteo Raimondi scared a lot of the more established riders by taking a stunning holeshot at the Scopello Supermountain race. This evening he did something similar putting it all on the line to win the on the street course of the prologue.
  Last year Matteo Raimondi scared a lot of the more established riders by taking a stunning holeshot at the Scopello Supermountain race. This evening he did something similar, putting it all on the line to win the on the street course of the prologue.

Jacopo Orbassano didn t have much luck tonight just look in his left hand - that s his pedal he s holding. Behind Vittorio Gambirasio has bounced back enough from his crash in practice to try and hunt Jacopo down on the short course.
  Jacopo Orbassano didn't have much luck tonight, just look in his left hand - that's his pedal he's holding. Behind, Vittorio Gambirasio has bounced back enough from his crash in practice to try and hunt Jacopo down on the short course.

Slovenian rider Peter Mlinar managed an impressive second today and we d be willing to bet he rides in the wet a lot more than most of the Italians. He might just be one to watch tomorrow.
  Slovenian rider, Peter Mlinar managed an impressive second today and we'd be willing to bet he rides in the wet a lot more than most of the Italians. He might just be one to watch tomorrow. He also got to experience Enrico and his microphone for the first time, in the post stage interview.

There was an uncharacteristic mistake from Davide Sottocornola this evening. He didn t realise that the finish line was actually just before the mini jump not just after the final step set. He was one of the few top riders to hit the big transfer in his run but then eased off after and cruised across the line unaware of his error losing vital seconds.
  There was an uncharacteristic mistake from Davide Sottocornola this evening. He didn't realise that the finish line was actually just before the mini jump, not just after the final step set. He was one of the few top riders to hit the big transfer in his run, but then eased off after and cruised across the line unaware of his error, losing time.

I asked organiser David for a group photo of his team as they have put a lot of hard work into holding this race. Sensibly they had already headed straight for the bar after the prologue. Enrico was to hand and David wasn t giving him the option to not be in the photo...
  After the prologue I asked organiser David for a group photo of his team, as they have put a lot of hard work into holding this race. Sensibly, they had already headed straight for the bar after the prologue. Enrico was to hand, and David wasn't giving him the option to not be in the photo...

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Author Info:
mattwragg avatar

Member since Oct 29, 2006
753 articles

37 Comments
  • 31 0
 I wish I had their skill..

and balls...

and bikes..

:'( super cool guys though
  • 6 5
 I don't have the first but I do have the last 2. Some day I'll have all 3.
  • 41 0
 I used to have the middle one, but then I did a huge jump lacking the first and lost it..
  • 3 0
 need to get on this enduro thing! the wave of the future! radical ridiculous relentless and reliable RIDING!
  • 1 0
 Is it bad that I read Benstrain123's comment in a high pitched voice...
  • 20 2
 Damn that's hard core on a hardtail.
  • 3 0
 Does anyone know what brand is that hardtail?
  • 3 0
 MDE 4 trail by the looks of it
  • 2 0
 The rider is Mauro Schiavo, a friend of mine. He's racing the whole Superenduro series with his hardtail bike (MDE 4 Trail with 160mm Marzocchi 55 fork). Enduro races are quite hard on full suspended biker, but if you ride a hardtail bike they become really extreme.
There is a special ranking for hardtail bike.
  • 9 2
 enduro, or urban DH?
  • 6 0
 Prologue is normal at the superenduroserie in italy...for the crowd and good to bring the sport to the people
  • 3 6
 urban enduro
  • 6 14
flag jedras (Jun 1, 2013 at 14:49) (Below Threshold)
 So what is the difference between DH and enduro? They use lighter bikes in enduro, so they can be more efficient pedaling flat sections and going uphill. So in generall and most overall as it can be, enduro is a discipline in which they use a "downhill bike" (meaning full suspension bike and not only a bike that is used to descent) that is light and has more "flat" geometry, because they travel down, flat and uphill. That is the gist, regardless of all the details. So if it is an "urban enduro" event, as described, they should go upstairs as well. I don't see any upstairs sections, so it is "urban DH", where the only problem is that they don't really use the best bikes for it. May I suggest that "urban DH" can be done faster, safer and better on a downhill bike? ..or is it that they are showing everyone that downhill bikes are just going out of fashion these days, just like the situations of my pedaling to a spot on a downhill bike, when an XC rider overtakes me with an ironic smile?



Anyway I shall continue dreaming about some day in the future, when a mountain bike will be perfect in both downhill and uphill and not just a compromise, so there won't be the problem which bike to choose after breakfast.
  • 4 0
 And its also one sub minute stage with few seconds between top guys which compared to 20+ min of racing dont play significant role.
BTW: Bravo Mlinar!!!
  • 2 3
 Are You smilling ironicly?
  • 4 1
 if you have to ask what the difference is between DH and enduro is, then you are not ready my son.
  • 1 1
 Thank God it is not You who will prepare me.
  • 2 0
 For the sticker thing, couldn't riders just re-lace a new wheelset using the same spoke that had the stickers or change the fork and use the same lowers?
  • 1 0
 If they are seen doing that without permission then they get banned from the event! Not worth it. Generally a 1.8Kg Wheel set will live up to a weekend of this stuff without too much love, maybe the odd true. It just stops the rich taking risks on uber lightweight gear and helps reduce the disparity between those with a £2k bike and a £6K bike.
Also means the weapon of choice is the bike you'd take to the trails day in day out. I think they have the rules sorted. I hate racing against those DH boys with £8k bikes that are "better than me" because they beat me by 0.1seconds on a bike 3 times the value, and with a spares/tool collection that puts most bike shops to shame
  • 1 0
 @ jedras... Enduro essentially is a multi-stage race. The configuration of the stages vary, but most seem to involve uphill and downhill segments where only the downhill sections are timed.
  • 1 0
 I'm still having trouble grasping exactly how enduro works. Without ever having a chance to actually race one or go see one live I think it's hard to really get a feel for how the races unfold. But it is definitely a downhill/gravity oriented format more than anything else. I think the idea that enduro is an "all mountain" type of race as many people claim is a bit misleading. The riders do have to climb but if its not timed then you can't fully say its part of the 'race'. The main focus is clearly on the downhills and the courses reflect that.
  • 1 0
 Fitness definitely comes into play as the the riders must race after climbing and the downhills seem to be much longer than DH runs.
  • 2 0
 When I go out on my bike and I'm doing a 20mile ride I'll go up the hills at a manageable pace to save my energy and enjoy the downhill's, which are never DH course scary/steep. The format means if you need the pace to be fast over a 5 to 10 minute stage that is in a mostly Downhill section (the type that you still need to be pedalling not just letting go of the brakes), and you need to have the fitness to do that after covering a long distance. A out and out DHer will struggle to be fresh for the last runs of the day and also probably struggle with the length of time a high power out put required for these runs, an out and out XC rider won't be as quick as a fresh DH, but possibly be quicker on the last couple of sections when fatigue sets in. You have to be a complete rider to do well on these races
  • 3 0
 Hold on, who did it on a hard tail?!
  • 1 0
 That's the proof that all the enduro-bikes&materials is only a commercial operation Smile 160mm. at the rear? who needs that? Big Grin
  • 1 0
 ^ by that logic you can argue that any modern bicycle is only a commercial operation. threadless headsets, quick release skewers, kevlar bead tires? who needs that? Smile
  • 1 0
 Innovation is usefull but it has to be cheap or a bit more. Those enduro bikes are EXPENSIVE, who really needs carbon frames? carbon rims? 27.5 instead of 26 tyres? Come on Smile
  • 2 0
 I know. I have one.
  • 1 0
 Marzocchi seems to be the ticket. or is this the same as seeing lots of Hope parts on bikes in the UK Wink (for the record my entire kit is from royal racing)
  • 1 0
 Everybody on Marzocchies. Thank God I have bought a 2013 Marzocchi 55 for enduro.
  • 1 0
 What's the deal with these prologue stages? Do they count? Or are they just like an exhibition?
  • 3 0
 like in road racing, prologue only counts for the order of the first day. like qualifying rounds in DH, or pole position in indy
  • 1 0
 Going to be amazing for sure,cya tomorrow!!
  • 1 0
 Great shots and story, thanks.
  • 1 0
 Nice to see Marzocchi is so popular in this discipline.
  • 1 1
 Prolog BS! Lets get back into mt. Biking and ride the mountains!
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