After the August break, it's back to racing here in Italy. The Superenduro team have headed to Pila, in the shadow of Mont Blanc, to kick off the second half of the season with one of their epic Supermountain races. Pila is a resort that's always been popular as a day-destination with the Morzine crowd as it's just a quick jaunt through the Mont Blanc tunnel and then up the hill. It's also a regular destination on the European downhill race scene, even hosting a World Cup round back in 2005. For this kind of mass-start, marathon downhill racing (just to be clear: this isn't an enduro race as it's over a single, long descent, not a series of timed special stages) it's a natural home and the race had to be shortened to 'just' 900m of vertical descending. They decided 2,200m might be a bit too much for some people as they are trying to attract a wider range of riders to these races.
Apologies for the lack of details, names today, but with the steam-powered internet here in the mountains it's been tough just trying to get the photos up tonight.
www.superenduromtb.com
Pitty the cut the course to 900 m vertical though. My opinion is that it makes it even less attractive! I wouldn't drive 5h to get a 20 min ride, especially if I could get 40-45 min instead.
Is the race set in 2 runs like on a Maxiavalanche or is it a single ride?
For the next race I'll give u the roadbike handlebar :-)