Superenduro Sprint 1, San Bartolomeo al Mare

This weekend saw the Italian Superenduro race series kick off with 2011’s first sprint race. If it’s grey or raining outside your window, you should probably look away about now...
Someone must have been saying all the right things to the people who run the weather on the Italian Riviera this week. Perfect blue skies, dusty and loose trails and it was sunny and warm, but not so hot that people boiled in their riding gear. Nothing short of perfect. Such amazing conditions were met with an equally amazing turnout, a series record of 400 riders took to the hills above Diano Marina to compete in the season opener.


If you’re not familiar with the superenduro format, it’s pretty simple. Riders are timed over three special stages and the fastest combined times win. Those stages are best described as mini downhill runs. They’re mostly downhill, with technical and high speed sections, but they don’t tend to use the uglier features on the hill so it’s accessible to more people. The catch is that riders need to climb to the stages first. This means about 1,000m of vertical split into three climbs... Plenty of time is given for those climbs, so they can be quite leisurely and most people have a bit of time at the top to find their lungs again and get ready to enjoy the special stages (or go balls out for the win).


It all feels like a big event too, not just a race. As well as getting the basics right, like fun tracks to ride, the timing works and people know when their runs are and where they’re going, they go beyond that. There’s the impressive pit/start area in the heart of the town, the little stand at the top of the hill giving riders food and water, the pasta party after where the riders can wind down with decent food and a drink... Lots of thought and nice little touches clearly go into the organization. Even if you’re not there for a podium it’s a great day out.


Following on from his win at the enduro race at San Remo a couple of weeks ago, 2010 series winner Andrea Bruno was back on the top step of the podium. The second step was taken by downhill world cup veteran Marco Milvinti and rounding out the top three was Bruno Zanchi. Taking the win in the juniors was local pinner Gianluca Vernassa, smashing it by over thirty seconds and grabbing a spot in the top ten overall. Marianna Uttini took the win among the women.


Check out the full results.

Their photos from the day are also up on their Flickr account.


The next round of the series is another Sprint race at Pogno, Novara 3 April. Check out their website for more details www.superenduromtb.com. A big thanks to all the guys at Superenduro, Riviera Freeride and Argentina Bike for their incredible hospitality.

All photos courtesy of www.superenduromtb.com.

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Racing and Events Superenduro