2016 Superenduro Round 4: Santa Caterina Day 1

Jul 29, 2016 at 14:42
by Ben Winder  



The final round of the Italian Enduro Series – Superenduro is upon us, for this round we head to the very north of Italy in the province of Sondrio to Santa Caterina Valfurva. Where we are surrounded by peaks that reach heights of over 3000m, big mountains. The top of stage 2 starts just shy of 3000m.

Santa Caterina is famous for many things, it has world renowned skiing and hosted the World Ski Championships in 2005 (among other events.) It’s also extremely famous for road riding, with the Gavia pass on their doorstep. Its mountain biking has been kept pretty quiet in the past, until now.

As we’re in a national park, it’s not so easy to go and build a bike park, but that’s also not what the locals want. They have a fantastic trail network of totally natural trails, which are made up of walking tracks, old access paths and routes that were formed during the World Wars.

The race is still on for the overall with a few names battling to take the crown, which will make for exciting racing come Sunday. There are 5 stages for this round, (Stage 1 and 5 are on the same trail) the first will be pedalled to, then a gondola will take the riders up most of the mountain but they will still face a 40-minute push at high altitude to the top of stage 2. The rest of the day riders will stay out on the hill and use pedal power to reach the rest of the stages.

A stunning lake at the top of stage 2.
A stunning lake at the top of stage 2.

This famous road cycling climb. Gavia pass makes up part of the liaisons.
This famous road cycling climb. Gavia pass makes up part of the liaisons.

Big impressive mountains all around.
Big impressive mountains all around.

Which way back to town then
Which way back to town?

One of the contenders to take the overall Marco Milivinti working on his bike first thing this morning.
One of the contenders to take the overall, Marco Milivinti working on his bike first thing this morning.

The pits are beginning to take shape.
The pits are beginning to take shape.

To the trails
To the trails!

Only one gondola this weekend and that s part of the way up to stage 2.
Only one gondola this weekend, and it'll only take riders part of the way up to stage 2.

Images for 2016 Superenduro Round 4 Santa Caterina Day 1

An absolutely stunning Chalet.
An absolutely stunning Chalet.

With views out of the ginormous peaks.
With views out to the ginormous peaks.

Sunny Valley.
Sunny Valley.

Back to the bike race
Back to the bike race...

After the 40 minute hike the weary riders drop into stage 2 at the highest point of the race just under 3000m.
After the 40-minute hike, the weary riders drop into stage 2 at the highest point of the race, just under 3000m.

Further down the stage forms some amazing flowy singletrack.
Further down the stage forms some amazing flowy singletrack.

But up top it s raw rugged and rocky.
But up top, it's raw, rugged and rocky.

A crazy bit of exposure just meters away from the start of stage 2.
A crazy bit of exposure just meters away from the start of stage 2.

A pretty epic ridgeline.
A pretty epic ridgeline.

Images for 2016 Superenduro Round 4 Santa Caterina Day 1

Puncture after puncture. The terrain here is pretty ruthless on the bike the rocks claimed a fair few punctures.
Puncture after puncture. The terrain here is pretty ruthless on the bike, with the rocks claiming a fair few punctures.

Images for 2016 Superenduro Round 4 Santa Caterina Day 1

Images for 2016 Superenduro Round 4 Santa Caterina Day 1

Pockets of sunlight lighting up the freshly carved sections of trail.
Pockets of sunlight illuminating the freshly carved sections of trail.

Big mountains.
Big mountains.

It s pretty special here there is a trail loop that this race touches on but you can go for miles and miles on alpine singletrack high up in the mountains.
It's pretty special here, there is a trail loop that this race touches on, but you can go for miles and miles on alpine singletrack, high up in the mountains.

Super fun sections of trail here.
Super fun sections of trail here.

To get between stage 3 and 4 initially you follow up a road climb which eventually drops the riders into one of the most amazing liaison stages we ve seen. Just snaking its way through some incredible scenery.
To get between stage 3 and 4, initially you follow a road climb which eventually drops the riders into one of the most amazing liaison stages we've seen. Just snaking its way through some incredible scenery.

Liaison.
Liaison.

 and even more epic liaison.
...and even more epic liaison.

Bellissimo.
Bellissimo.

Stage 1 5 drops through some fast technical wooded trails.
Stage 1/5 drops through some fast, technical wooded trails.

Images for 2016 Superenduro Round 4 Santa Caterina Day 1

Davide Sottocornola.
Davide Sottocornola.

That s all for today see you tomorrow.
That's all for today, see you tomorrow.


MENTIONS: @Superenduro / @BWinder



Author Info:
BWinder avatar

Member since Nov 10, 2015
76 articles

10 Comments
  • 3 0
 Not sure why you were downvoted but it looks interesting,not pretty but interesting...
  • 1 1
 I agree. Three podiums for an ugly bike. Something works!
  • 3 0
 My first dh bike was a second hand Ancillotti and I still have in my memory mr. Ancillotti caring my bike as I was a pro.
Back in 2009 three juniors were brought by Ancillotti team to the dh scene... Two are well known now and Petrucci is this year dh italian champion!!!!

www.pinkbike.com/photo/3346120
  • 2 0
 Just to remember that someone called Wyn Masters Brook McDonald and George Brannigan were all Ancillotti riders...
  • 7 0
 Wow! Amazing trails! Beautiful place. I agree with the locals. Great pics!
  • 5 0
 Just stunning. How good would it be to live there. Instead, I'm in Pyonyang under Kim Jong Un's brutal leadership.
  • 1 0
 @Joebro1995: won't you be imprisoned for that post?
  • 2 1
 @jamesbrant: Correct, it is very risky. If the leader finds out, he will harvest my organs to use in a desperate attempt to bring the late, magnificent, Kim Jong Ill back to life.
  • 4 1
 IT'S A BIRD... IT'S A PLANE...IT'S SUPERENDURO!!!!







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