Superenduro 2016: Round One, Massa Marittima - Saturday Practice by BWinder

Another absolutely stunning day in Massa, with blue skies all day and the trails were running perfectly. Racing is all on Sunday here, so most riders took Saturday as 'rest' day and only rode in the morning to keep fresh for the full six stage race tomorrow.

The afternoon consisted of a registration, rider’s briefing, a press conference, a track walk of Stage 6, which is a stage through the town, and also music and food in the town square.

As the sun has set on the second day here at Massa Marittima there's a real buzz for the racing to start. Everyone is super excited to get stuck in, most of all Enrico Guala who cannot wait, the only way to describe him is like a child on Christmas eve.

The morning light warms up the chilly cobbled streets.

This place is absolutely stunning.

Back to the racing and it was a bit of a slow start today as no one wanted to tire themselves out for Sunday's racing.

Valentina Macheda was smiling all day, loving the trails, which are slightly more forgiving than her local tracks.

The uplift wagons are loaded full of bikes.

Francesco Guidi of The Trail Brothers (Massa Marittima trail builders) was helping run some of the uplifts today giving us the horns as he came past.

Long windy dirt roads to the top of the stages.

This is one super fast section of track but some riders managed to throw a little bit of style in the mix too.

Valentina Macheda pinning it through the top tight trees.

Some super flowy sections of trail, that are totally flat out.

Alberto is one of the key members of the Superenduro and also was our media shuttle driver for the day.

More amazing natural features, which make for great sketchy senders.

Alex Lupato looked very confident on the bike today.

This section of trail is super cool, a natural tunnel of greenery.

A bit of wildlife and a lost saddle in the middle of the trail.

Manuel Ducci was on form today, looking really quick.

The sun was out for most of the day, fingers crossed it stays like it for race day, and the rain keeps away.

Perfectly sculpted turns around the rocks, which were used to build the cathedral in Massa Marittima.

Riders registration.

A couple of excited Italians for Stage 6 track walk.

Stage 6 is a short stage through the streets Massa Marittima and finishes just outside the cathedral.

Quite a relaxed track walk from most, but let's not be fooled the cobbled streets will hurt more than the soft dirt up on the trails.

Alex Lupato looked like he was out for an afternoon stroll rather than looking at the track, but he's definitely one to watch for tomorrow.

The riders briefing was in a pretty amazing spot.

Press conference.

Enrico Guala looking very excited about tomorrow's race.

As the sunsets on Massa for the second time we bid it farewell and look forward to tomorrows exciting racing.

MENTIONS: @BWinder

Author Info:

BWinder

Member since Nov 10, 2015
76 articles

11 Comments

endurocat (Mar 20, 2016 at 9:01)

Those trails look awesome!

dirtnapped (Mar 20, 2016 at 9:55)

Is that an e-bike in the 3rd to last pic? Shutter shutter...

teedubya (Mar 20, 2016 at 10:38)

Yep. What's that doing there?

fercho25 (Mar 20, 2016 at 20:13)

I do not completely hate the hand guards.

justgivemeanavailableusername (Mar 21, 2016 at 3:08)

So... no race after the practice? Where's the follow up? EDIT: found it, sorry, for some reason, it didn't show up on homepage.

jonokonko (Mar 20, 2016 at 6:56)

What's superenduro?

32 5

ithomas (Mar 20, 2016 at 8:25)

It's enduro, but superer

Diag (Mar 20, 2016 at 8:54)

Italian enduro championship

draftsman (Mar 21, 2016 at 0:45)

E-Bikes on Superenduro?..

alexlivorno (Mar 21, 2016 at 13:41)

very nice location! (Y)

TucsonDon (Mar 20, 2016 at 20:27)

Beautiful pics