Jerome Clementz Rides Secret Tuscany

Often Tuscany is better known for the classic scenes in films and cities such as Firenze (Florence) and it's base as the start of all art since the 1700's. However the fact that it has mountains and some of the coolest all year trail areas is overlooked by most people. Jerome Clementz, Ben Cruz and Andrea Bruno, basically some of the best Enduro riders around wanted to come try the trails and see whats going on a few hours further down the coast from the area around Finale Ligure, which is already well known.


The trail areas are located right by the coast giving some amazing views. The area around Punta Ala is known as the Bandite. Massa Marittima is the other trail area located close by, with a slightly different mix of trails. The areas have already had some top Super Enduro races taking place over the years. The guys though wanted to try more of the trails and see what else you can find.

The nature of the trails is quite unusual as they are all natural and were created by the passing of pack horses through the woods carrying charcoal which was produced for centuries in the hills and mountains around the area. The horses seemed to know what they were doing and always chose lines down the slopes that today have translated into awesome mountain bike trails.


Jerome and Andrea pass through the ancient landscape which are covered in forest and cork woods (where you can get the stuff to make wine bottle corks), olive trees, and the odd Estruscan tomb if you know where to look. All the riders where very specific in the fact that they wanted to try as much as possible in the time available, and just ride...

The amount of single track available is significant, in total more than 200km are available, with enough variety to keep the toughest riders happy. The nature of the trails is that of Hard Enduro through to XC with one or two DH trails close by for good measure. The level changes are up to 600 metres and the climate is perfect with spring and autumn being the best time to ride. The winter time, which by northern European standards is not a winter, more like spring, gives temperatures around 12 degrees and quite low rainfall.


Andrea Bruno knows the area well and has ridden a few Superenduros here. On the top of Poggio Sentinella is the start of two of the best trails that finish by the sea. The trails are in excellent condition and are maintained and checked the whole year, with the area being national parkland, bikers are welcome and have rights to use trails.


Ben ripping round a corner on The Sentinal.


Ben Cruz is stoked on what he found and was pushing hard where possible.


Andrea knew the trails well and was able to play more than when he was last here racing.


In the area around the beach of Cala Violina that leads down from Poggio Sentinella is where there are numerous trails that end right by the beach. Jerome noticed a small "cliff" and thought it would be fun to scream down to the calm waters edge.


Jerome, who was not sporting his XX1 system and made no mention of it one week before it's release was hammering down the trails as he said, "...at 50 percent." When we were a group, but then when the three riders had the trails to themselves.... all we could see was dust.


Despite the fact that all the trails are natural and enduro a few people have made an alteration or two for a bit of fun. Jerome thought it would be fun to jump The "MT" Gap, as close as possible to Ben...


Watching Jerome, Ben, and Andrea ride was quite an eye opener. All three had amazing style but still approached things differently. On Rock-OH there is a small drop which these guys hit hard.


Further down the trail before the rocky section Jerome was able to slide out a few corners and give us the best show on earth.


The Idea of the trip was to ride together and feed off each others energy and experience, it was a friendly atmosphere with no riding pressure, no training, just enjoy the views and ride hard core new trails. The two trail area centres have excellent guide services and everything you need to keep the wheels rolling, so no-one got lost or had a mechanical.


Putting three guys of this calibre together and telling them they can have fun is not that usual. Normally they are focused on training and racing, they were often chatting comparing notes and taking in the views...


In total there was 10 of us and we rode 6 trails over 2 days. Each morning by the cars getting together to plan the day ahead.


We decided to use the pickup for a bit of shuttling on Rock-Oh as it was so good it was worth another ride down...


Ben Cruz hiting Rock-Oh with speed on the last run down.


Accommodation was right by the beach in biker friendly cabins. Ben was frequently in the sea and noted that it wasn't even cold...


Learning Enduro riding skills normally has to be done on the trails but fortunately for the guys at Massa Vecchia, one of the bike centres,is a pump track which Andrea even built a special bike for.


Infact it seems with the pump track that it can really help develop the riding style...


Andrea was so enthusiastic that he got very tired after being on the track non stop for at least 2 hours. Taking into account that normally it is possible to last maybe half an hour before you need to rest, emphasised how fit these guys are.


Despite the riding the guys took time out to pose by a few jumps to show the trail builder that they really had ridden there. The idea was incase no-one believed Marco (the trail builder) when he was telling people about who had seen and used his creations.


After day one by the coast the crew headed inland 20 km's to Massa Marittima to hit The Canyon and the Free Ride trail. The riders where quite litterally agasp at what they found. Wall rides this good in a natural trail... and 15 of them back to back...


These wall rides are preceded by a super flowing section that can be taken at high speed. All riders were hitting the trail at top speed, with Fillipo one of the trail centre guides showing how it was done.


The Canyon, was created by a river passing through the valley and it formed these berms that are 4 metres high and over the years the trail has been gradually cleaned out and formed into one of the best most flowing locations you could possibly wish for. Jerome was impressed as he carved down the trail and showed how high it was possible to go.


On the Free Ride trail all of the riders were finding lines with Ben and his aggressive style really showing through.


The ride down the Free Ride trail was fast and flowing with all of the crew enjoying the speed and corners. The area around Massa Marittima is really well known with Scott Bikes often doing their winter testing and training there. Nino Schuter is a top world champion XC rider and trains frequently here as there are so many different trails to choose from. Many of Scott's trail bikes are trail tested in the area.


Another amazing view, along trail number 36. Doing a downhill trail with a view like that is quite hard as the guys kept stopping to take pictures.


Ben Cruz came along with Jerome and was really not expecting what he found, in total over a few days the guys rode six trails multiple times.


However Jerome was not one to be left behind and decided after the ride to try a wall with 15 foot drops on both sides, he also did a wheelie along it... was not exactly for the faint hearted. Despite it having a perfect enduro trail surface.


Jerome and Ben on the way back to the airport were determined to see some cultural heritage, so we stopped off in Pisa to see the leaning tower.

However it doesn't end here, whilst we were taking serious photos, we managed to grab a few behind the scenes shots that showed what we got up to.


Getting around fast with an Subaru STI... Ben was not a very good passenger... here we can see him before he felt sick.


Andrea following Jerome down the cliff...


Jerome having fun...rest of us having a heart attack.


Every evening we ate amazingly at Bar Mare in Puntala resort and at Massa Vecchia in Massa Marittima. Jerome mentioned he already knew the food would be great before he even got here. He wasn't wrong, Thanks go to Ersnt Hutmacher and Thomas Daddi for their hospitality.


For many years there has been an old Cannondale XC bike hanging in the porch and despite the mockary by friends when asked if, "Do you think anyone will steal it?" It's true calling in life was made clear when Jerome spotted it and wanted to sit on it and see what it was like, v-brakes and all...

Trip Video thanks to Herve...

http://www.zapiks.fr/ride-en-toscane-1.html

Trip information

Location: Punta Ala and Massa Marittima, Alta Maremma, Southern Tuscany, Italy.

Nearest Airports: Pisa (1hour) Roma (1.5hours), Florence (1.5 hours).

Trails ridden: Trail number 3, The Sentinel, Rock-OH, Trail 36, Massa Marittima Freeride, The Canyon and Massa Vecchia Pump track.

Bike centres website: http://www.i-mtb.com

Trail information: I-mtb trail area pages

Where to stay bike that is bike friendly with all services you need: http://www.i-mtb.com/visit/