There are places that mark the passages and often dictate the course for years to come. Sauze d'Oulx seems destined for this role.
It was one of the first places to believe in the potential of enduro, the first to organize a two-day event destined to go down in the annals of the discipline. When everyone was talking about bike parks, the Susa Valley already had the concept of an Alpin Bike Resort, a vision that many destinations have since embraced. Today, it's increasingly clear that the bike park concept only makes sense when inserted into a broader project, where cycling becomes the fulcrum around which to build a place's identity.
Then came the Enduro des Nations. Sauze was the first to bring to Italy riders who were true icons at the time. Remember Briana Lopez? The Athertons? And many other protagonists who helped build the legend of this place.
Today Sauze has once again drawn a line, raising the bar or perhaps simply moving it in another direction.
A different Sauze
Historically, Sauze was a destination closely tied to its ski lifts. This year, however, Fabio Fina and his staff have decided to completely shake things up.
The result? A muscular Sauze, with over 1600 meters of elevation gain to tackle on your own two feet.
But that's not all. The face of trails has also changed.
People often wonder how it's possible to offer something new in places that are home to iconic, well-known, and established trails. Sauze found the answer by going back to its roots: fresh tracks, loose terrain, no obsessive pursuit of erosion control, no transformation into artificial flow trails, but a reinterpretation of the most authentic "ride feel."
A course designed exclusively for the race and destined, once the event is over, to return to nature. Once the dust has settled and the barriers have been removed, the bike park will return to its usual configuration.
Thus a completely different Karamel was born, a PS2 traced in the old fashioned way using the meadows of the tracks and a third special stage which instead maintained a more well-known line.
The return of authentic enduro
What came out of it?
An exciting race. A true enduro race.
An event that revisits the concepts of exploration, experimentation, and the constant search for new interpretations of the territory. This is precisely what emerged during the presentation of the new format, when Guala, reinterpreting a famous quote by Tracy Moseley, emphasized how the beauty of enduro was precisely the opportunity to challenge yourself with different routes each time: in terms of concept, terrain, difficulty, and characteristics.
Sometimes physical, sometimes pedaled, sometimes extremely technical.
And sometimes just… Sauze.
The race
Naturally, in Sauze the race was serious.
I know something about it too.
After over 23 minutes of racing, I finished in fourth place, just over a second and a half behind third and about two seconds behind second. As they say, Gennesi, Germanetto, and I butted heads all day, while Modesti, with his usual false modesty—pardon the pun—ran his own race.
Personal events aside, the competition confirmed the excellent health of the discipline, the growth of the youth sector, and the enthusiasm that is returning to a national format that has been missing for some time.
Credit also goes to the regional circuits that have continued to work hard over the years, maintaining the movement's high technical level. And speaking of which: after the work done by Superenduro, it's now up to the 4Enduro guys to continue energizing the Alto Piemonte movement.
The results
Among the Opens, victory went to Dal Pian, ahead of two Unders: Petrolillo of Pedale Canellese and Aurame of Calice Bike.
Among the Juniors, Emanuele Baglietto, also representing Pedale Canellese, won.
In the women's field, a thrilling battle unfolded between Camilla Martinet and Giulia Mitidieri. Martinet emerged victorious by just over three seconds after a fiercely contested day. Emilie Polo finished third, while Clarissa Carzolio finished fourth. After failing to make it in the first special, she bounced back by winning the following stages.
E-bikes also had their protagonist
Among the protagonists of the weekend was also Alessandro Levra, winner of the E-Enduro category.
This result deserves special mention because it comes at a time when performance is often attributed solely to technology. Levra has demonstrated that, even in the world of e-bikes, the rider continues to make the difference.
Despite using a standard engine, without any particular customizations or dedicated developments, it has managed to establish itself thanks above all to its driving qualities, its ability to interpret terrain and a speed that goes well beyond the simple support of the electric assistance.
A success that reminds us that enduro, whether electric or mountain bike, remains first and foremost a discipline based on technique, sensitivity, and the ability to read the trail. Bikes evolve, but ultimately, it's the rider's hands and mind that make the difference.
Young people and the future of the movement
Perhaps the best note of the weekend came from the youngest.
They are numerous, motivated, stylish and drive hard.
Thanks to the work of the MTB schools spread across the region, you no longer see just a few kids following the teams. A real movement has developed: kids who get to know each other, meet at events, grow together, and learn to experience the sport as part of a community.
A wonderful school of itinerant life.
Perhaps it is above all for this reason that Superenduro has a duty to grow, consolidate and continue the reconstruction process begun this year.
Towards Santo Stefano
Now there is one last appointment left.
After Fabio Fina and his Sauze, it will be the turn of Alessandro Gennesi and his Santo Stefano.
Anyone who knows him knows exactly what this means. Alessandro is a tireless machine: while he's organizing the final round of Superenduro, he's already thinking about 2027 and many other projects.
After all, anyone who has had the chance to race with him knows this well.
Gennesi is unstoppable.
And the final stage will certainly live up to expectations.
