The father of Black Snake knows how to entertain lovers of two knobby wheels, the newborn idea stopped for the second consecutive year in Sardinia, Sant'Antioco. The hospitality and passion of the Sardinian municipality with ASD I due Leoni made the excellent success of the event possible, with Marco Melandri, Paola Pezzo and Mirko Pirazzoli also present on the starting grid.
The Format
An online race and whoever arrives first wins, the length, around 20 km, is perfectly balanced with the hardness of the route: steep and bumpy climbs, natural obstacles, false floors, flat sections and aggressive descents all seasoned with the magic of the race.
The race format does not include power stages, transfers or downhill-only stages, electric is no longer perceived as a substitute for traditional mountain biking but becomes an established discipline, different from what we are used to seeing.
The downhill is no longer the focal point of the competition, the electric assist is always the protagonist but technique and athletic preparation will become increasingly important to win the victory.
During this edition there was no shortage of overtaking, sometimes nature gave you the space and the possibilities to finish the action quickly, other times you stalled, keeping your eyes well beyond the competitor in front of you and when you found the space you engaged the Boost and you launched yourself into overtaking. I am sure, as already seen, that this recipe will produce exciting battles with explosive rhythms in the coming years.
At the end of the race we asked Marco Melandri what he thought.
Marco Melandri: “Technical race, I remembered it being easier, the jungle was beautiful. The descents were technical, the last one was fast with some hidden rocks and I had a lot of fun. I like the online format, it's training, the technical climbs are cool, then with the fact that the climbs and descents aren't too long and are one after the other, you do a whole hour. Training, fun and rewarding. Well done Pippo, well done everyone."
In the afternoon the children's race started, right in the park next to the Pump Track. Well yes, the municipality of Sant' Antioco also has a Pump Track, open to anyone, located on the seafront in front of the wonderful panorama of the lagoon. An area used by Mirko Pirazzoli for the Baby Bike: a moment of school, lessons and games, for children and teenagers.
During the second day we had the opportunity to join Paola Pezzo, godmother of the event, and she happily expressed approval for the race route.
The awards ceremony brings the curtain down on E Bike Day, a weekend dedicated to MTB: on Saturday E Day Race, on Sunday the last stage of the Sardinia Cup Xc Circuit and for non-competitors a tourist cycle route along the coasts of the island. In short, a weekend full of fun, views and good food, for mountain bike lovers and their companions, not to be missed.
