Source: press release
As scheduled, at 12:30 on Sunday 26 July the downhill marathon of the Natisone Valleys: the Matadown.
The numbers of the race to remember to understand how demanding it can be are the length of 11 km and the altitude difference of 1550 m.
The fluctuating weather conditions that kept the organizers and participants in suspense were certainly the masters in the morning, given the storms of the previous night and the cold wind that accompanied the bikers along the ascent to the top did nothing but reinforce this concern.
It was enough to hear the liberating trumpet sound that started the descent from the top of Matajur to Savogna to dispel any doubts and start a splendid race that in this edition presented some news, first of all that of the race format inspired by the Red Bull Fox Hunt, race race in Ireland for various editions.
Always starting in heats, but this time, in pursuit of a "fox" with the task of overcoming her and reaching the finish line before her. To cover the hard task of chased, one for each battery, there were Francesco and Claudio Remoto, champions of their respective categories in the Triveneto Enduro Championship, who carried out their task perfectly.
Not a few were the mechanical failures that, in such a long journey, affected many athletes, making the travel times oscillate from the 28:47 of Francesco Remoto to the times higher than the hour of the latest arrivals.
After the race, the day continued with the usual awards for the three categories, Under 18 Over 18 and Female, and with refreshments enlivened by the DJ set.
The event, organized by Vallimpiadi with the support of Asd Maglia Nera, gave all participants a day that will surely remain etched in the memory for a long time both for the type of race and for the beauty of the places. So see you next year.
In summary, the Matadown can be summed up in these simple words: ascent, descent, effort, sweat ... fun.
Matadown 2015 - Promo from Let's Talk! average on Vimeo.
In Savogna, in the wonderful Natisone Valleys, in the province of Udine, the 3rd edition of the MATADOWN will start. Non-competitive event characterized by a spectacular mass-start, 11km of single track and 1550m of altitude difference between meadows, woods, and breathtaking views.
The motto “Not only for downhillers” is inspired by the teasing exchanged between the participants of the first edition at the sight of the exhausted faces of the downhillers arrived at the finish line. Not that the enduro riders were physically better off, they just started off psychologically more prepared for what they would have to face.
In fact, the "MATA" is not a simple downhill race, it is the quintessence of the pioneering spirit of enduro, understood in its first meaning of endurance, or resistance. In fact, it begins with a rocky section of considerable difficulty that only the most skilled are able to ride on their bikes, then as often happens in this kind of specialty, the path becomes particularly wide to facilitate overtaking, here the ability to choosing the lines and managing the speed becomes fundamental. The next section winds entirely in single track through the woods, where the race continues, alternating fast descents with challenging and burning raises that literally “explode your legs”.
Technical preparation, physics and the ability to withstand fatigue will certainly be tested throughout the course of an event that is, above all else, an exciting sport party.
vallimpiadi.it/index.php/matadown/
