Source: press release
30 April / 01 May - Round # 1 - Spiazzi di Gromo (BG)
21/22 May - Round # 2 - Frabosa Soprana (CN)
25/26 June - Round # 3 - Pila (AO)
27/28 August - Round # 4 - Bormio (SO)
24/25 September - Round # 5 Final - Santo Stefano d'Aveto (GE)
The calendar of the Gravitalia National Circuit 2016 has finally been made official by the Italian Cycling Federation with the publication on its portal. It is organized from mid-spring to early autumn, for a total of 5 stages, to which the Italian Championship is added, for a total of 6 events covered by Gravitalia. The circuit involves some of the best locations of the previous seasons and a prestigious new entry, covering 4 different regions, which become 5 considering the Italian DH Championship of Abetone (PT).
Round # 1 of the Gravitalia National Circuit 2016 will be held in Spiazzi di Gromo, a place very popular with lovers of Gravity disciplines, including DH racers, who make it one of their favorite training destinations. Located in the province of Bergamo, one of the largest catchment areas for the Italian DH, it offers a varied and fun track, with technical sections, guided sections and many jumps and artificial banks. Spiazzi di Gromo made its debut in the 2015 Gravitalia National Circuit, enjoying great success despite the unfavorable weather. The perfect location to inaugurate the 2016 season.
For the second stage of the circuit we will move to the province of Cuneo, more precisely to Frabosa Soprana, another locality that took part in the circuit for the first time in 2015 and is preparing to become one of the reference locations on the national scene of the Downhill, thanks to its extremely fast new school track, with some pedaled sections that make the difference at an athletic level and full of steep and technical sections that put the athletes' driving skills to the test.
The third round of the Gravitalia National Circuit will be hosted by a location that needs no introduction. Already stage of two UCI DH World Cup events, two Italian Championships Downhill and several seasons of iXS European Downhill Cup, Pila, pearl of the Valle d'Aosta, is one of the most famous Italian resorts in the environment of Downhill world. Its layout, designed by Corrado Herin over ten years ago and constantly updated, continues to be a reference for variety, pace and technicality.
After the July break dedicated to the Italian Championship Downhill, at the end of August the Gravitalia National Circuit returns to the competition fields with the Round#4 of Bormio, the famous location set among the spectacular peaks of the province of Sondrio. Bormio has been part of the Gravitalia National Circuit since 2014 and its track, located on the slopes of Bormio 2000 and specially designed for the Gravitalia competitions, is constantly evolving, to offer athletes a fun and suitable route for the ever-increasing technical level of the members . The open spaces and the priceless view offer breathtaking panoramas.
For the second consecutive year the final of the Gravitalia National Circuit will be held in the mountains of Santo Stefano d'Aveto, a picturesque and fascinating town between Liguria and Emilia Romagna, between the province of Genoa to which the Municipality belongs and that of Piacenza which it includes part of the territory on which the race course unfolds. A hard, extremely technical and demanding path, which in last season's edition met with unanimous success precisely for these characteristics. Here the rich awards ceremony of the Gravitalia National Circuit 2016 will take place, at the end of the race, in the characteristic Piazza del Popolo in the center of Santo Stefano d'Aveto where the majestic Malaspina-Doria castle stands out.
Get into it with the preparation and training, it will be another epic season and, as always, may the best win ... but everyone have fun!
