Source: press release
Here, in summary, is what awaits the competitors in this second round of the new cycling circuit for lovers of mixed terrain.
The promoter of the circuit, together with Cristian Trippa and Davide Bonandrini, as well as the creator of the original race format, personally tracked this race, which promises to be extremely panoramic but also technical and very fun, on the home roads and the rolling hills of the Langhe. , given the presence of numerous off-road sections. The new specialty, which is practiced between asphalt and dirt road, is gathering more and more adepts, both among road riders and among bikers, among which there is a World Champion.
It is now official, in fact, that one of the icons of mountain biking, Christoph Sauser, the multiple world champion Swiss Cross Country and Marathon, will be present at the start of the Alba race.
The Langhe, with their gentle hills, enriched by the vineyards from which famous wines are born all over the world, the ancient villages and the natural sceneries that are real jewels to be discovered, will host an event with a unique and intoxicating flavor. As is this land, which has a landscape "sculpted" by the work of man that has no equal (and for this reason consecrated in June 2014 with the inscription in the UNESCO World Heritage List), made even more lovable by a kitchen rich in flavors, colors and aromas, capable of enhancing the senses.
For Gravel enthusiasts, but also for all travelers who love the beautiful country, an unmissable event is the one scheduled in this suggestive corner of Piedmont.
Franco Monchiero, this time engaged in the dual role of supervisor of the Gravel Road Series circuit and organizer of the test, wanted to give a personal and very off-road imprint to this race that takes place in his Alba, between the hills and roads that well knows.
And he has no doubts: “This course is truly Gravel. I drew it personally and tried to design a race course that best represents what this specialty must be for me… I love it ”.
Which, translated, means that in this second round of the circuit, whose race format is inspired by enduro competitions, therefore with timed special stages and free-pace transfers bound only by time control, it will have many off-road sectors, where it will not count. just pedaling but also riding the bike with the right technique and mastery on uneven and dirt roads.
That of Alba, albeit with different names, is after all an event that already has its own history. The first Gravel race in Italy was organized in La Morra (CN) and during the past two editions in Alba the race course has been refined. Because true enthusiasts are attracted to spectacular landscapes, such as that of the Langhe, but they also want something different than the granfondo road results.
“They clamored for more Gravel - explains Franco - and I wanted to please them! In the approximately 79 Km planned, therefore, there will be a lot of dirt and the technical aspect will predominate. In short, there will also be fun driving, and not just pedaling and enjoying the beautiful landscape, which will still be the other important aspect ".
The route, in fact, winds up and down the hills, characterized by short stretches and never really "bad", even if at times challenging, and will cross several estates within vineyards with important cellars, where precious wines are born, such as Barolo or Barbaresco and other pearls of Piedmontese food and wine.
But before dedicating yourself to the thousand delights of the table, perhaps taking advantage of the opportunity to discover the Piole, the ancient taverns of the Langhe, or the renowned country trattorias, as well as the restaurants, often starred, that have made this land so loved by gourmets, it is desirable to earn them on your bike.
It will not be easy, but neither impossible and certainly within the reach of many enthusiasts who already practice or want to approach the Gravel world.
Three Special Stages (timed sections that determine the final classification) are scheduled, various and different from each other, but all to be driven with a technical coefficient that meets the expectations of the most hardened specialists and, we are sure, there will be no shortage of bikers who do not disdain to alternate the fat tires with the narrower ones usually used in this type of races, however by regulation practicable with any type of bike.
After all, the first test of di Castellania was won by a certain Martino Fruet, whom mountain bike enthusiasts know well and by the equally famous Rebecca Garibaldi testimonial Specialized Italia.
In the Alba race, the starting grid will be enriched by one of the absolute icons of the Mountainbike, namely Christoph Sauser.
The multiple world champion of Swiss Cross Country and Marathon, recently runner-up at the Cape Epic together with Jaroslav Kulhavy, now in the new role of Specialized Brand Ambassador, has accepted a new challenge and will now take part in Sunday's race aboard his Diverge, while on Saturday 10th he will be available to meet his fans and autograph the number plates.
The start and finish area and the related paddock area will be in San Casciano, in a beautiful green area on the outskirts of Alba, where the sponsors' exhibition village will be set up as early as Saturday 10, the day scheduled for the reconnaissance of the route and the tests. Specials.
In addition to the tracks of the race course, the organization has also prepared gps tracks with alternative routes, including refreshments, which can be followed by those accompanying them, even by bike, to go to the highlights of the race.
One more opportunity, for all cycling enthusiasts and not only, to come to Alba and discover a unique territory and, why not, to get closer to an equally fascinating specialty of two wheels.
Registration can be done on the Gravel Road Series website
