Source: press release
A thrilling race full of twists and a territory that shows its full potential were the ingredients for the success of this great 2016 Superenduro circuit final.
The last stage of this hard-fought Superenduro powered by SRAM 2016 season has just ended in S.Caterina Valfurva, in the mountains and valleys of the Stelvio National Park.
The Valtellinese Marco Milivinti (Team GB Rifar Racing) and the Swedish - naturalized Finalese - Louise Paulin (Team Airoh ION Santacruz) climb the top step of the podium and become the new Superenduro champions, after a really complicated and unpredictable race. Just like in 2014, the year before the Superenduro circuit stopped, these two very fast drivers are confirmed as the man and woman to beat again in 2017.
Santa Caterina Valfurva Superenduro powered by SRAM from Superenduro TV on Vimeo.
S.Caterina Valfurva was an epic race and given the severe conditions of the track due to the rain, uncertain and fought until the last corner.
From the evening before departure, when the weather forecast gave a large disturbance in transit right over the Valtellina valleys, it was understood that the next day would be a very hard day for everyone and so it was. It is a must to completely redesign the race as high altitude, lifts and storms certainly do not get along.
The temperature dropped to such an extent that on Saturday night even snow made its appearance at just 2.500 meters above sea level. Considering that the start of PS2 was at 3.000m, we understand the real need to revolutionize the race also for safety reasons. This was countered by the experience of the Superenduro staff combined with the efficient local organizational machine of the Stelvio Natural Trail Park which made it possible to plan a new lap with the cancellation of two special stages, while maintaining a high level of the test and a sporting fairness at the height of a Circuit final.
After a Saturday of tests with sun and breathtaking views of the glaciers and the surrounding peaks, teams and riders were therefore literally catapulted into another reality, made of mud, wet roots and stones, completely revolutionized trajectories and passages, forced to start over. all over again with evaluations on the choice of tires and settings of their bikes, without having any reference from the previous days.
All this in addition to the many falls, punctures and mechanical troubles, added further suspense and sporting tension, with the teams and mechanics glued to the monitors to wait for their riders to leave the PS and evaluate any delays or trends based on the detected time. of the race.
The race soon proved to be a fight on the last corner in virtually all categories.
The absolute male went to Marco Milivinti who with a really constant race got the better of an equally fast Pesenti Marcello (Team Airoh ION Santacruz) trailing by only 10sec and Martino Fruet (Team Lapierre Trentino Alé) who finished third at 25sec .
“Here in S.Caterina I started immediately with too many mistakes already in the first Special Stage and this forced me to run in recovery but I believed in it until the end and the result arrived. I'm really satisfied today it was very complicated and anything could really happen ”. - Marco Milivinti.
Alex Lupato (Team Cingolani Trek) unlucky in PS3 (only 48th) but very fast in PS1 and PS5 (first in both special stages) closes only in seventh position. The points earned still allow him to conquer the second place in the overall classification of the Circuit behind Milivinti (first) and in front of Pesenti (third).
Vittorio Gambirasio (Team Officine Red Bike), Italian Discipline Champion, cannot find the pace in the race and thanks to a series of errors closes only tenth, losing the third position in the Overall Classification of the Circuit in favor of Pesenti.
In the women the race was dominated by a superb Louise Paulin (Team Airoh ION Santacruz), who with an exemplary race made up of speed and consistency in addition to the stage victory also took home the 2016 Superenduro Champion title.
“It was a really challenging but fun race at the same time. I tried to control the desire to go too fast and not to overdo it so as not to make mistakes and this gave me the opportunity to take home the victory ”. - Louise Paulin
The direct chaser in the championship Sara De Leo (Team Ancillotti) ends only fifth, victim of a fall in PS1 that immediately put her out of the game making her accumulate an unbridgeable delay. The break in the front brake forced her to do the whole special stage only with the help of the rear one and in those conditions it was impossible to stop and set any decent trajectory. Challenge postponed to 2017.
Third and fourth stage ends Oberparleiter Anna (Team Lapierre Trentino Alé) and Bormolini Jessica (Team Alba Orobia Bike) respectively at 1.31min and 1.34min from Paulin, both very good at managing a complicated race and containing the gap over almost 20min of race overall .
Valentina Macheda (Team Lifecycle) fourth of day earns enough points to overcome the absent Laura Rossin (Team Bike Garage Revolution Intense ION) and ends her season with a good third position behind De Leo and Paulin.
In the youth teams made up of SEG and SE1, both categories in strong growth during this return season of the Superenduro Circuit, Pelissero Simone (Team Ancillotti) wins the stage, who also conquers the second place overall immediately behind Caramellino Luca (Team Ancillotti) second here at Santa Caterina but first classified in Absolute. Saccon Matteo (Team Cingolani Trek), fifth today, still manages to conquer the third step of the absolute podium against the direct rival Masotti Filippo (Team Ancillotti) fourth both in the day and in absolute position.
In the E-MTB Category the domination of Righi Giorgio (Team Be) continues, keeping Lusa Morgan (Team Mtb Cesena) second and Caramellino Marco (Wd40 Factory Team) behind him.
Santa Caterina Valfurva has shown all fans its harsh character typical of a high mountain location passing from the sun with 25 ° C to 10 ° C in a few hours, but at the same time has shown the potential that this territory can offer to enduro riders who will choose to come here to ride on these fantastic trails.
The Superenduro gives everyone an appointment from 30 September to 3 October in Finale Ligure for the FLOW event, the outdoor festival that embraces the EWS Final, during which the Circuit awards will be held.
RESULTS
http://www.superenduromtb.com/pdf/2016_4_SCaterinaValfurva_Superenduro..zip/
