PRO 2 – 5/6 Maggio – Punta Ala (GR)
EVENT
-Name of Event: Punta Ala Superenduro PRO # 2
-Type of race: Pro
-Date of race: May 5 to 6
-Start/finish: PuntAla Camping Resort – Loc. Punta Ala, 58043 Castiglione (GR)
-Organisers: Bandite Bike Park ASD
Accrediting body: FCI
Course details:
Overall length: almost 50km
Total climb: 1,200 m
Number of stages: 5 – a prologue of 30/40 seconds on Saturday evening and 4 special stages on Sunday
PROGRAMME
Registration: open
Course marking: special stages and transfers will be marked out by April 21
-Meeting times and race day
Saturday, May 5, 2012
12:00 Expo area opens
13:30 Race registration opens
16:00 Prologue in downtown Castiglione
Sunday, May 6, 2012
08:00 Registration opens
09:00 Deadline for registration and opening of the expo area
09:30 Departure of first competitor
from 14:30 All-you-can-eat pasta party
16:30 Arrival of last competitor
Followed by awards ceremony
ROUTE INFO
PROLOGUE
This will be technical and fast, with riders requiring careful skill in order not to fall or slide. The race will take in the beautiful castle and the riders will be able to see the beach and coastline of the Maremma as they push the limits into the centre of the town. There are a couple of stairs that need to be negotiated and one with two route options, low bridges at high speed, technical switch back through the arches and through the town past the main pubs and bars. The finish will be in the square at the centre of Castiligone della Pescaia.
SPECIAL STAGES
Starting fast, then heading into off-camber curves where you will test your tyres’ limits of grip. Following this are a series of bermed corners before you enter a bombhole. Exiting that the trails steepens up for about ten metres and here the trails enter a section where it’s easy to lose seconds. You need to go slow hew because you come into a steep left-right, where it is best to let the bike go, then a sharp bend to the right to sends you out off a small drop and onto Trail 3. A 300 metre flat section that you need to enter as fast as you possibly can. Turning left onto Trail 10 with a series of curves where you can let the bike drift under you. After Trail 10 you join into Trial 9 for a fast, smooth section and the left into Trail 4. Again, you need a lot of speed here as once you hit Trail 4 you’re faced by a short burst of climbing which can sap your energy. Finally it’s another smooth, fast section down to the road.
This is the longest and technically hardest trail in Bandite. From Monte di Stella, down to Val Molina you have very little space to breath or rest your muscles. One could think that it was made to test how well trained you are. Starting from the number 33 gravel forest road, between Monte di Stella and Buca della Neve, the first part is up and down for around 200 metres, nothing difficult with a few curves where you can slide out the bike. From the top of Monte Stella the trail really starts to drop. The trail is always downwards with some steep parts. At some point you leave the rocky channel that takes you down and ride on a fast smoother part before starting the descent again. Here you have some steep curves and you enter the technical zone. Here it is very rocky and a bit slower. The surface is loose in places and sliding is possible. This is followed by a calm section then a second technical part. Here you pass a rock channel that has suggestive variations and lines. There are many curves one after another then the second part is finished. The next part is briefly level before the trail drops again, and you need all your skill to take on the most physical part of the trail. This part is rocky, with eroded curves and drops, with some off camber sections. It is better for sure to take this trail slower the first time to learn it. Once passing the off camber channel in the rock, the technical part is finished. Then you have two possibilities, you can go straight or turn right. If you go straight you must pedal a little through a long tunnel in the trees, with a fun trail. If you turn right, there is first a fast section with fast corners, then a small river jump and a quick steep climb for 10 metres then a fast technical section. Both variations in the trail finish on the same tarmac road not far from a nice place to eat.
The start gives amazing views across the bay. The trail is 1.6 km long and drops 200 metres. The time to do this trail is around 5-6 minutes. The first part is in the woods for a short distance, here you can find the lines that give you the most fun doing slalom through the woods. There are some corners off camber. You exit briefly into the fire break, then re-enter the woods after a few curves. Here you are often braking as it is fast, with small jumps possible using the trail form. There is then compression around halfway, that is deeper than it seems. When the trail starts to rise briefly, then there is a new descent with a left right movement continuing on the trail until you cross trail 3. You then enter trail 4 which is at the start fast, and loose. Then after a right curve you enter the woods and here it is steep down to the finish. There is one gate that you must open and then close on this descent. Have fun. The trail finishes on the off road near the Cala Violina parking.
This trail is a new trail and has just been completed with a start point on top of the hills looking over the bay of Punta Ala. The trail starts by dropping away into the woods immediately and you encounter a fairly steep technical section and soft top section. The trail then passes onto a fire break for about 200 metres before a steep drop on the right into the lower part of the trail. The Lower part of the trail is flowing and has views through the trees over the bay, it drops fairly quickly and you can gain a good rythm as the trail winds through the woods which has some roots and some rocky bits. The last part widens slightly and you can gain good speed towards the finish. The finish of the trail drops you down onto trail number 3, you will finish this trail with hot brakes and a really good feeling from the steep incline and flowing nature with small compressions.
PROMO TOUR CATEGORY
The Promo Sports will do the prologue and the last 2 special, the 3 and 4: M & M and The Sentinel
ENTRIES
Paddock area within the PuntAla Camping Resort
Race ID for the K-factor Competition: 43126
Details for how to register are available on the Superenduro website: www.superenduromtb.com/en/iscrizione Riders must follow these guidelines or they will not be able to register for the race. Entry fee €30.00 until 20.00 on April 12, after that it is €35 until registration closes at 09:00 on the day of the event.
Riders without a current race license can register, but they will need to buy an FCI day card at a cost of €5 (these are available at the race office on the day of the race). They must also have a valid cycle racing medical certificate issued by an Italian doctor, in order to register for the race.
SERVICES*
Pumptrack, bike wash, mechanic, access to the facilities of the site (toilet facilities with hot and cold showers, shop, newspaper shop, bars and restaurants, beach facilities, wi-fi access, laundry)
* Not all services are free
HOW TO GET THERE
To reach Punta Ala by car from Genoa or Florence, take the Autostrada (A12) to Livorno to Rosignano Maritime. Continue on the highway to Rome-Grosseto (SS 1) North to Exit Follonica. Then follow to Punta Ala / Castiglione on the SP158. In light of the “strut” to continue for 6 miles and pass the “Pian d’Alma.” At the intersection for Punta Ala, turn right onto the SP 61. After about 2 km turn right again following the signs for PuntAla Camping Resort. Follow the road for approximately 2 km.
The entrance will be on your left.
From Rome, take the motorway towards Civitavecchia. After this, take the freeway SS 1 towards Grosseto / Livorno. Exit North and continue for Grosseto Castiglione. Drive through the town following the signs to Punta Ala / Follonica. After about 13 km along the SP158 at the junction of Punta Ala, turn left on SP 61. After about 2 km turn right following the signs for PuntAla Camping Resort. Follow the road for approximately 2 km. The entrance will be on your left.
You can reach Punta Ala by train but you need to get off at Follonica and then take the bus to Punta Ala. NB September 13 changed the effect of time bus service with limited operation and only on weekdays. To view the timetables of trains and buses, and www.griforama.it www.trenitalia.com visit the site in buses serving the Maremma Rama.
WHERE TO STAY
PuntAla Camping Resort
A range of facilities are available for individuals and families: the beach, tennis courts, park and adventure playground (with a local club for kids ), the supermarket, the newstand, boutique, parts or accessories for mountain bikes are available at the rental center.
The accommodation is comfortable (approximately 190 mobile homes are equipped to accommodate bikers and their families in groups of 2/5 persons), which include the camping resources. Plus we have more than 500 pitches for touring caravans and 160 tents, all with connection to electricity and other amenities.
For those who prefer different or alternative accomodation, there is the possibility of staying at a hotel room, a farmhouse or one of the many holiday homes that can be booked through www.maremmapromotion.com
infosanbartolomeo@visitrivieradeifiori.it
CONTACTS
PuntAla Camping Resort
Loc Punta Ala – 58043 Castiglione (GR)
tel. +39 0564 922294 / +39 0564 922557 – Fax +39 0564 920379
info@campingpuntala.it – www.campingpuntala.it
COURSE INFO
www.i-mtb.com
