The 36-year-old Dutch rider, fresh off her Swiss Epic victory, is the “last minute” entry. Italian Rosa and Peretti are also gearing up: “Sardinia has unique landscapes.” The prologue kicks off tomorrow, followed by three stages until August 31st
“Rally di Sardegna MTB is like a bucketlist race: the island and the course look incredible”. This is how Cannondale ISB’s Dutch Tessa Kortekaas introduces herself after her “last minute” entry at Rally di Sardegna MTB, an international stage race that will bring cycling champions to the heart of Sardinia from tomorrow until Saturday, August 31st. Back from the victory in the SPAR Swiss Epic alongside Colombian Monica Calderon, who is also competing in the Sardinia MTB Rally, the 36-year-old rider from Voorhout has also won in Lanzarote, the Andorra Epic – Pyrenees, and the Spanish Marathon Championship this year, in addition to finishing fourth in the European Championships. Her presence in Sardinia will renew the duel with Claudia Peretti, who finished third in the continental championship, claiming the bronze medal.
“It’s really a privilege to be able to travel around the world for MTB racing” Tessa continues. “I have never raced in Italy before, and I’ve only been once in my life on holidays in Italy. I nearly had to miss the race, as I had to be at the start of the Swiss Epic last week, but I’m really happy to be racing Rally di Sardegna MTB as well. I’m in a good shape, ready to rock and enjoy these four days of racing”.
THE AMBITIONS OF ITALIANS PERETTI AND ROSA
Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Colombia, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Spain are just some of the nations represented at Rally di Sardegna MTB. Italians Claudia Peretti and Diego Rosa also stand out among the international MTB stars on the starting list.
Having reclaimed the Italian title after two years, the Olympia Factory Team specialist also secured bronze at the European Championships in Viborg, Denmark. “I’ve never raced in Sardinia, so this will be my first time. I can’t wait to compete on these courses, which are rich in wild nature,” says Claudia Peretti. “I’m coming to Sardinia after the European bronze,” she adds. “I’m in good shape and eager to perform well, especially because, for me, tackling courses dominated by nature means exploring places I don’t yet know, places I’ll be happy to visit.”
Fourth at both the Hero Sudtirol Dolomites and the Andorra Epic this year, and 2023 Italian Marathon champion, Diego Rosa is also known to cycling fans for his professional career, which includes participation and placements in the Grand Tours and the 2016 Rio Olympics. “I’m returning to Sardinia knowing I’ll find a wonderful atmosphere,” explains Diego Rosa, “in a stage race that has been missing in Italy. Additionally, Sardinia is the envy of the world for the nature surrounding these courses. Technically, I expect the terrain to be similar to Spain—rocky, dry at times, and wild”.
A PARADE OF CHAMPIONS
In addition to Kortekaas, Calderon, and Peretti on the women’s side —featuring athletes from six countries — Men’s entry list also boasts big names. Among them is Jaroslav Kulhavy, gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics and silver medalist in Rio 2016, as well as a world champion in both cross country and marathon.Periklis Ilias, 2012 Marathon world champion, two-time Olympian, and current Greek champion in the discipline will also be on the starting line.
Among the top names in the global mountain biking scene is Dutch rider Hans Becking, multiple Dutch champion and this year’s winner of both the Transgrancanaria Bike and the Andorra Epic – Pyrenees, in this case with outgoing European champion Wout Alleman, who had beaten him at the Marathon Roc d’Ardenne.
THE SCHEDULE: TOMORROW THE PROLOGUE
The Rally di Sardegna MTB kicks off tomorrow, Wednesday, August 28th, with a 12.6 km prologue featuring a 500-meter elevation gain. The start is at 11 a.m. from Piazza Bau Ponte in Aritzo, which is also the finish line. Along the way, the athletes will “greet” the Texile, an imposing and characteristic limestone formation in the Aritzo area.
On Thursday, August 29th, in the first stage, the athletes will tackle 70.7 km between Desulo and Tonara (2,500 meters elevation gain) in the historic Gennargentu Mandrolisai region before returning to Desulo. The start is at 9:15 a.m. The second stage is also challenging, covering 66.9 km with a 2,300-meter elevation gain, starting and finishing at the Seulo sports field, passing through the ancient forests of Sadali and Seui.
The athletes will return to Aritzo for the final stage, covering 48.3 km with an 1,800-meter elevation gain, including the untouched mountains of Gadoni. Both the second and third stages will also start at 9:15 a.m.
SPONSORSHIPS, COLLABORATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS
The Sardinia MTB Rally is promoted by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia – Department of Tourism, Crafts, and Commerce, organized by Wild Track, under the auspices of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI), with the support and patronage of the municipalities of Aritzo, Desulo, and Seulo. The collaboration of the municipalities of Tonara, Sadali, Seui, and Gadoni is also essential, as is that of the regional agency Forestas with its Management and territorial services in Cagliari, Nuoro, and Lanusei. The event enjoys the support of companies such as Scott, Enervit, Playcar, USE, and the media partnership of Corriere dello Sport.
1) Tessa Kortekaas (Cannondale ISB), back from the success at SPAR Swiss Epica (Courtesy Tessa Kortekaas); 2) Claudia Peretti, Italian champion and European Champs’ bronze medallist (Courtesy Claudia Peretti); 3) Diego Rosa, Marathon Italian champion last year (Courtesy Diego Rosa); 4) Jaroslav Kulhavy, gold medallista London 2012 Olympics (Courtesy Jaroslav Kulhavy); 5) Su Texile in Aritzo (Credits Katia Martina); 6) Landscapes of Rally di Sardegna MTB (Credits Daniele Lai).