RALLY DI SARDEGNA MTB IS READY TO START: MILTIADIS CHALLENGES ARIAS

The MTB stage rally is coming back to inflame the beating heart of Sardinia from tomorrow to Saturday, June 11th.

The bikers will cover 310 km with 8600 meters of altitude in 4 stages in the Gennargentu and Ogliastra areas, going from the mountains to the sea.

The wait was longer than initially expected, but now the Rally di Sardegna MTB is really ready to resume its path began in 2008. The great mountain biking is about to penetrate the beating heart of Sardinia, not only as a sport but also as a lifestyle and a means of transport to live authentic experiences in contact with wild nature and surrounded by wonderful landscapes.

The Ogliastra area will be the stage of the event starting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 8th, with the opening stage from Lanusei to Gairo Taquisara. The bikers will tackle four legs, covering 310 km (including 143 km of special stages) and 8658 meters of overall difference in height.

The race's eve, Tuesday, June 7th, has been dedicated to the preliminary operations of this ninth edition to be completed on Saturday, June 11th in Bari Sardo, in front of the majestic medieval tower of Barì.

Organized by Wild Track ASD under the aegis of the Italian Cycling Federation, the second event of the "Sardegna Outdoor" project, the Rally di Sardegna Mountain Bike will be held in the typical format of the Rally Raid for cars and motorcycles, with special tests that will determine the GC, alternated with non-timed transfer sections regulated by a maximum travel time.

OGLIASTRA AT ITS BEST: CLIMBING PUNTA LA MARMORA

Starting in Lanusei and finishing in Gairo Taquisara, tomorrow's opening stage presents a very selective track characterized by the Perda Liana and the famous Ogliastra heels. In stage 2, the athletes will then have to face the "bugbear" Punta La Marmora, the roof of Sardinia with its 1834 meters of altitude, immersed in the heart of the Gennargentu.

Less demanding in terms of altimetry, but at the same time littered with traps, the last two stages will have the sea-mountain alternation as their characterizing element. In a few kilometers, the bikers will pass from the hills of Ogliastra to clearly charming sandy shores, such as the beach of Barì dominated by the ancient Spanish tower, the symbol of a territory to be discovered on a mountain bike.

A summary with all the most spectacular highlights of the day will be published after each stage on the Rally di Sardegna MTB YouTube channel.

THE STAGES

June 7th-11th, 2022 | Start from Lanusei | Finish in Barisardo

8.658 mt total ascent | 310,87 km in 4 days

Stage 1 | Lanusei - Gairo Taquisara
Overall Km: 51.14 | Elevation gain: +1765 mt.
Special Stage Km: 46,04 | Elevation gain: +1502 mt.

Stage 2: Lanusei - Punta La Marmora – Lanusei
Overall Km: 111.9 | Elevation gain: +3652 mt.
Special Stage Km: 41,48 | Elevation gain: +1651 mt.

Stage 3 | Lanusei - Bari Sardo
Overall Km: 102.8 | Elevation gain: +2276 mt.
Special Stage Km: 39,07 | Elevation gain: +1111 mt.

Stage 4 | Bari Sardo - Bari Sardo
Overall Km: 45.69 | Elevation gain: +1080 mt.
Special Stage Km: 18,48 | Elevation gain: +844 mt.

ARIAS VS. MILTIADIS, THE CHALLENGE IS LAUNCHED

The Rally di Sardegna Mountain Bike takes rainbow shades. 2021 Marathon World Championships' silver medallist Diego Arias will take in the MTB stage race in the heart of the most authentic Sardinia. The Colombian targeted the Rally di Sardegna as a severe and truthful test to better prepare for the second part of the season and maybe to return to success.

The Cypriot Andreas Miltiadis will try to challenge him, pushed by a great season's start that saw him win the third stage of "La Leyenda" and then Portugal Brasil Ride three stages (out of five) and GC. After the Rally di Sardegna MTB, Miltiadis will wear the Cypriot national team jersey at the MTB Marathon European Championships in the Czech Republic. The Portuguese Felipe Francisco and the Czech Tomas Trunschka, winner in 2012, should not be underestimated for the overall win.

SARDINIA COUNCILOR CHESSA: "RALLY FAITHFUL SHOWCASE OF SARDINIA'S BEATING HEART"

Expected like a spectacular competition, in an area with innumerable shades ranging from the coast with crystal clear waters to the rugged hinterland: the Sardinia MTB Rally will be an eloquent spot for the “Sardegna Isola dello Sport” project. Such a showcase can count on the support of the Department for Tourism, Crafts and Commerce of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, which is focusing on the seasonal adjustment of tourism flows through a series of topics, from archeology to sporting events.

“Mountain biking is a discipline capable of giving both great emotions and unforgettable postcards of the territory. The Rally di Sardegna MTB will once again give important visibility to the heart of the Island, with its wonderful variety of landscapes, traditions and shades, from Ogliastra's crystalline sea to the peaks of Gennargentu, through the rugged paths of Supramonte", Autonomous Region of Sardinia Councilor Gianni Chessa said.