Press Release

Voltar

2014-10-20

BRASIL RIDE BEGINS WITH STYLE AND COMPETITIVENESS

The most important stage race of Americas began in great style with paragliding stunts presentation and a race with great disputes!

The 5th Brasil Ride started on this Sunday (19th Oct) in Mucugê, promoting the sport, tourism and leisure around Chapada Diamantina – Bahia.

“Brasil Ride is a race that every government would like to bring for their region, specially here in Chapada Diamantina, a touristic region, that is also known because of agriculture production. So having the region on spotlight because of Brasil Ride, the impact is immediate, not just from the economic point of view, as our hotels are fully occupied in Mucugê and towns around, but for the sports development the impact is even bigger. Having big names from the mountain biking scene, gives a great projection for the discipline, specially getting close to the Olympic games, so it becomes even more relevant.” Comments Mr. Nilton Vasconcelos, Secretary of Work, Job, Revenue and Sport from the State of Bahia.

Brasil Ride 2014 opening activities were at the Mucugê Coffee Farm offering a special breakfast for the “Guarani” riders in honor to the ones that finished Brasil Ride for at least 3 times. Guarani means warrior – fighter in Tupi-Guarani language.

Later the inspiration for the cyclists came from the sky! The paraglider Rafael Goberna, one of the best in the World, did a performance of stunts keeping the attention of athletes and spectators. Also, there was a presentation from a local group of “Cangaceiros” in honor to “Lampião” – a northeast character well known in Brazilian culture.

With regards the race, the first 20km of a total of 600km had tight trails, rocks and sandy sessions in a very technical circuit around the town. The fastest team – the pole position – won very special prizes: Mark Webber’s F1 replica helmets. The Australian pilot used race for Infiniti Red Bull Racing, he have got 13 poles position and won 9 F1 Grand Prix.
Trek Factory Racing team did a great ride finishing with the best time of the day – 51 minutes and 47 seconds.

“Today is just the first day, we have the whole stages ahead, and the idea today was to keep a good time, however we knew that there were very fast teams, like last year champions Avancini and Shermann that for us are reference”, explains Ricardo Pscheidt from Trek Factory Racing.
“I believe this was one of the races I felt better. It was pure cross-country, very technical, very complete with physical demand. This is my specialty and I felt well for this race”, added Sérgio Mantecón, considered one of the best Olympic cross-country riders in the World.

Caloi Elite Team riders Henrique Avancini and Shermann Trezza also started strong:

“The start was strong and we wanted to do the best prologue as possible to take the yellow jersey (leader Jersey) in the first day. We really gone to the limit and I believe we ended doing some mistakes, so Shermann crashed and we lost a lot of time. The plan for the first day was to finish as best as possible... From now on we are going keep a “paced” race, Sherman usually feels better day-by-day so I think that we have a lot of track ahead”, explains Avancini.

The women’s category Brasil Ride 2014 promise the biggest competition in history as the best Brazilian cyclists are going to race against international elite riders in Bahia terrain.

“Racing in Brasil can be an advantage for us. Having to travel faraway, with different food and culture in other countries can affect us in race. Also, in Brasil we are close to friends, family, boyfriend and they can be an extra motivation, and having Brasil Ride classified in S2 level by UCI makes the race even more important to whom is looking for the Olympic Games”, explains Isabella Lacerda, Brazilian XCO Champ

“Brasil Ride is fundamental in the fight for a place in the Olympic Games, it will be 80 points in UCI Ranking. Besides scoring the nation, individual points are very important as between May 2014 and May 2016 the accumulated points will define who’s going to be chosen to represent Brazil in the Olympic Games. Having international athletes increases the level of the competition, and it promotes an improvement in the Brazilian development”, added Isabella that competes with Érika Gramiscelli – five-times Brazilian champion that raced Brasil Ride in 2010.

However, North American girls from Topeak Ergon did really well during the first day of the mountain bike stage race event: “Brasil Ride have changed my life since my first participation back in 2010”, said Sonya Looney that is racing for the 3th time in Chapada Diamantina – Bahia. “It was magnificent! You are animal!”, added Nina Baum – Team Topeak Ergon, the fastest women of the day that finished with 55 minutes and 40 seconds (non-official time).

The Latin America biggest challenge on mountain bikes offers a unique opportunity for pro and amateur riders, with 7 days of racing in the heart of the Country, with a lot of pedaling, self-knowledge and contact if nature. There will be a total of 9 “leader jerseys” fighting for the tittle, divided in Men, Women, Mix, Master (40 plus), Grand Master (50 plus), America Men, America Women, Corporative and Nelore, that stars for cyclists weighting over 90kg.

The second day is going to be 147km from Mucugê to Rio de Contas and a total of 3355 meters of elevation gain.

Check for complete results at: www.brasilride.com

Brasil Ride 2014 is sponsored by: MINISTÉRIO DO ESPORTE - SUDESB/ GOVERNO DA BAHIA - CAIXA – SHIMANO -TREK - GORGEOUS EVENTOS – THULE – OAKLEY – KAILASH

Supporters: Continental Pneus, Red Bull, JC Bikes, Café Mucuge, Prefeitura Municipal de Rio de Contas, Roma Comunicação, Penks. Mídias parceiras: Revista Bike Action, Rádio Bradesco Esportes FM, Bike Magazine Portugal, Revista Go Outside, Webventure e Bike na Mídia Assessoria de Imprensa. Supervisão: UCI (União Ciclística Internacional), CBC (Confederação Brasileira de Ciclismo) e FBC (Federação Baiana de Ciclismo). Realização: REC e Prefeitura de Mucugê.

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