A 24 h in Mtb is a race different from any other. As its name suggests, it lasts 24 hours. Easy, isn’t it?
What makes such a race special compared to any other mountain bike races is its atmosphere, the jolly good and festive mood all around: tents, stages, campers, that create what I define “THE LITTLE EXPIRING VILLAGE”.
The success of Mtb’s world in the last few years makes us think that real Bikers, those who have a sheer passion, prefer events where the most important aspects are aggregation, fun and the will to share something important. So let’s see how a 24h is. The race takes place on a ring, from 4 to 8 km long, in Italy, while in other country may be much longer. Different parts of the ring are usually at different high (from 0 to 200 meters), according to what the local committee had decided.
Some, like Finale Ligure, are tough staff, others, like the one in Val Rendena, although settled in a famous Alp site, are much more “city” tour, but still funny and spectacular. An event like the 24h involves more than 250 staff members. Its preparation lasts the entire period between one edition and the following, so more or less one year. Making an Endurance race work properly requires special knowledge that can be gained only working in it. Usually the race starts on Saturday afternoon and ends on Sunday, at the same hour (12, 13.00 or 14.00).
Its start is always very exciting: there is no practical reason for all the mess, excitement, hurrying, it’s just like a party! Music, a crowd of Bikers, a shot and go! -23:59:59….
In some 24h Bikers have to run to the Mtb, like the classical 24h of Le Mans, in others you may start already on your saddle, like in Val Rendena, where the start zone is large enough for all Bikers, others have a first round with a quad that precedes all bikes, a kind of safety bike. I think this last option is the best one. In a 24h race participants are extremely mixed, and the position of different groups will depend on strategies and ambitions of any of them. But we will discuss it later. The final chart ensure victory to the person who made more round tour.
Of course, in case two racer performed the same number of round tours, the faster will win. Times are checked through a transponder, which is strictly personal. Participants may be singular racers (category solo) or joined in a group, usually of 4, 6, 8 or 12 members. Some countries offer also the couple option, which is not widespread at all in Italy. Groups may be composed by just males, just females or be mixed up. Solos, of course, are just solos…..
Teams make the race more various, with all their change of riders. There is a change area, usually close to the end of the ring, called in Italian “zona cambio”. Here the outgoing racer passes the witness to the incoming racer. The witness may happen to be whatever… a bracelet or even the transponder.
The racer makes his/her round tours – usually from 2 to 4 each – and then goes to the change area to be substituted by his/her team fellow, and so on for 24 h. Committees recently are developing better techniques to check entrances and exits, times and the alike, to provide always a better service.
Teams are for sure the heart and soul of the race. Needless to say that we refer to those that fight to win, running and being as fast in their change as specialists from the Ferrari Box!Other teams are just a group of friends whose main goal is to have fun and drink 25 avg. litre of beer, and go racing every now and then.
There is no rule that forces you to permanently race, you may even decide to make just one tour and it’s not forbidden at all. Just the final chart will give you the place you deserved, but to many this may be of no interest. As far as the charts, each category has its own, although there is a general one, where the winning team are mostly 8/12 members’ team. Clearly, the more you are, the more time you have to rest, the faster you will be.
So, in synthesis: do you want to have fun? Join a 8/12 team. While a poor one is racing, the others are having their party… Or do you want to reach the top of the chart? I will suggest 8/12 again, for the above mentioned reason. But if you want to experience in Full the stress of a 24h, the best is a 4 members team… you won’t have time to recover strength that it will be your turn again… over and over…although the 4s, as well, may occur to decide to dedicate their time to beer, instead…
{gallery}statici/Squadre{/gallery}Solo racers are the no-limits side of the 24h, those who give the real meaning to the word Endurance. Male and female racers run on the same trail of the teams, cycling no stop, with results that sometimes can be compared with those of the teams.
Solos gain everybody’s respect for their determination and psychological performance. Although avg. they are much slower than team’s racers, one should never forget that, being alone, they cycle up to 500 km, compared to max. 60/70 km of the team racers.
Usually solos are more than 30 years old, because such a psychological performance can be better faced by an adult, who is supposed to be more reasonable, aware, and may be clever…
During the 24h there is the night riding. How does it work?
Some 24h races provide Full illumination all along the ring (Idro and Rendeva), but I would advise you to have always with you your light equipment. Other 24h races (Porticella, Siena, Finale e Cremona) do not, and it is mandatory to be Fully and well equipped. Being settled on the mountains and in the forests, you need really working bright light.
The night riding is what probably makes the race more glorious.
Cycling at night was a taboo not too long ago, and it gives you very unique feelings and emotions, from the sunset, all through the foggy forest and the silent sleeping little villages, to the dawn on the top of a hill surrounded by a breath-taking panorama.
Where do all the participant rest and camp? How many are there? Avg. participants are 800/1000, already there on Thursday. So camping area or the "Campus"must be ready on time, to welcome such a crew for days. The first impression is always cool! Tents, movements, colours, youngsters, smells of food – from spaghetti to grilled stuff – and the nice song of caffettiere singing day and night…
The Campus has its own life, with friendships and relations between neighbours that will last all the year. But it is not the only live zone of the 24h.
In fact the organization knows very well that on the trail there will be not more than 10% of participants, and so entertainment is provided for the remaining 90%. Shows, concerts, extreme performances by professionals, all supported by a network of bars and kitchens that never closes. Food is given for free to racers.
A 24h is a race, but not only. It’s a lot of things all together: motley realities that cross each other and never clash into each other.
To participate to a 24h is, from any point of view, a unique experience, which will touch you in your inner self, and is due to remain in your soul as a tattoo, if you consider your Mtb as a friend and not just as an tool for professional sport.
You never tried?! So I hope to see you there next time, and to hear your enthusiastic comments. Did you try already? So you know what I’m talking about: shadows, oddities, stories, queer facts and anecdotes.. and they are so many that I cannot remember them all, and always new ones will happen…
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