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2023-10-25

Simon Stiebjahn wins Queen Stage; Edson Rezende and Avancini guarantee podium

The stage had the great challenge of overcoming an 8 km climb in the Alto Cariri National Park

Simon Stiebjahn wins Queen Stage; Edson Rezende and Avancini guarantee podium
The great challenge of the stage was to overcome an 8 km climb in the Alto Cariri National Park

October 2023 - Mind-blowing singletracks, climbing Alto Cariri with a Garmin ClimbPro challenge, and almost 2.500 m of accumulated altimetry. This is the classic Queen Stage, with its 101 km and which resulted in victory for German Simon Stiebjanh, against second and third places, Edson Rezende (Edson Rezende Bike Team - 4h13m53s) and Henrique Avancini (Caloi Henrique Avancini Racing – 4h13m54s). The stage is known as the most important of the competition, as the watershed of the competition.

“It was brutal, hot and long. I think this summed up the phase very well. At the beginning there were some long stretches until the climb, the three of us stood out, but without much pressure, due to short, steep and challenging climbs at the end. It was even difficult for us, at times. For a moment I lost my vision. My respect to all amateurs. I hope that everyone finishes the race well and that there are no major problems”, declared Simon Stiebjahn, first on the podium.

Edson Rezende also spoke about the toughness of the stage and the main climb. “The climb made a lot of difference, as it cut the group. In the end, everyone came to the sprint and I managed to cross in second place, I tried to win, but it was a very tough stage, I didn't have any legs left. It was a good race, worthy of a Queen Stage”, he highlighted, commenting that he would like to have some time to appreciate the landscape of Alto Cariri. “Another really cool point is passing through the villages of Guaratinga, which stop to welcome the athletes. It's a very good energy. Combined with the look of the region, it’s rewarding,” he highlighted.

Brutal - Henrique Avancini stated that today's heat was brutal, insane. “I think all the athletes respected the heat more than anything else. Even we among the elite are afraid. I believe everyone was more concerned about completing the stage than competing for positions and gaining time overall. The conditions were extreme. It was a testing day for professional athletes and amateurs will have a memorable day. I already offer my sincere congratulations and respect for completing the stage, which was frightening due to the conditions, as the heat was beyond the average for Bahia”, he added.

The heat and the 8 km climb to the highest peak of Cariri, under the sun, made many athletes almost give up. But the desire to overcome this challenge was even greater. As is the case with Tessa Kortekaas de and Henrique Avancini, winners of the Garmin ClimbPro Challenge.

Spain (España) - But the day was one of victory even for the Spanish Tessa Kortekaas, who opened a big advantage among the women in the female elite, with 5h18m52s, compared to the almost 25 minutes that distanced her from the second place, her teammate, the Colombian Monica Calderón ( Cannondale Vas Arabay - 3h04m41s), and Brazilian Luiza Souza (06h08m04s), with a difference of 49m11s, second and third place, respectively.

Tessa stated that she was a little scared to accelerate, as the first two days she pushed a lot. “I arrived well, but in the last two days, I pushed a lot. I wanted to go faster, but I was scared and came at a comfortable pace. The climb was very hard and hot. Today I have almost no voice, as I've had a bad throat all week. Let's see how it goes in the next stage, we normally have ups and downs. But tomorrow is another day and I’m going to give it my all,” she concluded.

While the competitors cycled under the almost 40°C sun, around 90 students from Guaratinga took the opportunity to visit the Vila Brasil Ride facilities. 6th year student, Everton de Sousa Santos, 12 years old, was one of the visitors and said he thought the camp was really cool.

“I saw the tents, the restaurants, the hospital and to have everything set up like this I think it’s hard work. What I liked most was the restaurant, which is big, beautiful and stands out, and the stalls, which are spacious and comfortable,” he said.

Alto Cariri - Located on the border between MG and BA, the park is an integral protection unit, with 19.264 hectares and was created in 2010 and is one of the last refuges of the Muriqui do Norte, the largest South American primate.

The night of the Rainha Stage saw the launch of the most destination: Brasil Ride Pirenópolis, in the center of the country, 150km from Brasília. The bucolic city, founded in 1727, and with a vocation for natural beauty, gastronomy and architecture, hosts the biggest sporting event in the state, with stages that take place in two categories: 3 days and 1 day, in the MTB and E-Bike categories. The challenge will be in March 2024. More information and registration on the Brasil Ride website.

Briefing – Rafael Campos, Brasil Ride's race director, informed that the 5th stage on the 26th (tomorrow) has a completely redesigned route and many surprises. The route will be from the mountains to the sea, leaving Vila Brasil Ride to Arraial d'Ajuda. However, the competition will have its finishing point in the city of Eunápolis, where cyclists continue on board to the district of Porto Seguro, on a journey that lasts from 1h15 to 1h30.

“The stage will be 63,4 km long and will have 1.583m of accumulated altitude. This will probably be one of the most fun stages, with lots of singletrack, ups and downs, roads for overtaking, some river crossing sections and technical trails. The stage must be quick and the first athletes must complete the route in around 2h, 2h20. Until km 15, there is a lot of road and single track, from then on, ups and downs predominate, and an end for great sprints, overtaking and single tracks. Upon arrival there will still be an urban section, which will have traffic support, but care and attention are important”, he explained, revealing that the base in Eunápolis will be Casa Trancoso, with entry only permitted for athletes.

Regarding logistics, the race director explained that the bags and bikes will be shipped back. The bags leave the camp and the bikes after crossing the finish line in Eunápolis. “Cyclists carry a backpack to this base, taking a change of clothes to shower and continue by bus to the Gym, in Arraial d'Ajuda.

Rafael Campos also revealed that the award ceremony for this stage takes place in a different location: in front of the N. Sra. D'Ajuda Sanctuary, where the entire population will be able to meet the best MTB cyclists, at a sports party, starting at 20pm .

PodCast and Live Programming - To follow everything that happens, daily at the Brasil Ride Bahia ultramarathon, a PodCast and live programming - Brasil Ride Stage News - present a kind of news rotation to tell each stage of the competition, in addition to special interviews . In total there will be eight programs, from Saturday (21) to Saturday (28), broadcast on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/BrasilRideBR) of the test and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BRASILRIDE). Don't miss it!

Check out the schedule for the awards ceremony:

Wednesday – 25/10 – 19h

Thursday – 26/10 – 20pm

Friday – 27/10 – 19pm

Saturday – 28/10 – 20pm

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Sports, via the Sports Incentive Law, presents Brasil Ride Bahia 2023. Sponsorships from Mitsubishi, Continental Pneus, Shimano and Unidas – Car Rental, Garmin, Red Bull, HB, Full Gas, Coca Cola, Thule and Postos Rede Torres. It has government support from the Government of the State of Bahia, Sudesb, City Hall of Porto Seguro, City Hall of Guaratinga and City Hall of Eunápolis. Institutional support from ICMBio, Pau Brasil National Park and Alto Cariri National Park. Certification of the International Cycling Union (UCI), Brazilian Cycling Confederation (CBC) and FBC (Bahia Cycling Federation). The organization is from the Brasil Ride Institute.

Brasil Ride: More than a race, a stage in your life.

The Ultramarathon Stages:

5th stage, 26/10 - 63,4 km and 1.583 m altitude from Guaratinga to Eunápolis

6st stage, 27/10 – 19,6 km and 263 m of altimetry in Arraial d'Ajuda

7th stage, 28/10 - 49,5 km and 470 m of altimetry in Arraial d'Ajuda

Step 4 – Classification of the day

Elite Men

1 - Simon Stiebjahn - Singer Racing Team – 04h13m52s

2 - Edson Rezende - Edson Rezende Bike Team – 04h13m53s

3 - Henrique Avancini - Caloi Henrique Avancini Racing – 04h13m54s

female elite

1 - Tessa Kortekaas - Cannondale Vas Arabay - 02h58m38s

2 - Monica Calderón - Cannondale Vas Arabay – 05:43:21 (00:24:29)