Brasil Ride: Men's Elite brings together world and continental champions in the ninth edition

Porto Seguro (Bahia) - Great expectations for the 9th edition of one of the main MTB ultramarathons in the world, from October 21 to 27, Brasil Ride will take place between Arraial d'Ajuda, Porto Seguro, and Guaratinga, Bahia, Brazil. With 120 points at stake in the world and Olympic cross country UCI (International Cycling Union) rankings, the men's elite will gather some of the top cyclists from the international peloton. World champions such as Portugal's Tiago Ferreira, Belgian Roel Paulissen and Brazilian Henrique Avancini, current winner of Brasil Ride and the MTB Marathon World Championship, 2018 European champion, Russian Alexey Medvedev, are some of the athletes that will guarantee the extra spice in the seven days of disputes in the extreme south of Bahia.

There is one athlete who won the race three times: Czech Jiri Novak; and there are two athletes who have the possibility to reach that title, too: two time champions Henrique Avancini, champion in 2013 and 2017, and Dutchman Hans Becking, winner in 2014 and 2015. In favor of Avancini, besides being a local cyclist, is the fact that he will be competing with his Cannondale Factory Racing partner, German Manuel Fumic, with whom he has disputed races for at least three seasons.

"I'm very excited to be returning to Brasil Ride, the final chapter of a historic season for Brazilian mountain biking. It will be my first race after winning the MTB World Marathon Championship. Another race with Fumic, my team partner, but the first Brasil Ride with him. We have spent good and intense moments competing together and I am very happy that I have the chance to defend the title with him. The idea is to fight for the win and defend the title. We are feeling good and able to fight," says Avancini.

Hans Becking will have a very experienced cyclist competing by his side in the pursuit of his third win. The Portuguese Tiago Ferreira, champion of Brasil Ride in 2012, winner of the MTB World Marathon Championship in 2016 and the European Championship last season. "I’m looking forward to returning to Brazil together with a strong partner like Tiago Ferreira. Tiago also has a lot of experience in this race. I think other duos are favorites, like Cannondale or Specialized. But, if they make a mistake, we'll be there," says Hans, DMT Racing Team's main duo.

Another champion is back - There are plenty of duos willing to disrupt Becking and Avancini's dream of winning their third title. Russian Alexey Medvedev, Brasil Ride champion in 2016, competes with Italy's Francesco Failli for the Specialized Italy team and has good expectations for the race. "I am very happy to be back in Brazil after 2 years! Brasil Ride has become for me more than a race - for me this is an adventure. With my partner, we hope to win some stages, and to be on the final podium. My partner is strong, and I hope we will show what we are capable of. This year the level of the final podium is very high”, says Medvedev.

Two-time World Champion's last race - After competing in Brasil Ride next to Tiago Ferreira, when he finished in the top 3 in 2016, Belgian Roel Paulissen is back, to take part in his last race as a professional cyclist, alongside Hugo Prado Neto in the OCE/Cannondale Team. "I'm really looking forward to this year’s Brasil Ride and to have some fun with Cannondale Brazil. I hope to have a great week with my partner Hugo and we’ll make sure to give our best!", says Roel.

Danish returns, more experienced - Third place finisher in 2017 alongside Hans Becking, the Danish Sebastian Fini will partner up with Latvian Martins Blums, in the team number 2 of the CST Sandd American Eagle MTB Racing Team, which will have the Dutchman David Nordrmann and the British Grant Ferguson as the main team. "I am really looking forward to this race, for the second time. Last year was really good, I was riding with probably the best partner in the field, Hans Becking, and I learned a lot from him. I hope to bring that [learning] to the race this year, so my partner, Martins Blums and I can have a strong race. It’s the first time we are riding together as a duo, but I’m sure we will fit together. None of us likes 4-5 h racing everyday, but Brasil Ride is special, and we will give it everything everyday”, says Fini.

Other favorites, and dispute of the Americas - Still in the fight for the Yellow jersey, the best duo in the men's elite, Brasil Ride will see teams like the Spaniards Alberto Losada and Ibon Zugasti (Orbea Factory Team), German Julian Biefang and Belgian Bram Sayes (Embrance The World Cycling), Portugal's José Dias and Brazil's Sanderson Celso (DMT Racing Team II), Germans Christopher Maletz and Tommy Galle (White Rock), Austrian Wolfgang Krenn and Belgian Joris Massaer (Bike Team Kaiser / SC Liezen), and others. 

Another shirt that will be at stake in the men's elite is the White jersey, the best duo in the Americas. Current champions, Mario Veríssimo and Kennedi Lago (Squadra Oggi), are going to try their second win. Besides them, other duos are fighting for the title of best duo of the Americas: Lukas Kaufmann and Sherman Trezza (Cannondale Brasil Racing), José Gabriel Marques and Bruno Lemes (Groove Corratec Team), Wolfgang Olsen and Edson Rezende (Caloi Avancini Team), Ricardo Pscheidt and Venezuelan Yonathan Meijia (Trek/Shimano).

Abscence on the dispute - Czech 2012 Olympic champion Jaroslav Kulhavy and American Howard Grotts, from Specialized Racing, have had to cancel Brasil Ride 2018 after suffering injuries last week. "I had complications with my knee and I can’t ride. I have to rest for my rehab. I apologize for this and hope the race is perfect for you. I'll see you next year," said the Czech rider.

Howard Grotts has suffered a fall at the Roc D'Azur Festival in France, and is also under medical care. "Unfortunately we will not be able to participate in Brasil Ride this year. We got hurt competing last week. I have a lot of stitches in my arm and I had to stop training for a while. I hope to be in better conditions next year to participate in a stage race like this one. Good luck to everyone," said the American.

Live Schedule - The ninth edition of Brasil Ride will follow the schedule of the last two editions, with live streaming for eight days, in the official fan page: www.facebook.com/BRASILRIDE. Check the days and times (GMT-3):

Saturday - 10/20 - Press Conference at 7:00 p.m.; and Athletes Briefing at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday - 10/21 - Start at 12:40 p.m.; Finish at 1:45 p.m.; and Prize ceremony at 6:45 p.m.
Monday - 10/22 - Start at 7:40 a.m.; Finish at 12:30 p.m.; and Prize ceremony at 8:15 p.m.
Tuesday - 10/23 - Start at 7:40 a.m.; Finish at 12:30 p.m.; and Prize ceremony at 6:45 p.m.
Wednesday - 10/24 - Start at 7:40 a.m.; Finish at 12:30 p.m.; and Prize ceremony at 6:45 p.m.
Thursday - 10/25 - Start at 7:40 a.m.; Finish at 12:45 p.m.; and Prize ceremony at 8:45 p.m.
Friday - 10/26 - Start at 9:40 a.m.; Finish at 11:25 a.m.; and Prize ceremony at 6:45 p.m.
Sunday - 10/27 - Start at 8:40 a.m.; Finish at 12:00 p.m.; and Prize ceremony at 8:45 p.m.  

The event - Considered the Giro d'Italia of the world MTB, the ultramarathon scheduled for 21-27 October in Bahia offers a challenge for the 540 participating athletes from all over the world. For seven days, the participants will ride for 600 km and endure almost 11,000 m of accumulated altimetry, between tracks and dirt roads that connect Arraial d'Ajuda, in Porto Seguro, to Brasil Ride Village, built annually in Guaratinga. On the last day of the competition, on Saturday (27), another 1,200 cyclists from all over the country join the stars of the international mountain bike race for the Marathon of the Discoveries. A unique opportunity to ride side by side with the bestmountain bikers in the world.

The ninth edition of Brasil Ride has Specialized, Shimano, Caixa and Unidas as sponsors. Government of Bahia, through the SUDESB (Superintendence of Sports of the State of Bahia) and Bahiatursa (Superintendence of Tourism Promotion of the State of Bahia), also sponsor the ultramarathon, while the Municipalities of Porto Seguro and Guaratinga are among the supporters.

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

Website: http://www.BRASILRIDE.COM.BR
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BRASILRIDE
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brasil_ride
Instagram: https://instagram.com/brasilride

Gustavo Coelho / Doro Jr. - Mtb 13209
E-mail: gustavo@zdl.com.br / dorojr@zdl.com.br
Phone: +55 11 32855911 / Cell phone: + 55 11 9.8457-9699

Translated by: Rosita Belinky - robelinky@gmail.com

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