Brasil Ride presents stars of historic tenth edition with Olympic and world champions

With registrations sold out and the officially announced list of participants reaching 570 cyclists from 24 countries, it is now possible to start pointing favorites to the title of the tenth edition of Brasil Ride. The ultramarathon, between October 20-26, in the south of Bahia, will have a star-studded platoon: Olympic champions such as Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE) and Bart Brentjense (HOL), world champions Henrique Avancini (BRA) and Tiago Ferreira ( POR), as well as European champions such as Alexey Medvedev (RUS) and Kristian Hynek (CZE), current World Marathon runner-up, and highlights from the international circuit such as Manuel Fumic (ALE), Sebastian Fini (DIN), Hans Becking (HOL), among others.

However, defining a team that is most likely to be champion will not be an easy task for the male elite. At least seven teams must fight for the title: Henrique Avancini and Manuel Fumic of Cannondale Factory Racing, defending the position of current champions of the event; Jaroslav Kulhavy and his compatriot Matous Ulman, heavyweight debutants of Specialized Racing; Tiago Ferreira and Hans Becking, both champions in previous editions, forming the DMT Racing Team; Kristian Hynek, two-time champion in 2010/2011, alongside Czech Martin Stosek, seventh place in the 2019 World Marathon Championships; 2016 champion Alexey Medvedev, again with Italian Francesco Failli; CST Sand American Eagle MTB Racing Team duo Sebastian Fini and Ole Hem (NOR); and from South America, the current champions of La Leyenda del Dorado, Colombians Johan and Johnatan Cañaveral.

Winner in 2012 alongside Portuguese Luis Leão Pinto, Tiago Ferreira hopes to form a prominent partnership with Hans Becking. "Expectations are equal to those of the last few years. The hope is to do once again a good result, preferably being winning some stages and be at the final podium of the competition, which is the most important. We hope to get in good shape and enjoy to the maximum of what will be another Brasil Ride for us. We are motivated and I believe it will be a very good edition", defines Ferreira.

Olympic champion in London 2012, Jaroslav Kulhavy was confirmed to make his debut in 2018, but a knee injury days before the race prevented him from coming to Bahia. Now, he has his chance to compete for the first time in America's premier mountain biking ultramarathon, the second largest in the world. "As it will be my first experience, I have no idea what will happen. It will be a big challenge," says world champion and Olympic medalist Jaroslav Kulhavy, who, besides gold in London, was silver at Rio 2016.

Two-time champion in the first two editions of the event, at the time at Chapada Diamantina, Czech Kristian Hynek arrives at Brasil Ride on a high after the runner-up in the Marathon World Championship in Switzerland. "What I know about this version of Porto Seguro and Guaratinga is just a little of what Robert Novotny (Hynek duo 2010/2011) told me. I look forward to seeing a different part of Brazil and then enjoy a few hours or days at the beach after the race", said Hynek, who will have Novtny as a team staff.

The Other Brazilian Stars - If Henrique Avancini is the only Brazilian in the duos considered favorites to win the title, the intermediate squad has renowned cyclists from Brazil who can fight for a place on the podium of the stages, as well as for the America's Jersey.  These are the cases of: Mario Verissimo and Bruno Lemes, from Squadra Oggi; Sherman Trezza and Guilherme Muller, from Cannondale Brasil Racing; Swiss naturalized Brazilian Lukas Kaufmann with his partner Konny Looser (SUI) from FKS Factory Racing; Halysson Ferreira and Nicolas Machado of the Tropix Factory Racing Team; Daniel Zoia and José Gabriel Almeida, by Corinthians Audax Bike Team; Ricardo Pscheidt and Gilberto Goes, from Orbea Team Brasil; Edson Rezende and Nicolas Sessler of the Caloi Avancini Team.

Brazilians looking for a place in Tokyo 2020 - With Brazil scrambling for points to secure a place in Tokyo 2020 in women's mountain biking, the ultramarathon becomes even more important as it offers 120 points to its Olympic ranking to the champions. Cyclists are confirmed in the race as the three-time Brazilian champion in 2019, Letícia Cândido, alongside Hercília Najara, the two-time Brasil Ride champion, Raiza Goulão racing with experienced Colombian Angelita Parra, and Venezuelan Katherine Lindo and Florangela Rodriguez. The young revelation of the national MTB, Karen Olimpio, in partnership with the experienced Portuguese Ilda Pereira, and Viviane Favery, with Tânia Clair Pickler, are also among the favorites on the podium. Country leader in the Olympic ranking, Jaqueline Mourão awaits confirmation from her partner to join the ultramarathon squad.

About Brasil Ride - Considered the Giro d'Italia of Mountain Biking, the ultramarathon scheduled for October 20-26 offers a strong challenge for 570 participating athletes from 24 countries. For seven days, they will face about 600 km and almost 11,000 m of accumulated altitude, between trails 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, Saturday (26), more than 1,500 cyclists from all over the country join the stars of the international mountain bike, for the Marathon of the Discoveries race. A unique opportunity to ride and see the world's best mountain bikers in action.

Live streaming - The tenth edition of Brasil Ride will follow the schedule of the last three editions, with live streaming for eight days, in the official fan page: www.facebook.com/BRASILRIDE; and also on YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BrasiRide/videos.

Press Images - As of this season, Brasil Ride has an image bank specifically for press use: https://brasilride.photoshelter.com/index. In this space, there are photos of all the races performed in the year by the agency. To access them, simply register with the Photoshelter site system and download the chosen files. Any questions, just contact redacao@zdl.com.br.

The Brasil Ride ultramarathon is sponsored by the Government of Bahia, Land Rover, Shimano, Specialized and Unidas. Coca-Cola, Conect Car, Full Gas, Garmin, LAF Insurance Broker, La Maglia, Oakley, Red Bull, Shop2gether, Squirt, Vittoria and Thule are supporting companies, as are the municipalities of Porto Seguro and Guaratinga, as well as the Pau Brasil National Park are the institutional supporters of the event.

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

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