Stars from 23 countries line up in the Brasil Ride 2019 - The 10th edition

The cities of Porto Seguro, in the district of Arraial d'Ajuda, and Guaratinga, both in southern Bahia State, are ready to receive the best cyclists in the world in the coming days. Between October 20 and 26, 570 cyclists from 23 countries will compete in the tenth edition of Brasil Ride, one of the most difficult mountain bike races in the world. Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE), Henrique Avancini (BRA), Manuel Fumic (GER), Tiago Ferreira (POR), Alexey Medvedev (RUS), Kristian Hynek (CZE) are among the names confirmed in the competition, stars of international cycling.

Henrique Avancini beside Manuel Fumic (Cannondale Factory Racing) will try to repeat last year's achievement and win again the Yellow Jersey after 600 km and almost 11,000 m of accumulated altitude. "Brasil Ride is one of the competitions that most contributed to me becoming the athlete I am today. I won the Yellow Jersey three times, being the biggest winner in history in the male elite alongside the Czech Jiri Novak (partner of Avancini in 2017 title). Let's look for another yellow star, again next to the Fumic", comments Avancini, who won the ultramarathon also in 2013, with Sherman Trezza.

"Looking forward to get back to Brazil for the last big race of the 2019 season. After winning it last year with team mate Avancini, the goal is to win it again and defend our win from last year. t’s been a long season so far but the motivation is still high for this last stage race. After last year trip, we also understand more what it takes and what we have to face in this stage race, and I think it makes things a bit more easier in terms of how to approach and hopefully win this race again. After Brasil Ride race I will have a four weeks break from racing and daily based training. Need to recharge batteries from the impact the Brasil Ride will have and to set myself up for the upcoming olympic season", says Fumic.

In the other partnerships that include the first ten duo, no less than nine countries represented for this 18 athletes: Czech Republic (4), Portugal (4), Netherlands, Russia, Denmark, Germany, Cyprus, Colombia (2), Brazil (2) and Japan. The two Czech duos are: world champion and olympic medalist Jaroslav Kulhavy with Matous Ulman (Specialized Racing) and current World Marathon runner-up Kristian Hynek, two-time champion from Brasil Ride in 2010 and 2011, and Martin Stosek (Vitalo Future Cycling). 

From Portugal, the main athlete is the world champion and also European champion Tiago Ferreira who will race again with the Dutch Hans Becking, another twice champion cyclist, in 2014 and 2015. Ferreira and Becking, from DMT Racing Team, will have a second support team, Portuguese José Dias with Andreas Miltiadis, from Cyprus. Valério Ferreira alongside Japanese Yuki Ikeda (Topeak Ergon) and Andrew Rodrigues with Brazilian Alysson Lucas (Specialized/BTT/Loule Elevis), are the other Portuguese in action in the race.

Two favorite duos had last-minute changes due to unavailability of their partners. Alexey Medvedev will compete with Brazilian Hugo Prado Neto, a very experienced cyclist in the competition, forming OCE Specialized Racing. Danes Sebastian Fini will have German Julian Schelb at his side, maintaining the high level of the CST Sandd American Eagle MTB Racing Team. Completing the ten first duos, the Colombians brothers Johan and Johnatan Cañaveral, the current champions of La Leyenda del Dorado. 

The Other Brazilian Stars - The intermediate squad has also 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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