Day 7 - Party Time!

Day 6 - The Rough Mountains

Day 5 - Charging South

Day 4 - Sicily awaits

Day 3 - Relief and resurgence

Day 2 - Rain, pain and elevation gain

Day 1 - "One Volcano Sprint"

Day 0 - Registration and Pizza Briefing

Race Preview

The early mid-pack have been trickling in all day and with them come their tales from the road. All but one rider is yet to turn down a beer and an arancino, as there’s no more fitting way to end an Italian race. I’m told that they make the arancini differently down here and their teardrop shape is inspired by Mount Etna, as opposed to the spherical shape found elsewhere in Italy. I’ve done the testing, and they’re both delicious.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day7-22](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5dqzLsbWd2617XpW5Ae37f/32b2f8be702a4dc712efa981f4c28d02/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day7-22.jpg)

*Photographer Charlotte Gamus and drone pilot/driver Lily Buhring enjoying some delicacies at the finish.*

There’s no time cut this year, but those who made it to Nicolosi before 19:00 attended the finisher’s party and were treated to a traditional three course meal of antipasti, pasta and dolcetti. Those who didn’t will still be awarded a general classification finish. The evening also included a speech from Juliana who thanked the mayors of the towns of the two volcanoes in Ercolano and Nicolosi for their support of the race. The mayor of Nicolosi praised Juliana and was pleased to see the growth of the event. He also encouraged riders to return and enjoy Sicily by bike at a more leisurely pace, something that race veterans Fanny Benssusan and Sofiane Sehili did a handful of weeks ago, having pledged to return to the island after their 2VS races.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day7-15](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1aM3R2wTlN46koBQW19sJm/fd2b2fa8fee5cf9f97d29e251b315d70/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day7-15.jpg)

*Pictured left to right: race sponsor Vito Cinque, overall winner Pierfrancesco Santin, the Mayor of Nicolosi, first female Maria Minervino and Juliana Buhring.*

Juliana’s request for stories was met with hesitation but eventually riders took to the steps to share some of their experiences. The story which received the widest laughter from the room came from Robert Mueller, who on the night of the storm took shelter in the only place he could find which was a trash bin. After an hour of waiting out the storm he was able to keep riding again, but later found when fixing a puncture that his smell was attracting flies. A “Stench of Riders” is Rob Gardiner’s submission to pass a word for the plural of bikepackers and it’s never been more appropriate than now.

All the riders in Nicolosi awaited Maria Minervino who took the title of first female minutes before the party kicked off and gave Italy the double for winning the male and female categories. Both Maria and Pierfrancesco received a jersey each to mark their category wins. Maria confessed it was the toughest thing she’s ever done, she signed up for her first ultra race thinking the distance would be the same as last year, but turned up regardless of the additional 400km.

The first rider in this morning was Filippo Nicoli, the Italian whose first racing season included Seven Serpents, TransAtlantic Way, NorthCape4000 and Badlands, all topped off with 2VS. A heavy season for a seasoned rider, let alone a rookie, and one he says he’s happy to have completed but wouldn’t repeat. Filippo chose to nap at the 1,900m summit of Mt Etna only thirty minutes from the finish early this morning when he felt that descending in his fatigued and hungry state would be a dangerous option. Safe in the knowledge his 13th position was secured and once tucked up in his warm sleeping bag, his 30 minute nap quickly became 4 hours. He arrived at the finish fresher and more lucid than any other rider, and somehow more composed than some of those who finished yesterday. A wise and safe decision indeed.

Martijn Driedonks was able to return his borrowed saddle pack to its rightful owner and retrieve his broken Tailfin, having stepped on it an hour before the race started and snapped a hanger. Martijn claims the last 120km were some of the hardest of the race with its two mountains to climb even though he trains in the Dutch Mountains. He was delighted to learn that his contemporary, Victor Ekland, took his sage advice and decided to replace his tyre in Messina, as well as a restock on inner tubes.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day7-12](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2jNpcFfxnTlOqrGMGZhwzW/90b151f5c7d60e5eef06d51eb729e5d1/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day7-12.jpg)

*Martijn regails some of his tales from the road*

There are still nine riders out of the course, all of whom are set to finish within the next three day, and they will all be awarded a GC finish. We’ll be keeping an eye on their dots as they trickle in over the next few days.

*All images: James Robertson*

Aspromonte translates directly as “rough mountain”, a sentiment all riders so far concur as the 1,300m descent off the Aspromonte National Park to the ferry in Villa San Giovanni has been rattling bones and bearings all day. A fast descent on paper belies the ruggedness of the tarmac with gravel indiscriminately strewn across the descent and mushy autumn leaves shoulder the roads through the forests.

![953E1CF6-BDA5-4C10-A2E9-E935691B0575-20090-000002B5C8973350](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2kGck7hrCfvAkBHtQaodP2/678f2252e5b9fedc0d489287d88bef93/953E1CF6-BDA5-4C10-A2E9-E935691B0575-20090-000002B5C8973350.jpg)

*Luís Luz on the smoother North side of the Aspromonte Mountains. Image: Charlotte Gamus*

The bikes on the sixth day are ticking with those familiar but unplaceable sounds of a two-wheeled machine who’s been overworked and underpressure for the best part of a week. Some TLC awaits those, but they must make their final run across Sicily into Nicolosi first.

![54EE301B-892E-47CF-9E2B-C8D01A25CE37-11685-000001E42A048A6D](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2USzmcnH9zSQE6KHge365Q/af8119a1ae8ec2f2c34ab4d442dfee38/54EE301B-892E-47CF-9E2B-C8D01A25CE37-11685-000001E42A048A6D.jpg)

*The ferry crossing is notorious for its arancini offering. Image: Charlotte Gamus*

Early this morning, Riccardo Kuhar made it onto the ferry at 01:18, a mere two minutes before departure. We watched from the deck as Kilian Wagner’s last dot was within the ferry port but he still needed to buy his ticket from the infopoint. In a wicked twist of fate he made it to the end of the queuing bays only to be disallowed entry and watched as the ramp to the ferry mercilessly lifted, and with it his competitor gained an 80 minute advantage.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day5-72](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5WtjGlFrUMX6V4ymkbVk5Q/01c762e92f8bd63459b382302b184ad4/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day5-72.jpg)

*Leonard and Robert duel on Mt Etna until the final kilometres. Image: James Robertson*

For many, the ferry marks the beginning of the end and they can almost taste the finish. Each riders approaches the final 200km in their own way, honouring their own ride with their own intent. Where Robert Reinecke and Leonard “Hammertime” Hammerstein battled it out on the slopes of Etna to take the final place in the top ten three minutes apart, Martijn Driedonks approaches his final leg differently and will take a rest in a hotel tonight to ensure he can ride the final ~100km steadily and arrive to the finisher’s party with a little more energy.

Over the past day’s riding, Martijn has shared some kilometres with Victor Eklund and has developed something of a paternal relationship with his younger competitor. Victor has been plagued with a ripped sidewall from early in the race and has spent much time and energy mcgivering various fixes. His current bodge includes a tyre boot around the tyre which is held in place with some tape and zip ties. When Victor shared that he would look for a bike shop in Messina to buy some new inner tubes in case his tyre fix failed again, Martijn suggested that it might just be best to replace the entire tyre. 

![EF5CCEA7-8A3E-431B-9F0F-93595DE103E9-20090-000002B5F70E181A](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6VfcjEeaEPliMlPwYdACv8/eb8340f6af949e36b5f7c66509907be5/EF5CCEA7-8A3E-431B-9F0F-93595DE103E9-20090-000002B5F70E181A.jpg)

*Leonard and Martijn on the final climb in the Aspromonte Mountains. Image: Charlotte Gamus*

Riders are reporting how cold it is during the night and the Aspromonte Plateau is a hostile place to bivvy. With temperatures in the low single digits and high humidity, it’s not a popular place to bed down for the night and most riders are pushing on to the ferry in search of warmth and more hotel-like conditions on board.

# Scratch Report

The finishers party tomorrow night looms; there are a handful of riders who have scratched and are making their way via public transport and riding to the finish. The total scratch count is twenty riders, meaning we could have almost as many scratchers as finishers for tomorrow night’s celebration.

Jan Bobbink's long list of mechanical woes were enough for the bike mechanic to diagnose fixing his bike as expensive as just buying a new one in the current bike parts market. Having disembarked the ferry late afternoon, he'll be staying on the East coast of Sicily and riding his own route to the finish for tomorrow. One of these mechanicals on the first day prevented him from watching his home football team, Ajax, play Naples.

Tolga Alpagot scratched yesterday due to feeling sluggish and knowing he wouldn't make his plane home. A common reason for those with pre-booked onward travel.

Eugenia Belloni Pocoroba will not be on the finishers list due to needing to seek medical attention from some superficial dog bites. She is well and taking due precautions.

Christopher Kraus and Patrick Doupe are both out due to mechanicals, however, Patrick has been making good use of some spare time and set up a new Instagram page called [My Jersey Pocket Takes Photos](https://www.instagram.com/myjerseypockettakesphotos/). Roberto Bianco is out due to a crash which cracked his frame.

Pair 103, Leho Rips and Tarmo Tarlap, scratched in the beautiful city of Matera and they wanted to stay there and it was too good to go!

*Header image: Charlotte Gamus*

In a time of 4D 9H 47M, Pierfrancesco Santin took the win at this year's Two Volcano Sprint, arriving in Nicolosi after one final climb up Mount Etna a little before 3pm today. Arriving to his parents and a bottle of bubbly, he was ecstatic to have defended his early lead to the finish line after 1,607km of racing. He believes one of the key moments to his win was his attack during the third night. After the diversion on the third day, he and Bruno were riding closely together, until Bruno stopped to sleep and Pierfrancesco capitalised on this by attacking and never looking back.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day5-39](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6mim9vg5J2ZaT29rOpDw06/18713b7d1848a43083bdc02de7a2a12f/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day5-39.jpg)

*Pierfrancesco found a much better use for the bottle of fizz his parents brought him at the finish. Image: James Robertson*

The podium has been rounded out with Robert Mueller in second, a little over three hours behind Pierfrancesco, and Sebastian Sarx another three hours behind Robert.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day5-60](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2v2ANRZqi4eadw2IKa8ou9/d9a4b925769ff3b8092512c31fb7b3b0/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day5-60.jpg)

*Sebastian Sarx finishing his finisher's beer in Nicolosi. Image: James Robertson*

# Ferry Drama 

This morning's dotwatching was mostly occupied with amazement at Pierfrancesco and Robert's return trip on the ferry. Neither rider got off their respective ferry in Sicily and stayed on board for a return trip back to mainland Italy. For Pierfrancesco this was intentional, in order to make the most of somewhere to rest, charge electronics and eat. Much like a hotel on water. Whereas Robert Mueller's missed disembark was an accident but one that hasn't cost him a position.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day5-52](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1ZxJiTsyDIaB5rpudgpc7A/31ac5a64fffe06e5910cc325335cc7c1/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day5-52.jpg)

*Robert is congratulated by Race Organiser, Juliana. Image: James Robertson*

Robert Mueller inexplicably stopped with approximately 50km to the ferry having spent the previous few hours closing Pierfrancesco’s 80 minute gap to 60 minutes which increased the chances of them being on the same ferry. His stop allowed Pierfrancesco to extend his lead to three hours, which he held on to the finish. We have since learned that Robert has been racing without any data and therefore no ability to watch the dots, meaning he had no idea how close he was to Pierfrancesco or any other rider for that matter. When he did finally connect to WiFi on the ferry and again at the finish he phone incessantly pinged with notifications after four days without access to internet.

# Those still out there

At the halfway mark, Anatole Naimi sat in 16th having slipped down the rankings due to a puncture around 700km. Over the remaining half he's been slowly picking off the 10 riders ahead of him and has every chance of overtaking Christian in the final 120km to take fifth overall. We saw him at the Statue of Christ the Redeemer on the evening of the third day and he was on a mission to make up for lost time earlier that day. Anatole's second half of the race has been an excellent display of good pacing and patience.

Christophe Claris has been struck by the dreaded Shermer's Neck, a breakdown of the neck muscles which prevents him from lifting his own head. His solution has been to tie his helmet to his saddle which means his head, and in fact his entire race, are being held together by string. He's hopeful he'll be able to make it to the finish in 500km time, he’s still able to muster a smile.

![0A7E346B-C681-4DFB-A41E-CAEF46C2E04A-11666-000001917B8B2442](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1AKNSwOoYwhWzeppuBPcLt/42ee884a8d3f7e7ff9bff7ad61e90450/0A7E346B-C681-4DFB-A41E-CAEF46C2E04A-11666-000001917B8B2442.jpg)

*Image: Charlotte Gamus*

Robert Reinecke currently sits in 12th place with 500km to go, it's worth knowing that he finished 45th last year. He attests this improvement to setting daily distance goals and reducing stopped time during the day whilst sticking to 4-5 hours of rest per night. He is physically in the same shape as last year but came to this race much better prepared mentally. He also raced Transpyrenees earlier this year and executed a successful 10th place. A great lesson in goal setting and preparation.

![F5695F9E-4257-4765-818B-07DC025117C5-9708-000001588BA3A95B](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3202R1OtZiajcXuBfsnsCN/8248ee78db732db773f14166d588ea95/F5695F9E-4257-4765-818B-07DC025117C5-9708-000001588BA3A95B.jpg)

*Image: Charlotte Gamus*

One thing to note at this point in the race is that some of the riders who haven’t charged their trackers since the start will find that their tracker’s batteries are starting to die, so don’t be alarmed if a dot greys out at an unusual time of day. Check their battery life which, like Christian Auriemma and Bruno Wicht’s, might be 1%!

One can watch autumn crawl down the Calabrian mountain sides as the trees atop the mountain redden before those at lower altitudes and the new season’s colourway creeps down the mountains into the valleys.

In sixteenth place, Erik Arribillaga was the first rider to stop and eat at Catasta Pollino, the gateway into the Pollino National Park, which had offered riders free drinks and half price meals. Even out of food service hours, they prepared Erik a panini, which should go a little way to soothe his woes of having no rear brake since 240km into the race. Erik and others claim that 2VS is their hardest race so far, not only because of the climbing and the bad weather on the second day but also because there are at times long stretches between resupplies but stumbling across an open cafe at 04:30 is a treat indeed. There’s also half a day of darkness which can be tough on morale for some.

The upcoming obstacle for riders will be the ferry to cross from mainland Italy into Sicily, from there it’s a little under 200km run into the finish in Nicolosi. Pierfrancesco still leads the pack and, at the time of writing, has 70km to the ferry. The ferry runs a reduced timetable through the night; after 21:35 there are departures once every 80 minutes, instead of the 40 minute intervals during the day. Second place Robert Mueller is currently exactly 80 minutes behind Pierfrancesco making it almost inconceivable the two could end up on the same ferry unless Pierfrancesco falters or Robert makes inroads on his lead, which he has been doing all day and is much more rested. An 80 minute advantage with 200km to the finish would hold Pierfrancesco in great stead for a win, but it’s also a closable gap. We’ll know more by 01:20 which is both Pierfrancesco’s exact ETA to the ferry port and the time of the early morning ferry… There is also a midnight ferry if one of them pushes on now.

The riders I’ve spoken to today are all looking ahead to the finisher’s party at 19:30 on Tuesday evening. There are currently 23 riders who are averaging the daily average needed to make it in time, but that number will almost certainly change as some scratch or slow down and others behind them push on through the final night. A sentiment that’s echoed through the top 20 is the goal of a five-day finish has slipped out of their grasp and many are now aiming for the party. Victor Eklund is one of these riders, and we suspect his fresh set of bib shorts he treated himself to this morning will help with his spirit to Nicolosi.

![1F05E220-AAEA-44B5-94A4-5F5DA0485494-384-000000069908BAD6](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5nFxD9qiESkeed12fZJGFi/6cc88b8220e7b04cddb20568d942a399/1F05E220-AAEA-44B5-94A4-5F5DA0485494-384-000000069908BAD6.jpg)

*Image: Charlotte Gamus*

Last night saw one rider successfully pass through the diverted road at Tortora; Kilian Wagner was riding without checking his phone and missed the updates from Juliana about the diversion, meaning he ploughed on up the original route anyway. Even though there’s been some work to clear the mudslides, he was still struck with peanut butter mud sticking to the sidewalls of his tyres and clogging up his wheels. Made worse by the tumble he took on the mud and the puncture later on this section. His spirits were high and ruefully remarked on how every descent ended with yet another climb.

![21124A61-B2BE-4334-A05F-374B5E4B5259-384-0000007920BDD827](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1tJ88GqLiIHC6oOSVV0FOm/63710d67343526c629531df8817aee53/21124A61-B2BE-4334-A05F-374B5E4B5259-384-0000007920BDD827.jpg)

*Image: Charlotte Gamus*

One reason to keep riding through the night is to stay warm in the low temperatures. The cold nights in southern Italy have caught riders out in previous editions, and our car temperature gauge clocked 5 degrees celsius at 9pm in Villaggio Mancuso. This year’s riders appear to be better prepared, some even report their sleep kit is so warm it’s hard to get out of it. We all know that feeling. One thing that may catch them off guard is the mushroom pasta festival tomorrow which has made finding a hotel room a challenge for us, and likely will be for riders tomorrow evening. But at least there will be plenty of pasta to go round!

*Header image: James Robertson*

The effort of making it through yesterday has taken its toll on much of the midpack and many riders burnt a few matches, however, they’ve been rewarded with clearer skies and even some sunshine to warm their bones. The hotels of the Apennines did well last night as many riders sought shelter from the storms. In the top 20, there are a handful of riders who stopped for between five and seven hours last night which allowed them to reset and start this morning refreshed ready for their journey south. Although they do have the task of making up for that stationary time or awaiting their competitors to falter over the remaining 600km.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day3-10](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6LWFAiYPgUouMV20nLdefy/36d001e6030044f091e096aaec199f66/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day3-10.jpg)

*Image: James Robertson*

Leaders Pierfrancesco and Bruno have crossed paths throughout the day and there’s currently only 4km between them, they are pictured together in the header image. Pierfrancesco is currently in second place but does have almost six hours rest in his legs from last night, whereas Bruno only totalled three hours. Early race leader, Robert Mueller, has slipped to fourth place due to needing to stop for over nine and a half hours last night. The first ninety minute stop was in an attempt to charge his devices whilst the rain beat down outside the wheelie bin he’d hijacked as a shelter. With no luck to charge his lights, he was forced to stop and wait out the darkness for a whopping eight hours. Testament to his speed and efficiency during the day as he’s been able to make up some places.

![2VS-8192](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3XXHsH1yEpxKpWSyScCqcx/20e6d5873204adafc31cd16020246e58/2VS-8192.jpg)

*Image: Charlotte Gamus*

Speaking of speed and efficiency, you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching the start of a cyclocross race when Victor Ekland, Anatole Naimi and Luís Luz ascended the hairpins and steps to the Statue of Christ. I witnessed experimental bike carrying techniques being used and clearly some jostling for position. The swell of the pack is in or around Maratea, a returning feature from 2021 is the Statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking Maratea and the coast. Riders are required to dismount their bikes and walk a lap around the statue, or power walk if you’re in the race. Anatole had done enough walking today after a 20km stretch on his feet due to punctures between 700-725km. The replay shows us Kilian Wagner overtook him when he was walking which we imagine must have stung.

There's tangible relief from riders today who all awoke to dry conditions after yesterday's storms. With kit dry and a renewed spirit, riders continue on but now face the aftereffects of the heavy rain. Around Tortora the route was subject to landslides which has resulted in a diversion which can be seen in red on Follow My Challenge.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day3-15](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/0oU8wfaoPBss2TF117Z1I/ea9c198ec1cb4afbf6a9943a1464a555/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day3-15.jpg)

*Image: James Robertson*

One rider who missed the diversion and continued along the original route is Kilian Wagner which has so far cost him seven places and counting…

The road conditions are not the smooth Italian Alpine and Dolomiti surfaces we know and love. Many roads are broken with cracks and subsidence from seasons of neglect. I’m told a disproportionate level of funds are directed to the north of Italy, leaving Southerners to look out for one another. It turns out they’re also looking out for our riders and Luís Luz was treated to some local hospitality when the owner of his guesthouse last night welcomed him in and fed him well when he arrived dripping wet, he says he was made to feel like her son. She also refused to let him pay for his coffee in the morning.

One of the greatest fatalities from the rain has been riders’ electronics. Almost every rider we’ve talked to has reported soaked cables which have prevented any charging and forced them to go in search of new cables this morning. Some even lost two hours whilst hunting for a replacement. They’ll be hoping they keep these and themselves dry until Nicolosi.

All but three riders have made it through Matera, Laurent Niederst, John Cooke and Eugenia Belloni Pocoroba will be the final riders whose GPS units beep constantly over the cobbles of the crooked narrow streets of the old town with its maze of streets.

*Header Image: Charlotte Gamus*

Since the early evening last night, the pack have been making their way through the Apennine Mountains which traverse the spine of the whole country from north to south. Riding away from the warmer coast and up into the mountains has treated riders to the early signs of Autumn in the cooler higher elevations. The hillsides are littered with trees of varying shades of light yellow to rich red. The single carriageway roads through the forests have their edges carpeted with the fallen leaves.

![879E5FA1-0299-402B-A057-8AC7DF2E1FC0-45504-0000065051675E13](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6CK11ynl5tUfuTSV92xW5b/6a25fe3655feac3d27d186438e805a21/879E5FA1-0299-402B-A057-8AC7DF2E1FC0-45504-0000065051675E13.jpg)

*Image: Charlotte Gamus*

The picturesque views from the coast have given way to the Apennine Mountains with its forested hillsides dotted with small farms and later the agrarian landscapes of the flatter lands. With no flat land on the western side, farms drape themselves down the steep mountain faces, the same gradients that prevent riders from easily eating on the go, as it’s almost all up and downhill with no respite. It’s on these roads that the leaders spent much of the nightime in the dry, but the mid-pack faced these steep gradients in the pouring rain late this morning and throughout the afternoon.

At these elevations there’s enough snow in winter to warrant small ski stations and ski lifts from the tarmac up the mountainsides. The weather plaguing riders currently is the heavy rain that’s being dumped on them. Last year’s foul weather acted as a warning for the weather riders can expect and many have come prepared, fortunately it’s not as cold as last year. I’m told there was frost on the ground early in the morning last year.

The heavens opened and much of the mid-pack looked to the cafes and bars of the villages for some shelter and warm food. Roberto Bianco was treated with a hairdryer to transform his items from drenched to just soggy. Pair 101 always has a good tale to tell and 101b, aka Ian Appleby, aka Fuzz, took to a pair of self-customised marigolds to keep his hands as dry as possible. When 101a, John Appleby, was asked why he crashed he confessed that he just “ran out of talent”. We’ve all been there. Renato Caudullo also took to a pair of marigolds and a plastic bag for under his helmet as a barrier against the rain. If only there were jackets that came with integrated plastic head coverings.

Riders were so wet and their hands so sodden, their fingerprint sensor didn't even recognise their own fingerprint.

![87D62F2A-F94E-41C1-8BF3-D203A717A09F-568-0000001C52D11AF0](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3vkO1ks1wPLIJHEf0BUkWo/bb9bb465f9c643a575c7ac045ba250c2/87D62F2A-F94E-41C1-8BF3-D203A717A09F-568-0000001C52D11AF0.jpg)

*Image: Charlotte Gamus*

# Matera

The old town of Matera sweeps along the western hillside of the valley where cave dwellings have made room for a beautiful white stone old town almost inaccessible to vehicles with a network of pedestrian streets and steps. It has been built on and overlooks the caves of Metera’s original inhabitants from over 9,000 years ago. The buildings in this walled city are built into the hillsides and have been added to over the years, the colour of its stone indicates how long it’s been standing, much like rings in a tree trunk.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day2-14](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2mNYnmGtWTo9oTvMVf22P2/26fc9a2ef430a194021e95bee3c57354/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day2-14.jpg)

*Image: James Robertson*

Much of Italian history is behind fences and stands proudly as a nod to Italy’s rich past, whereas this city is a bustling hub of tourism and locals. Nothing in this city stands still and as the third oldest continuously lived in city in the world, I doubt it ever has.

# To sleep, or not to sleep?

The sleep strategies have varied widely. In the top ten, only current second place Robert Mueller took longer than four hours last night and was able to regain eight eight positions after he awoke in tenth place having bedded down in the lead. Sebastian Sarx took nearly two and a half hours rest, but Robert is much better rested than all his competitors. He appears to have rested for ninety minutes in some shelter at the 712km mark already this evening, likely to sit out the thunderstorm that’s raining down on the leading riders around Control Car 1.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day2-1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6n3Ib9gIhvna2kp1hQcyh3/133a617dc5f7abd95f5c80da687504c8/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day2-1.jpg)

Pierfrancesco Santin (pictured above) is the current race leader and, having overtaken Robert since last night, he’s held a comfortable lead. Pierfrancesco met Andrew Phillips, last year’s 2VS winner,  at the pizza briefing and informed him that he dotwatched Andrew at the Transcontinental Race this year and was the supporter who played Eye of the Tiger to Andrew near the Italy-Slovenia border. Pierfrancesco is yet to sleep and I’ve been told he looked a lot worse for wear when CC1 saw him earlier. He’ll need to rest at some point, surely? And when he does, there’ll be Bruno and Robert nibbling into his lead.

As Juliana, the race organiser, says "getting enough rest can make all the difference when playing the long game." As she's ridden around the world, we'll take her word for it.

Alex Armstrong had some troublesome tyre problems [since the beginning](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cjn4IiagHj7/), which he was able to fix but ultimately cost him 12 hours. He had planned to ride through the night in order to catch up but is now holed up in a hotel in Grassano following a crash, with a fellow rider who has shared his room for the night.

# A look ahead

In order to reach the finish party on Tuesday evening, six and a half days after starting, riders need to average 246km per day and 5,500m of climbing. Riders who are currently outside of this daily average are from 28th position and behind, including all pairs. It’ll be tight for those top 28 who may need to resort to resting more given today’s antics and the toll a day of wet riding can take on you.

![86C09769-D689-4FE8-93E7-5B7913EAFB4E-359-0000000E9A313B19](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1ueDYUoSsqmde4zW066DAj/09db9856a4963fdf1e26ae98f7c2c482/86C09769-D689-4FE8-93E7-5B7913EAFB4E-359-0000000E9A313B19.jpg)

*Image: Charlotte Gamus*

# Scratch Report

Marco Bolletta is a scratch due to a mechanical problem last night which has caused his disc rotor to continuously rub. I speak neither Italian nor bike mechanics, so I can’t tell you any more than that I’m afraid.

Francesco Pizzo scratched yesterday morning due to crashing on the descent down Mt Vesuvio.

Regardless of the terrible weather riders have faced, there are still only two scratches. We suspect that will have changed come morning, but for now all riders should sleep well in the knowledge they’ve made it through the worst of the weather.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day2-37](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4lGJBmJJ9SIW0NgSDNxefF/a78c014bbe3c84896325f3e38df46214/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day2-37.jpg)

*Above image and header image: James Robertson*

The race’s 5am start was attended by the Mayor of Ercolano, who previous race winner, Andrew Phillips, affectionately refers to as the most handsome man in Italy. He’s immaculately dressed in his suit and brown leather shoes before the sun has even risen, perfect for his appearance on national TV who are at the start to broadcast some good news to the Italians.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson-57](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/Yof33X2Hya8YYxULkhcNk/e35dce8b3bccb83babc9dd7dc330260a/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson-57.jpg)

# Sea to Summit to Sea

Juliana has wasted no time in acquainting the riders with the climbing 2VS has become notorious for and routed riders straight up from Ercolano, a neighbouring city to Naples, to the summit of Mount Vesuvio. It’s become customary for this one ascent to allow one rider to throw down the gauntlet and express their intentions of winning. In previous years we’ve seen the grimaces of racers indicating just how deep they’re willing to go in order to claim victory on this summit. Erik Arribilagga takes the crown this year but at a mighty cost, when asked his name at the summit he can barely put two words together between breathes. He eventually exclaims “it’s one volcano sprint, right?”. Wrong, Erik. Very wrong. Nonetheless, we love a show!

The second climb of the morning takes riders off the tarmac and up Monte Faito, with a smattering of cobblestones to keep the riders alert on the climb and smoother tarmac on the descent.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson Day1-08](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4VY7bvS8lhJyFYiziFwF1K/371f4a9180fec4ec65b984aa9811037c/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson_Day1-08.jpg)

*Image: James Robertson*

At the 86km mark riders were spoiled rotten by race sponsor the Il San Pietro Di Positano hotel who laid out a spectacular breakfast spread for riders. Their Maitre D’ staffed the table who fortunately is also a cyclist and will be sympathetic to the riders’ needs and haste. Riders didn’t even need to fill their own bottles. It should be stressed that no rider should get accustomed to this kind of treatment, they’ll be riding on their wits and smarts for the remaining 1,500km.

We spot a set of flat pedals on a bike and Victor Eklund tells us they’re to prevent a repeat of the achilles pain he felt in Three Peaks Bike Race earlier this year, a fellow European race for the grimpeurs. We await to see if this decision will pay off.

Following the hotel the riders are treated to the Amalfi coastal road. Winding through the quaint white villages where the water is as blue as in the photos, they do however face some significant tourist traffic, but it’s all worth it for the views.

![CBAF2875-2D2C-4ED8-B217-719D9BF543B1-31867-0000045F51ECD80F](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2dU8rNLMPma0FqE6eHmfCA/72f1b61192236a350ae6f93543692b40/CBAF2875-2D2C-4ED8-B217-719D9BF543B1-31867-0000045F51ECD80F.jpg)

*Image: Charlotte Gamus*

Once they dropped down off the high road to sea level, they made their way along some much faster flat roads towards Pasteum, a tourist hot spot for its well-preserved Greek temples and some resupply. Grateful for the dry conditions but not the heat, riders were tucking in to gelatos and refilling bottles ahead of a more remote stretch south. Jan Willem Bobbink’s main concern was finding somewhere to watch Napoli play his Dutch team Ajax. We doubt he’ll find many fellow Ajax supporters in this area…

![3E2CAE3D-6DE1-4207-87A8-B8104B589CC6-31867-0000049C9DBF3438](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3YSYITlDebczrHtgQFgW9q/37e1d00a9a1a5c43a843b78e8c635a00/3E2CAE3D-6DE1-4207-87A8-B8104B589CC6-31867-0000049C9DBF3438.jpg)

*Image: Charlotte Gamus*

The road works at 207km were a spicy surprise addition to the race. We watched as the digger pulled up what was left of the tarmac ahead of resurfacing and riders were subject to a long gravel climb interjected with two felled trees to climb over and a narrow excavated channel in the road. When asked about his thought process behind his toe covers, Patrick Doupe describes them as a sacrifice to the gods as their underside is looking a little worse for wear thanks to this spontaneous parcours. An offering he hopes they’re grateful for.

![F6AE1EC3-F31D-48C4-8125-1BDC87459629-35413-000004D4A05F526F](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5xsumDiGTHRYdKQi3AndsG/bde6613c89d2fa8b86b06f3f08da8357/F6AE1EC3-F31D-48C4-8125-1BDC87459629-35413-000004D4A05F526F.jpg)

A man who’s suffered at the hands of the God of Road Works is Jaco Wessels, a South African living in California, he’s no stranger to gravel but he was struck down just as his front wheel made it onto the tarmac and his rear wheel flatted, he then battled problems with it for the succeeding hour. A ripped sidewall left him with the only option of tubing his tubeless wheel and attempting to boot the tyre four different times. Say a prayer for him and his Pirelli lightweight inner tubes.

![F3F48053-18C9-427D-AF42-0882EAB53E4D-35413-000004D24174F96A](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3wpAoSmzPpcgZbpXI2Mu5e/fe5c7bdcb96c1ca3e0cadcb784ea118b/F3F48053-18C9-427D-AF42-0882EAB53E4D-35413-000004D24174F96A.jpg)

The remaining route to Matera is full of short steep climbs that will force riders off the bike and to walk. The hillsides echo with the sound of a freehub from both the climbing without pedalling and the descending.

While the two leaders Sebastian Sarx and Robert Mueller appear to be neck and neck, the trailing nine riders have only 15km between them. We’ll see some gaps appear overnight as sleep strategies take hold, the positions on the first night can mean very little come Mt Etna. There’s rain forecast tomorrow morning which, if it rolls in early, may catch a few riders out who haven’t packed enough for what are surprisingly cold nights, and we see a repeat of last year where there’s a shake up at the front when some of the faster riders are forced to scratch when they came a cropper in the bad weather on the first night. Deja vu?

*Header image: Charlotte Gamus*

The answer to the question “where’s good for food around here?” is met with a shrug of the shoulders and a gesture to the heavens. It’s all good for food in Naples.

The registration in the Archeological Museum in Ercolano goes smoothly as riders are checked in, their trackers handed over and they collect their caps. The mechanic on hand is kept busy with the many bike-related ailments the steeds have suffered during travel, the common complaints are rear derailleurs that have taken a bump and tubeless tyres that need reseating since they’ve been deflated for travel. The mechanic tells us this is his third year on the job, and the easiest to date. With only one new chain replaced this year, it massively beats three years ago when he handed out ten new chains.

![56E337A5-BA05-4767-AF52-6A304CEA0B86-26387-000003AEB7846C2F](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6yQWHfX8qdQreXME3a6K0l/7ade9aaef1f2c427cf958a28429af628/56E337A5-BA05-4767-AF52-6A304CEA0B86-26387-000003AEB7846C2F.jpg)

*Image: Charlotte Gamus*

If you could draw a caricature of an Italian race briefing, you needn’t look further than tonight’s pizza briefing. The tables are fll of the green bottles of Peronis and San Pellegrino, and riders tuck in to croquettes to start, followed by pizzas and a selection of dolce. They do say this ultra racing business is in fact an eating competition.

Juliana informs riders of the most important aspects of the race, including the following:
- Breakfast will be laid out for them at the 86km mark in front of the Il San Pietro di Positano hotel, a race sponsor, but they’ll need to work for it as there are two mountains in between.
- A local restaurant is also supporting riders with free drinks and half price meals after 876km of riding to Polino. 
- Reiterates the self-supported racing and emphasises the no drafting rule and no riding together for longer than hour
- A warning for the potential deterioration of roads in Southern Italy.

![2VS 2022 JamesRobertson-13](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6Gll9pqSUjgJ7DPeBTkUtT/30793b80fdfa30851affbffb4f682b12/2VS_2022_JamesRobertson-13.jpg)

*Image: James Robertson*

I’ve written previously that 2VS serves as a season closer, however, for 2022 there isn’t the same calibre of racers lining up as in the past. Almost all the riders here are unproven, which makes it all the more exciting. One rider whose name those who followed the Trans Pyrenees Race will recognise is __Robert Muller__ (pictured above). The understated and unflappable German who arrived in Saint-Jean-de-Luz with a broken fork which forced him to race and ultimately win on a hire bike. He was able to replace his fork in Napoli before the start here but has been living on his bike and his wits since he won back in Saint-Jean-de-Luz a mere seven days ago.

It's all to race for over the next 1,600km.

*Header image: James Robertson*

Two Volcano Sprint has cemented itself as a season closer on the European calendar; a last ditch attempt at a result ahead of a winter’s training. This race between two volcanos takes riders through Southern Italy’s finest roads with all of the delights of Italian food along the way.

![2021 1013 15151700(2)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5q0AFWd4lU2RfbBfbTGPhQ/67a4e55a828526a26f11cba37088318e/2021_1013_15151700_2_.jpg)

*Fiona Kolbinger enjoys some pre-race carb loading in 2021. Image: James Robertson*

In previous editions, the race distance has just tipped the scales over 1,000km, but has been extended to 1,620km this year. Very much stretching the definition of a sprint… These additional kilometres have been added in the first half of the route, directing riders further east and inland than they’ve ever gone before to Matera, and added climbing.

Registration will take place in the Virtual Archeological Museum in the ancient city of Ercolano which is directly next door to the Herculaneum ruins, riders can expect a very authentic experience from this well-preserved ancient city.

# When in Naples

Where else would you hold a race briefing for an Italian race than in a pizzeria? At 17:30 on Tuesday, it will all start to feel very real for riders as Juliana will update riders with any changes, confirm the information they’ve received so far, and wish them well.

# The Route

Southern Italy may not reach the vertiginous heights of its Northern lands, but it's certainly not flat. The continuous rolling nature of the route is arguably harder than the rhythmic nature of the longer climbs in the Alps and Dolomites which makes packing light a wise decision.

![2021 1017 05325300 (2)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3uhDc4SxOsdg8jR0XT0Su4/2211c6f62a76a6692a9f826a8704dcd4/2021_1017_05325300__2_.jpg)

Riders tackle the slopes of the first volcano the moment the metaphorical flag drops and head away from the shores of the Gulf of Naples up Mount Vesuvius before descending the exact road they just climbed. This out-and-back climb-descent tactic is one Juliana is not shy to inflict on riders; it can be an excellent psychological boost for those leading and a monumental blow for those behind who watch the leaders whip past on the descent as they continue to pedal squares.

The Appenine Mountains run down the spine of Italy and riders will cross them from their western faces to reach Metera on the east. Often referred to as one of the longest continually inhabited places in the world, this ancient city is known for its cave-like dwellings. Being an UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s unlikely anyone will profit from these perfect bivvy spots.

![293319447 436669078341777 7811311776889487903 n (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2SioIqkrOOOzQf9xfAdnaz/3b478ce8d89886a8e6e68b53af5f55a4/293319447_436669078341777_7811311776889487903_n__1_.jpg)

The crossing from mainland Italy to Sicily will likely prove to be more decisive than last year as the route’s been reversed and what was the crossing at the 200km mark is now at 1,430km with only 200km of racing remaining. The crossing takes only 20 minutes and they run every 15-30 minutes through the daytime and every 80 minutes from 21:30 to 06:00, meaning that it’s anyone’s guess who will take which ferries!

Two Volcano Sprint was set up with a social mission behind it, and each year donates proceeds from the race to a different environmentally and socially sustainable cause each year. For this year’s edition, the support will go towards assisting Ukrainian refugees settling in the region of Campania, the region around Naples.

Follow along as our Contributing Editor, Beccy Waters, reports (eats) her way down Italy.

*Header image: Charlotte Gamus*

Beccy Waters

Two Volcano Sprint Tracking 2022: Race Tracking and Commentary for Two Volcano Sprint 2022 + A staple of the ultra calendar which has become the European season finale.

Two Volcano Sprint Tracking 2022

A staple of the ultra calendar which has become the European season finale, 2VS is Juliana Buhring's offering to the ultra world and initiative to promote eco-sustainability in South Italy. A road route between Mount Vesuvio and Mount Etna with some spicy climbs and terrain in between.

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