Route Preview

Ultra Biking Sardinia 2023, Race Preview

With 1 hr 30mins left before the time cut off of 60 hours expires, the first to depart on Friday morning, Fiona Shorten rolls in to the finish. There is just Domenico Fresu and Andrej Zaman still on the course, their dots have frozen on the tracking page but they are both with in a km or so of the finish.

First time ultra racer Fiona has taken on the brutal course in hard (hot) conditions and timed it perfectly to get in the shower before being handed a drink and food at the finishers party.

We have seen the course time lowered considerably by Cristian Bianchetti. Along with other superstars of the ultra racing scene, and the riders who just dreamed to finish in the challenging time limit, Ultra Biking Sardinia has proven to be a significant end of season race. Bring on the 2024 edition.   

UBS790 2023 is a Wrap

The morinig update starts with an update from last night! Sholto made it thru CP2 just in time, he continues to race as close to the time limit as possible maximising his time sleeping and eating pizza while on this wonderful route.

![Sholto pizza](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1KTuaXD6rmlfC46jsOckj1/9892bf2d82f6ca9c206aaf12d9f591e5/Screenshot_20231015_070843_Instagram.jpg)

I had a quick look at the tracker late last night and about 20 dots, the majority of the riders, were paused. I presume most were resting before a calculated start the next day to make the finish?

As of 8AM ish Sunday, that's 50hrs into the race, we have 18 finishers. Guy Marks being the latest successfully finishing what he started last year.

Ahead of him in 19th over all was the first placed Pair of Petr Uhlik and Hana Uhlikova. Well done to them.

Bruno Wicht, who looked to be a serious contender in the first half of the race overcame stomach problems in night one to finish in 13th.

__The BIG NEWS is that Bianca Brambilla came in equal 13th__ with Bruno making her the first woman back within the time limit across both editions of Ultra Biking Sardinia.

![Bianca ubs female winner](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6i6k0YyWe0jR3IMlBmS4ER/0cec2184732e66b995b5238627d032a9/IMG-20231015-WA0000-2.jpg)

She dropped back in position in the daytime yesterday. From what I can tell, taking a significant rest. She showed how hard she can ride in the fist 2 thirds of this race threatening for a top 10 placing. She is definitely one to watch in the future. With more experience in multi day ultra racing she will be a true contender for podium finishes I think.

There are 10 riders in total that have DNF'd, or have been timed out at the controls. (including 1 pair) 

This leaves 11 riders still on the course with about 8hrs left until the 60hour time limit. The last placed rider being Massimo Muttoni who has 115km to do in that time.

Sunday Morning Update

Cristian has smashed the second half of the race to take the win in a fastest course time of 30hrs58mins.

![Cristian ubs winner 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/75bHXHa5wvs963TMa1fPsX/f1638195bcb71c91ff7390d557877934/IMG-20231014-WA0010-2.jpg)

Somewhere along the route he seems to have found a huge cowbell which his fellow riders are to ring as they come in behined him! Daniele Relini places second 24mins behind and looks happy for his mate Christian to finish ahead of him.

![Cristian ubs winner2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2CUEp70cSyw0ZQkR4Iu7tE/fc8e3436b260d4f2804d2c971b827b9f/IMG-20231014-WA0011-2.jpg)

![Daniele ubs 2nd](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3HWlASwuZdsM3Hlt3TXCSB/9fbe36946481d1a4c14c4a40bcb5910b/20231014_135031-COLLAGE.jpg)

3rd step on the podium belongs to Xavier Burgos Rodrigez finishing in a time of 31hrs 49mins with his family waiting to greet him... you gotta love a man who needs his partner and kids at the finish line for a cuddle🥰

![Xavier UBS 3rd](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3vflBSNUrN5vHomkIpUyTk/c94dddce94eb81de00bdd2fe05a5bd99/20231014_134854-COLLAGE.jpg)

This has been a fast race with Omar di Felici due to finish in 4th within an hour or so. There is however a sizable gap between these hero's and the rest of the field.


Cristian BIanchetti wins UBS2023

Giampy the race organiser is excited about how the race is going. check out the [facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/ultrabikingsardinia)
for his updates and feed off his energy. It helps if you have some Italian but he has also written this day 1 update for us....

"The night has fallen on UBS790.. all Dreamers have reached the Time station 1 of cala gonone within the time limit.

Only Michele Marongiu had to leave because of the 5 puncture that compromised his adventure. Daniele Rellini has engaged a real battle with Cristian Bianchetti and Xavier Burgos. In the dark bruno wicht had to leave the leading group because of stomach problems.The moment we write Cristian proceeds fast towards the finish with an average race simply incredible enough to assume the arrival at 2.00 pm. The second edition of UBS790 testifies to the birth of a new star: Bianca Brambilla at the debut in ultracycling is conducting a test of great value: impresses her safety and tranquility in every situation. Omar di Felice holds the fourth position: unfortunately a problem at the exchange forces him to proceed with relations to  "fixed gear". We can only say one thing .... the level and average of this edition is really impressive and consecrates UBS790 as one of the most important UNSUPPORTED ultracycling events in the European panorama!"

Giampy


Giampy is excited!

As the 3 leaders, Christian, Xavier and Daniele head into the last 100km lets just check the status and implications to them being so close together.
![Leaders COLLAGE 100km to go](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7rt7cknVznOTnIleOoS2V7/fa9d93b6f5b86202d9b54b49891484ef/20231014_093705-COLLAGE.jpg)
![Ubs start sheet info](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/H1ArsxHbaKamoqrBLyoR1/1410f22fba7056ec14fd12133935eaf0/Screenshot_20231014_091419_Instagram.jpg)

Xavier started first at 0632hrs he would need to beat Cristian by 4mins and Daniele by 10mins to position ahead of them at the finish.


Into the last 100km for the 3 leaders

Morning all, we are 24hrs into UBS2023. The night time always changes things and this race is no different. We have a new leader with Christian out front, with a 10km gap to Daniele and Xavier. Along with Omar (another 20km behind) they are the only 4 riders to pass through Time Station 2 on the North Coast of the island. 
Christian rode the first edition of this race last year and, if he keeps up, this pace will easily beat his time and maybe even smash the fastest time set by Luciano Zattra last year. I am sure Giampy will be very exited to see riders pushing the limits on this course!!
Herbert Mans sits in 5th about 130km behined the leader.

![Ubs morning track pic](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3fF3wqMFVUmhRl7t8JzKkC/4174b495962d47683c8b7b41ecce67a2/Screenshot_20231014_063205_Samsung_Internet.jpg)

The next group to reach TS2 make up the top 10 positions. Herbert has a small gap to another 5 riders bunched close together. In 9th currently is Bianca. I wonder if any of this group are going to chase Herbert for that 5th place?

First time ultra racer Fiona is moving consistently and is currently in 26th place and approaching the half way point.

There have been 2 riders scratch in the night while Sholto is bringing up the rear at km278. let's see what the second day brings for him. It is forecast for more sunshine and hot temperatures which I am sure will take its toll on all the riders. 

Saturday Morning update

Its 14hrs since the riders left Alghero this morning. Night has well and truly fallen and the long night looms for the riders who choose continue through.

The leaders have reached the approximate half way point with Daniele Relini at about 390km. There has been a slight reshuffle of the following 3 competitors. Xavier Burgos Rodriguez is now in second only 6km behind Daniele, although Christian Bianchetti is with him and they appear to be swapping places from time to time. Bruno Wicht is only another 4km back. 

5th place is taken by Omar di Felici. He is 23km from Daniele so well within the leaders wake.

The terrain in the middle section of the race, which the riders will tackle through the night, is not quite as challenging as the 1st 250km, or what's to come in the latter 250km. They will have no problem finding pizza up till about 3am so expect some pizza breaks to be taken in the next few hours.

Bianca Brambilla has moved up into the top 10 with Gavino Ruzzu and Patrick leuenberger only just ahead.

Behind that there are a few riders off route around TS1 in Cala Gonone, probably taking a few hours rest or enjoying the sit down food option.

The back end of the race has about 12 riders not far from each other. As I write this they are climbing the Pass before they descend to TS1. They only a bit of time in hand, as they have covered just over a quarter of the race distance, in about quarter of the time limit. Hopefully they will use their time wisely through the night and keep dreaming of reaching the finishers party before the 60hrs pass. I will update in the morning.

Into the First Night as the leaders reach half way.

The first 4 riders have gone through TS1 barely stopping to admire the coastal view from the time station in Cala Gonone. Daniel is now (5pm) climbing the 'inferno Blu" climb out of town with Christian and Bruno in hot pursuit a couple of kms behind. Xavier is immediately behind following them.

No stopping at TS1 for the leaders

Omar di Felici has confirmed on social media that its hot in Sardinia, 32 degrees C at 9.30am!
![ubs its hot](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1jdO6wQz2xeBVGo8dPDCtF/56af64bae634a686a288d0d7271bc660/20231013_131431-COLLAGE.jpg)

Sholto Campbell from the UK has had puncture woes and seems to have covered his kit and the west coast of the island in tubless sealant!! He is bringing up the rear at the back of the race. With him, the flame rouge pairing of Alberto Carerra and Samuele Vigano have covered about 140km of the course as of 3pm ish.
![ubs sholto campbell woes ](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5GI8l7xS4FdQipm3ueow63/154261796c93bb4ffc99e0241cf14f3f/Screenshot_20231013_125918_Instagram.jpg)

Meanwhile at the pointy end Daniele is out front, a few kms ahead of fellow Italian Christian and Bruno Wicht of Switzerland. Xavier (Spain) lies in 4th not far behind that. 

But as of 3pm, its still all to play for! As the leaders climb the Silana Pass (230km) there are several other riders not allowing the front 4 too much of a lead.
![ubs climb COLLAGE1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4pwzVaIZZWUmV1dXgwIOmy/512f5ad8c416d87b07b275bed1c1ed0c/20231013_141512-COLLAGE.jpg)
Nicolas Hartman of France and Xavier above
Christian and Bruno below.

![ubs climb COLLAGE2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5KP68CbPTB3rJCf3u2oo5q/eec622448717ecc7c6bd383f563b707b/20231013_141536-COLLAGE.jpg)

Bianca Brambilla is in the mix too, 190km in, and sitting in 14th position.

Its Hot in Sardinia

All the riders were safely dispatched in a time-trial style start this morning, starting with the 2 women at 6am this morning.
(Bianca Left, Fiona Right)

![Ubs woman start](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2ugni6YAqQPMSNqS3GsQJp/54b3f42716c750f361d18e71d66843a4/20231013_103141-COLLAGE.jpg)

The riders were roughly ceded so that the fast guys left last, closer to 7am.
(Christian Bianchetti top left, then clockwise Daniele Relini, Omar di Felici and Patrick Leuenberger)

![Ubs fast men start](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/20hYgt0xvyXnXAC5g0cilf/a21e510aadf2ae5bb3a08a21fd47f3c7/20231013_104226-COLLAGE.jpg)

This means that the position on the road in the first couple of hours is confused until enough ground has been covered to allow the faster riders to pass the slower ones that set off before them.

5 hours in and that has clearly happened and Daniele Relini has already stamped his authority on the race…One of the last riders to depart and already 2nd on the road. He has only one km between him and current leading rider Christian Bianchetti

The top 5 all sit within 5km of each other with Xavier Burgos Rodriguez in 5th. He did start about 20 mins before the leading men so you need to add that deficit to his position.

Omar di Felici sits in 7th not too far behind. With a long way to go for these guys, who no doubt will not have a significant sleep stop before the finish, we should not count out the experience of the racers that might be measuring their efforts and come back up the classification later in the race.

The two women in the race are moving consistently, with Bianca Brambilla leading comfortably and in 13th overall. Fiona Shorten, at her first ultra race is not far behind Bianca as they move inland and into the bigger climbs,

There are 3 pairs in the race, all towards the back of the field.

All the riders are currently tackling the bigger hills on the route. They are very nice climbs indeed; definitely not forgiving, but not savage. The weather is getting warm, about 30deg.C currently (11am), so I wonder if this will take its toll on any riders this afternoon.

I plan to get an update to you as the riders pass Time Station 1 in Cala Gonone and we will see if the 2 friends Daniel and Christian are still battling for the lead. 


The Start and Resulting Shakedown

Paul Wainwright

UBS defines itself as an adventure dedicated to women and men who love to dream, know how to suffer and strongly believe in the values of sportsmanship. 

Ultrabiking Sardinia 2023 Tracking and Commentary

UBS defines itself as an adventure dedicated to women and men who love to dream, know how to suffer and strongly believe in the values of sportsmanship. An idyllic end of the season Mediterranean adventure, but don't be fooled, it's no holiday.

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Ultrabiking Sardinia 2023

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