400 athletes, 30 countries: all continents are represented at the start line of what is going to be the biggest and most important 24 hour mountain bike event ever raced! Figures are such they will make your legs shake with emotion. From the 2nd to the 4th of June, the 24H of Finale is about to host – for the second time in its history – the WEMBO World Championships, the ultimate challenge when it comes to 24 hour mountain bike racing.
After the huge success of the Enduro World Series round in October 2016, coming within a whisker of being awarded a prize as the best enduro event of the year, the organizing crew of Finale is ready to write another exciting chapter in the history of sport for this destination.
“It is a great honour to welcome again the World 24 Hour Championships. The memories of the 2012 edition, the first ever, are still alive and intense. As for the 24H of Finale, this is going to be the 19th edition and by now it is a well-oiled machine. This doesn’t mean that a huge amount of work will not be done in order to give the best welcome to such a large number of participants, while maintaining the standards of the event at their very best”. Riccardo Negro, President of Blue Bike, the organizing local association.
Like every year, the event will take place over multiple days.
The WEMBO World [Solo] Championships will be raced over Friday the 2nd and Saturday the 3rd of June, with the start in Le Manie at 10:00 and finish line again in Le Manie, with the classic and thrilling final countdown to 10:00 on the following day. A great final ceremony will follow to award prizes and medals.
The 24H of Finale for Teams will instead take place from Saturday the 3rd to Sunday the 4th, with start and finish lines in Le Manie, at 15:00. Almost 3000 athletes are ready to go.
This double-event arrangement allows everyone to fully enjoy the great show of the World Championships; moreover, it gives to the general public – we expect a true multitude – a longer period of time to move up to the plateau of Altopiano delle Manie, to explore the great exhibition area and to be part of this exciting sport event with plenty of live music and activities for everyone.
A number of industry partners will make the exhibition area and paddocks even more colourful: long-term sponsors of the event like Buff, Ferrino, NRC, Supernova and WiMe but also new companies like Montura, Boom, Noberasco and Biciclista.
“When in 2011 WEMBO was born, we had a vision to bring the world’s mountain bikers together in annual events held in different places around the world to meet your needs and ensure that Solo 24 Hour racing continued at the highest possible level. We now return to the place where it all began, in Finale Ligure, to hold our 6th World Championships. WEMBO 2017 is set to be the biggest WEMBO yet, with 400 riders entered from 30 countries”. Russell Baker WEMBO President and Founder.
Amongst these numerous athletes, one name stands out: that of defending champion Jason English. This guy from Australia is the most victorious 24 hour athlete in the world and he will get on track raring to win his eighth consecutive world title. In the Women, the current champion Liz Smith – from Australia as well – will be defending her jersey.
The 24H of Finale and WEMBO World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships are waiting for you in Altopiano delle Manie from the 2nd to the 4th of June: come to experience first-hand the mountain-bike World Championships!