WFT – EXTREME ETNA BIKE
FULL DISTANCE
The cycle course will start from Giardini Naxos and will be fully OPEN TO TRAFFIC. We urge the utmost caution and to respect the Highway Code. In some places the route will be marked by directional arrows.
180 KM – 4700 M D+. The cut off to make the 140k mark at the Sapienza Refuge will be 10 h 30 minutes. from the start (by 16:00). The cut off to finish the bike leg in Linguaglossa will be 13 hours from the start (by 6:30 pm).
In the first 45 km of the route you will reach an altitude of 900 meters through areas rich in history and known for ancient churches, noble palaces and famous architecture, as well as wild nature and extraordinary landscapes. Over the next 40 km there are long descents that take you to about 200 metres above sea level. From here, you will start the first of the three long climbs that will take you to Etna and which represent the real difficulties of the bike leg. The first climb is about 21 km long with an elevation gain of about 1200 metres. Once you reach the summit, there is then a very fast descent on roads bordered by previous lava flows. You will reach the area of Nicolosi at about 120 km from the start of bike leg. From here you start the most demanding climb of the bike leg.
This was a stage of the Giro d’Italia 2022, the Nicolosi – Rifugio Sapienza, and is about 18 km long with 1200 metres of ascent. Then after a 20 km descent you will arrive in Zafferana Etnea to take on the last climb to Piano Provenzana where T2 is located. To get there, it’s a 22 km climb with about 1100 metres of ascent. Aid stations will be at 140k and the finish. We recommend you don’t underestimate the low temperatures that could be encountered at high altitude and therefore use suitable clothing especially on the descent and consider kit changes. You should also make sure you have sufficient water and nutrition throughout the bike leg and for that matter the entire race. The athlete must always carry a mobile phone.
Please ensure your brakes are in good working order! The supporter must support their athlete by car during the cycle leg and give assistance without hindering regular vehicular traffic and without pacing the athlete. At T2 the supporter should deliver the red bag containing the run kit, assist their athlete as necessary in T2 and collect all bike kit including the bicycle.
