SKY RUNNING & BIKEXTREME 2011 – EXTREME SPORT ON LAKE GARDA – Limone sul Garda (Italy) hosts the 21st edition of the extreme sport event – A new chapter of the Skyrunning & BikeXtreme on Sunday 16th October

Autumn: time to put your bike in the attic until next spring. Not exactly true, especially in Italy where the 2011 Skyrunning & BikeXtreme will be back on the saddle on Sunday 16th October. Limone sul Garda, in the north eastern part of the country, is about to host one of the most renowned and ancient mountain bike race in the country, whose first edition took place in 1990.

Through the past years, the off road competition has earned growing acclaim and recognition from both athletes and public, happy to enjoy a thrilling event along Lake Garda and on the surrounding hills and mountains.

Furthermore, reaching the 21st edition, the ASD SS Limonese OC decided that an extreme mtb race along steep trails, hairpin curves and striking downhills, was not enough for this year's chapter, and added a skyrunning competition that for the first time ever will be running parallel (almost!) to the mtb race.

Both the mtb and the skyrunning races will kick off on the lakefront boulevard in Limone sul Garda. Bikers will warm up for about 10 km up to Riva del Garda, in Trentino region, and from there they will take the old Ponale uphill road and pass through the picturesque villages of Biacesa, Prè, Legòs and Molina in Val di Ledro (Ledro valley). Once they reach the scenic Lake Ledro, they will proceed uphill to the highest peak of the race, named Bocca dei Fortini at 1.245 meters a.s.l.

The view from up there is simply stunning, with Limone sul Garda and Lake Garda on one side and the entire Val di Ledro on the other. However, there won't be time to lose as a 4 km long single track will await all participants, before the steep trail that takes to the Dalò alpine farmhouse and the even steepest downhill (up to 30% incline) leading back to Limone sul Garda and the finish zone. The mtb course measures 40 km roughly.

Regarding the skyrunning event, runners will climb Mount Guil (1.322 mt.a.s.l.), Mount Carone (1.621 mt.a.s.l.) and Mount Traversole (1.441 mt. a.s.l.), covering a distance of 23,5 km with almost 2.500 vertical meters to gain.

The roll of honour of the Skyrunning & BikeXtreme event reads many illustrious names winning the title down the years, such as current technical manager of the MTB Italian National Team and 1997 XC World Champion Hubert Pallhuber, Russian Alexey Medvedev and Italy's Marzio Deho, Martino Fruet and Ramon Bianchi.

For those who want to enjoy even better and deeper (and in an even more extreme way) the 2011 Skyrunning & BikeXtreme, there is the chance to pair with someone who race the so-called parallel event (mtb or skyrunning), register and compete for the Combined Race.

Entries for the 2011 Skyrunning & BikeXtreme are open. The race fee is € 30 if received before 12th October, and € 37 afterwards.

Limone sul Garda is worldwide famous for lemon and olive growing, thanks to the extremely mild climate, gently sloping hills and proximity to Italy's widest lake.

Info: www.skybikextreme.it