Cycling: The 6th race in Castelbuono under the Sicilian sun was the best conceivable conclusion for the Bluegrass Enduro Tour 2014. Sicily is a historically and culturally significant region full of contrasts. It offers extraordinary but underestimated routes. Castelbuono was the stage town of the Bluegrass Enduro Tour for the second year in a row.
The competition began Friday late afternoon with a prologue in the streets of Pollina, a nearby mountain village located on a rocky peak at over 1.000 meters above the Mediterranean Sea. On one side, it offers breathtaking views of the Aeolian Islands and on the other, the Madonie Natural Park.
The starting signal was given from the tiers of the Greek Theater in the highest part of the village. The special stage then led through a series of cobbled streets, over dizzying steps and through tight corners, to the great delight of the residents and of course the drivers themselves.
In this game, young Irishman Conor Lavelle would prove to be the best. He won the prologue ahead of Scotsman Liam Moynihan in runner-up. Third was another Irishman, Pearse Griffin. So this race in Sicily was an international event with a strong field of participants.
The next day, the Madonie mountain range was to serve as a playground. The program consisted of 4 special stages on a 35 km long demanding route with a spectacular start from the top of Pizzo Luminario at 1524 meters altitude … and finally a 5th special stage in the city with arrival in Piazza Margherita, the nerve center of Castelbuono, which has its It owes its popularity to the famous Gelateria/Pasticceria Fiasconaro, among other things. Don't miss this if you're passing through Castelbuono!
[iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/107626297" width="620" height="349" iframe]In the end, to everyone's surprise, Italy's Nicola Fistolera, who drove very regularly throughout the day, prevailed against an impressive foreign agency. Young Conor Lavelle (1st in Juniors) took 2nd in the scratch classification ahead of Scotsman Liam Moynihan.
The only female competitor was Hannah Barnes. After her bike was lost while traveling from Scotland to Sicily, it was finally recovered at the last minute, allowing her to join the celebration.
On the occasion of the award ceremony, which took place directly behind the castle, the symbolic building of Castelbuono, impressions were exchanged after a long day of competition until late in the evening. The various local specialties could be tasted: tomato and olive oil bread, pasta as you only find it in Italy, the dessert personally donated by the Fiasconaro pastry shop, accompanied by wine and a live concert ... The best of enduro, in the tradition of the Bluegrass Enduro Tour accordingly.