Registration for the 2023 Santa Rampigada is now open.
On Sunday, September 17, 2023, the feared uphill time trial of Trieste, Scala Santa, will return.
Registrations are open for the twelfth edition of the Santa Rampigada, the race against time on foot or by bicycle, covering the two kilometers of cobbled road with an average gradient of 16% and peaks nearly reaching 20%, never dropping below 10%, necessary to conquer the 326 meters of elevation from Roiano to the Obelisk.
Registration is available online at www.spiz.it until Thursday, September 14th. The goal? To demonstrate that "if you can go on foot or by bicycle up there, then you can go on foot or by bicycle anywhere."
The Santa Rampigada, created and organized by the Social Promotion Association SPIZ, is one of the events of SEM, the European Sustainable Mobility Week, dedicated to raising awareness among citizens for less polluting and impactful transportation choices. It is co-organized with the Municipality of Trieste and in collaboration with Mladina A.S.D.
The Santa Rampigada kicks off on Saturday, September 16th. The Obelisk will host the Santa Rampigada Village, featuring food and wine stands managed by Mladina A.S.D., themed events, and special attention to the Opicina tram, which will celebrate its 121st anniversary just a few days before and is hoped to return to regular service.
In the evening, the usual space dedicated to music will feature a concert by Strawberry Sky, a band born from the shared passion of five friends for the Fab Four from Liverpool, transporting the audience into the musical kaleidoscope of The Beatles and the sounds of the 60s.
On Sunday, September 17th, Scala Santa will be closed to traffic from 9:30 AM to allow for the "Santa Rampigada for everyone," a true invitation to the community to take over the road and challenge themselves in their own personal Santa Rampigada, without the official timer, but still capable of evoking the emotions of the ascent on foot from the City Center to the Karst Plateau.
The 12th Santa Rampigada, the actual timed race, will begin at 10:00 AM from the base of Scala Santa in Roiano, with the first competitor starting, followed every 30 seconds by the others in order of registration.
"Transmitting a message of more sustainable mobility by demonstrating in an extreme way that if you can go on foot or by bicycle up Scala Santa, you can go on foot or by bicycle anywhere, represents just one of the many objectives linked to the Santa Rampigada," emphasizes Mauro Vascotto, President of the Social Promotion Association SPIZ. "But the Rampigada also aims to achieve more: revitalizing the Obelisk square, usually used as a parking area, restoring life and prestige to the Opicina Tram, which has been idle for too long, raising awareness about the cultural importance of the Park Hotel Obelisk, where the famous 'One Thousand and One Nights' were translated from Arabic. These are just a few of the countless points of interest associated with this event, now deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of Trieste and beyond. The Santa Rampigada attracts both those who love the competition against time and those who love Trieste, seizing this unique opportunity to express their attachment to the city and its sustainability."
The race categories are the same as those of the Clanfe Olympics, the other "crazy" event conceived by the organizers of the SPIZ Social Promotion Association: Pici and Pice, Muleti and Mulete, Muli and Mule, Muloni and Mulone, Mati and Babe, Vece Bobe and Vece Marantighe, with the addition of the Eternal category in the Rampigada.
Upon reaching the Obelisk, there will be a grand celebration for all participants and the public, with open stands and the final award ceremony.
