Scott
20-03-2006, 09:40 AM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17th, 2006
Red Bull Challenge in the Goldmine
Have you ever imagined going down 120 meters -
equivalent to a 30-story building – on a bicycle? What
about doing that inside a goldmine? Well, then,
prepare your emotions because that is going to happen.
It is the Red Bull Challenge in the Goldmine.
For the first time, the miners’ workplace is going to
stage an adventure on two wheels. The event will take
place between March 24th and 26th.
Among the twenty athletes from all over the world, are
Markolf Berchtold (Santa Catarina – Brazil) –
Brazilian biker best ranked in international
competitions -, Nathan Rennie (Santa Cruz
Syndicate/SRAM/RockShox)(Australia) and Gee Atherton
(England), both among the UCI top 10 ranking, and Kyle
Strait (USA). Competitors might reach a speed of up to
60km/h while following the same path that miners used
to take in their adventures while searching for gold.
The gold is now a R$35 thousand-real award.
The place chosen for the Red Bull Challenge in the
Goldmine is “Mina da Passagem” (the Passage Mine)
located in Mariana (State of Minas Gerais), a
historical city. The mine was deactivated 20 years ago
but it still contains the precious metal. Extraction
was interrupted because the method used there was very
outdated, which would result in loss rather than
profit.
This mine is a fantastic place. It has got many
galleries and lakes with crystal clear water. It is
the biggest goldmine open for public visitation in the
world and also a favourite spot for adventure sports.
The competition starts outside the mine. In these
stretch bikers will come across eight artificial
obstacles to be overcome and natural challenges such
as rocks and depressions. At the entrance of the mine
the great slope is a completely new scenery in
downhill competitions: without sunlight bikers will go
120 meters deep.
“The entrance of the mine and the second curve that
gives access to the galleries are the most difficult
parts of the competition”, says Tadeu Monteiro, the
competition’s technical director. For him this is a
competition with a high degree of difficulty.
“Athletes will have to prepare to travel the final
stretch. It is 60 meters long, which is not common in
downhill biking.”
The circuit’s full length is 650 meters. On Thursday,
March 23rd, athletes will map out the route on foot.
On Friday there will be open free practice. Qualifying
rounds will be held on Saturday – the ten best bikers
will go to the finals on Sunday, March 26th. The
judging criterion for all rounds will be the fastest
down-hill time. Awards amount to $35 thousand reais (
equivalent a U$15,000 dollars)
The Mine
“Mina da Passagem” (Passage Mine) is an old goldmine
located 5 km from the historical city center
(Mariana). It is today the biggest goldmine open for
public visitation. It contains secrets and mysteries
that enchant us all.
It is the biggest goldmine in that region and a
must-see place for tourists in Mariana. Its
exploration started in 1819 and the machinery used
from the beginning is still there. During the years of
exploration, the Portuguese and the English extracted
approximately 35 tons of gold.
Gold was discovered in the mine around 1719. At first,
mining was done by slaves and in the 19th century it
was mechanized.
Inside the mine the temperature is stable, between 17
and 20°C throughout the year. It has got vast halls,
30 km of tunnels and subterranean lakes with crystal
clear water where diving is practiced. A small trolley
(kind of wagon with seats) used by the miners at the
time of exploration takes tourists lower than 120
meters deep, which is equivalent to a 30-story
building.
What children learn in school about the exploration of
gold in the State of Minas Gerais can be seen live in
the Passage Mine. A visit to the mine is like
travelling through Brazilian history and experiencing
the miners’ saga in their dangerous search for gold.
Extraction of gold ended in 1984. However, another
activity took its place: tourism. In 1999 the mine was
open to visitation for diving and, since then, it is
the most popular site for cave diving in Brazil.
The City of Mariana
Mariana is located 115km from the state capital Belo
Horizonte. It is part of the well-known Gold Circuit
in the state and it is considered one of the most
beautiful baroque sets of sculpture, painting and
architecture in the world. It has 52 thousand
inhabitants (data from the latest census). The name
“Mariana” was given in honor of the Portuguese king’s
wife Dona Maria Ana from Austria.
Nature is exuberant in Mariana. Springs, geographic
features, and the soil that hides grottos and mines
allow nature lovers to partake in different activities
such as hiking, swimming in waterfalls and the
practice of radical sports like trekking and mountain
biking.
The city was populated as a result of the search for
gold. It was founded on July 16th, 1696 – the day
explorers Miguel Garcia and Salvador Furtado found
gold in a river which was named “Ribeirao de Nossa
Senhora do Carmo” (Nossa Senhora do Carmo’s stream).
In 1700 the news of the existence of gold in the
region was officially given to Portuguese authorities
by Joao Lopes de Lima, who was interested in owning
the land.
On April 8th, 1711 Mariana became a village and it was
named “Ribeirao do Carmo” by Antonio de Albuquerque
Coelho de Carvalho – first governor of the united
capitania (administrative division and hereditary fief
of the Portuguese state in some of its colonies.) of
Sao Paulo and Minas do Ouro. Mariana was the first
village founded in the capitania and the only colonial
city in Minas Gerais. In 1745 it was promoted to city
status.
On July 6th, 1945 it was declared National Monument by
The Historical and Artistic Patrimony with a law
passed by President Getúlio Vargas.
March 17th, 2006
Red Bull Challenge in the Goldmine
Have you ever imagined going down 120 meters -
equivalent to a 30-story building – on a bicycle? What
about doing that inside a goldmine? Well, then,
prepare your emotions because that is going to happen.
It is the Red Bull Challenge in the Goldmine.
For the first time, the miners’ workplace is going to
stage an adventure on two wheels. The event will take
place between March 24th and 26th.
Among the twenty athletes from all over the world, are
Markolf Berchtold (Santa Catarina – Brazil) –
Brazilian biker best ranked in international
competitions -, Nathan Rennie (Santa Cruz
Syndicate/SRAM/RockShox)(Australia) and Gee Atherton
(England), both among the UCI top 10 ranking, and Kyle
Strait (USA). Competitors might reach a speed of up to
60km/h while following the same path that miners used
to take in their adventures while searching for gold.
The gold is now a R$35 thousand-real award.
The place chosen for the Red Bull Challenge in the
Goldmine is “Mina da Passagem” (the Passage Mine)
located in Mariana (State of Minas Gerais), a
historical city. The mine was deactivated 20 years ago
but it still contains the precious metal. Extraction
was interrupted because the method used there was very
outdated, which would result in loss rather than
profit.
This mine is a fantastic place. It has got many
galleries and lakes with crystal clear water. It is
the biggest goldmine open for public visitation in the
world and also a favourite spot for adventure sports.
The competition starts outside the mine. In these
stretch bikers will come across eight artificial
obstacles to be overcome and natural challenges such
as rocks and depressions. At the entrance of the mine
the great slope is a completely new scenery in
downhill competitions: without sunlight bikers will go
120 meters deep.
“The entrance of the mine and the second curve that
gives access to the galleries are the most difficult
parts of the competition”, says Tadeu Monteiro, the
competition’s technical director. For him this is a
competition with a high degree of difficulty.
“Athletes will have to prepare to travel the final
stretch. It is 60 meters long, which is not common in
downhill biking.”
The circuit’s full length is 650 meters. On Thursday,
March 23rd, athletes will map out the route on foot.
On Friday there will be open free practice. Qualifying
rounds will be held on Saturday – the ten best bikers
will go to the finals on Sunday, March 26th. The
judging criterion for all rounds will be the fastest
down-hill time. Awards amount to $35 thousand reais (
equivalent a U$15,000 dollars)
The Mine
“Mina da Passagem” (Passage Mine) is an old goldmine
located 5 km from the historical city center
(Mariana). It is today the biggest goldmine open for
public visitation. It contains secrets and mysteries
that enchant us all.
It is the biggest goldmine in that region and a
must-see place for tourists in Mariana. Its
exploration started in 1819 and the machinery used
from the beginning is still there. During the years of
exploration, the Portuguese and the English extracted
approximately 35 tons of gold.
Gold was discovered in the mine around 1719. At first,
mining was done by slaves and in the 19th century it
was mechanized.
Inside the mine the temperature is stable, between 17
and 20°C throughout the year. It has got vast halls,
30 km of tunnels and subterranean lakes with crystal
clear water where diving is practiced. A small trolley
(kind of wagon with seats) used by the miners at the
time of exploration takes tourists lower than 120
meters deep, which is equivalent to a 30-story
building.
What children learn in school about the exploration of
gold in the State of Minas Gerais can be seen live in
the Passage Mine. A visit to the mine is like
travelling through Brazilian history and experiencing
the miners’ saga in their dangerous search for gold.
Extraction of gold ended in 1984. However, another
activity took its place: tourism. In 1999 the mine was
open to visitation for diving and, since then, it is
the most popular site for cave diving in Brazil.
The City of Mariana
Mariana is located 115km from the state capital Belo
Horizonte. It is part of the well-known Gold Circuit
in the state and it is considered one of the most
beautiful baroque sets of sculpture, painting and
architecture in the world. It has 52 thousand
inhabitants (data from the latest census). The name
“Mariana” was given in honor of the Portuguese king’s
wife Dona Maria Ana from Austria.
Nature is exuberant in Mariana. Springs, geographic
features, and the soil that hides grottos and mines
allow nature lovers to partake in different activities
such as hiking, swimming in waterfalls and the
practice of radical sports like trekking and mountain
biking.
The city was populated as a result of the search for
gold. It was founded on July 16th, 1696 – the day
explorers Miguel Garcia and Salvador Furtado found
gold in a river which was named “Ribeirao de Nossa
Senhora do Carmo” (Nossa Senhora do Carmo’s stream).
In 1700 the news of the existence of gold in the
region was officially given to Portuguese authorities
by Joao Lopes de Lima, who was interested in owning
the land.
On April 8th, 1711 Mariana became a village and it was
named “Ribeirao do Carmo” by Antonio de Albuquerque
Coelho de Carvalho – first governor of the united
capitania (administrative division and hereditary fief
of the Portuguese state in some of its colonies.) of
Sao Paulo and Minas do Ouro. Mariana was the first
village founded in the capitania and the only colonial
city in Minas Gerais. In 1745 it was promoted to city
status.
On July 6th, 1945 it was declared National Monument by
The Historical and Artistic Patrimony with a law
passed by President Getúlio Vargas.