HERO Südtirol Dolomites: World Elite at the Start in Val Gardena on Saturday - The Favorites

Selva Val Gardena (South Tyrol, Italy), 12 June 2017 - The 8th edition of the HERO Südtirol Dolomites is taking place on Saturday, 17 June 2017. The mountain bike marathon around the Sella and Sassolungo mountains is once again part of the UCI Marathon Series, the World Cup of long distance races. There are many world athletes among the 4017 participants from 45 nations, including the three first-ranked from last year. The races start at 7:10 am (women) and 7:20 am (men) in Selva.

The marathon track runs through Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba, the Fassa valley and the Alpe di Siusi high mountain plateau. It covers 86 km in length and 4,500 m in altitude. The shorter version is 60 km long and riders have to overcome an altitude change of 3,200 m. Arrival time for the winners is expected at around 10:45 am and 11:45 am for the 60 and 86 km tracks, respectively.

Top Men's Favorites

Among the favorites in the men's category are the three winners of 2016: Leonardo Leon Hector Paez from Colombia, Markus Kaufmann from Germany and Daniele Mensi from Italy. This 34- year-old exceptional athlete from South America won bronze in the 2015 World Championships in Val Gardena behind Alban Lakata (AUT) and (SUI).

"The track is like tailored to my athletic abilities" says Paez. This is proven by his four wins, three of which consecutively (2012, 2013, 2014). “I am not in my best form as I am still recovering from an illness but I want to fully recover by the next race. I know that I have strong climbing skills, have endurance and am tough to push through long and challenging uphills, which is why I am arriving with a certain relaxed attitude to Val Gardena.”

Last year's second-placed and double German marathon champion Markus Kaufmann, on the other side, hopes for another podium in the HERO.

"HERO's track and altitude changes are like made for me. I also raced my best World Championships place (6th) in Val Gardena. Which is why I hope I will climb on the podium this year, too. I have a ton of respect for this race, because it is so extreme. I'm nervous and thrilled at the same time. My spring races weren't very strong, the season has been rather mixed thus far, maybe because I was trying to accomplish too much. I just concluded two weeks of altitude training in Livigno which did wonders to me.

Daniele Mensi has already made headlines by winning two marathon races this season. The 28-year-old from Vicenza wants to at least repeat his result from last year (3rd place).

"I don't want to tempt fate but I am aiming for an even better place this year than last. My preparation was all about being in top form for the middle of June. Following the HERO are the World Championships in Germany, then an Alpine Cup race in France and the Italian championships.

Furthermore, I want to qualify for the World Championships in Germany. The Alpencup in Schladming served me well to improve my resilience."

Another favorite to win the HERO is from Switzerland. He won the stage race in South Africa together with (GER) in 2016. Italy is represented by marathon specialist Juri Ragnoli (2nd in 2011), Luca Ronchi, Christian Cominelli and Tony Longo. The Swiss Arnaud Rapillard, the Belgians Frans Claes and Sebastien Carabin are just as much expected to place at the top as do the French men Rémi Laffont and Vincent Arnaud, winner of the MB Race Culture Vélo. Also a the start are the World Championship 11th from Val Gardena and Transalp winner Daniel Gaismayr from Austria as well as Jochen Käß from Germany (sixth in 2016).

Top Women’s Favorites

Salient names in the women’s category include Katrin Schwing (GER), 2011 and 2012 HERO winner, 2014 and 2016 second Michalina Ziolkowska from Poland, followed by last year’s third-placed Maria Christina Nisi from Italy along with her colleagues the multiple Italian XCO and Marathon champions Annabella Stropparo and Elena Gaddoni (2nd in 2013). Endurance specialist Verena Krenslehner from Austria (2nd in 2012) will also be at the start.

“Because I experienced the HERO to be a fast-paced race, I know how critical it is to be there right from the start.” says Kathrin Schwing. “Although young riders are pushing forward, I am confident that I will be among the top five. A podium place would be sensational, of course!” said the two-time winner from Germany.

Victories/Nation Rankings

So far, seven editions of the HERO Südtirol Dolomites have taken place. In terms of nations ranking, this means that Colombia has four victories ahead of Italy and Germany with three wins, each. This is followed by Great Britain with two, Norway and Austria with one win, each.

In the Men’s category, Leonardo Paez is the absolute record holder with four victories. Klaus Fontana (2011), Mirko Celestine (2012) and Alban Lakata (2015 HERO World Champion) have one victory each.

In the women’s category, Sally Bigham and Katrin Schwing share the ranking with two victories each. The British cyclist won in 2013 and 2016 and the German in 2011 and 2012. Anna Ferrari (2011), Elisabeth Brandau (Germany/2014) and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesja (Nor/2015 WC) have won gold once.

About the HERO

The HERO was launched in 2010. In its first edition, 400 participants were at the start. Since then, the number has grown with reaching a current limit of 4000 plus this year. In 2015, the HERO organized the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships. The distances are 86 km in length with 4,500 m altitude change and 60 km in length with 3,200 m in altitude. The participants have to pass a total of four passes (Passo Gardena, Campolongo, Pordoi, Mahlknecht - and Sella on the shorter track). OC President is Gerhard Vanzi, Race Director is the former ski racer Peter Runggaldier.

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ORGANIZATION Amateur Sport Association HERO Str. Meisules, 144 I-39048 Wolkenstein in Gröden (BZ) Tel. +39 0471 773033 www.herodolomites.com PRESS Gernot Mussner Tel. +39 328 68 54 619 [email protected]