Bmw Hero Südtirol Dolomites in Val Gardena/Gröden - the Favorites
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BATTLE OF THE GIANTS: FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER WINNING THE WORLD CUP GOLD, WORLD CHAMPION LAKATA STARTS AT THE BMW HERO SÜDTIROL DOLOMITES IN VAL GARDENA/GRÖDEN - THE FAVORITES Everything is ready for the 9th edition of the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites on Saturday 16th June. Over the course of just eight years, the event has risen to the top of the international mountain bike racing scene. This is also partly due to hosting the 2015 UCI Marathon World Cup. hashtag: #zerotohero, #hero2018, #herosüdtiroldolomites Selva in Val Gardena (South Tyrol / Italy), the 11th June, 2018 - With 4018 registrations from 45 nations, the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites is the marathon with the most participants in the Alps. Because of its grueling relationship between distance and altitude, it is also the toughest marathon in the world. The long track leads over 86 km and 4,500 vertical meters, the short one over 60 km and 3,200 vertical meters. The bikers must manage four passes: the Gardena Pass, the Campolongo Pass, the Pordoi and Mahlknechtjoch (Sella Pass on the short distance). The BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites is once again part of the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series, the World Cup of Endurance Racing, and the Alpine Cup, a series that includes the four toughest MTB marathons in the Alps. That's another reason why the starting field is so star-studded. TOP FAVORITES MEN One of the top stars of the 9th edition is Alban Lakata from Austria. The three-time world marathon champion and four-time silver medalist will return to Val Gardena/Gröden for the first time after his gold medal at the 2015 HERO Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships. "The circuit around the Sella mountain group suits me and I hope that it goes as well as it did in 2015, but I also know that some competitors are very good, especially Ragnoli and Paez, as well as Urs Huber." After the Cape Epic, the European Championship and a UCI Marathon Series race on Elba, the 39-year-old East Tyrolean has taken a long break from racing "to rebuild his from for the HERO," he says. "I'm curious if the training has worked." This world champion is definitely highly motivated. Likewise Leonardo Paez, who has already won the HERO four times: 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. At the World Cup he finished third, last year second. Nobody knows the track better than he does. "The course perfectly suits my strengths as a climber" says the crowd favorite from Colombia. The reigning Italian marathon champion and last year's winner Yuri Ragnoli is also coming to Val Gardena/Gröden after already winning two endurance races in this young season. ”I want to be in top shape by the time of the HERO. I recently completed altitude training in Livigno” says the 30-year-old from the province of Brescia. "The track does not allow for any special tactics. It is important to listen to oneself and not to get distracted by the opponents “. Two third places are the previous yield of Daniele Mensi at the HERO (2017, 2016). As a climbing specialist, he would like to improve by at least one rank this year and repeat his overall victory in the Alpine Cup. "The HERO is a special and always extremely tough race," says the 30-year-old. "There are 4 to 5 passes to conquer with long and hard climbs and always at a high altitude which is why you have to give at least 110 percent." The new European champion Alexey Medvedev from Russia is also at the start. Urs Huber (SUI) seems to be in impressive form again based on the recent race results and World Champion Lakata considers him a hot favorite. Other stars of the event include ex-World Champions Roel Paulissen (BEL) and Massimo Debertolis (ITA). In addition, almost the entire Italian national marathon team is at the start: Luca Ronchi, Tony Longo, Cristian Cominelli, Simone Ferrero, Cristiano Salerno, Francesco Casagrande, Mattia Longa and Johnny Cattaneo. TOP FAVORITES LADIES The ladies' field is also extremely well packed. The names of Sally Bigham (UK), Katrin Schwing (GER) and Elena Gaddoni (ITA) stand out. Bigham and Schwing have already won the HERO twice, while Gaddoni won gold in 2017. Bigham comes back from a longer baby break. "After the birth of my son Max only five months ago, my shape is still coming back." says the proud mother. "If I can make it to the finish with a smile on my face and open arms for Max then I’ll be happy”. Elena Gaddoni, on the other hand, says her goal is not to do any worse than last year. "It is important that you feel good in such an important race. The HERO is the largest and most important event of the entire mountain bike movement. And of course you want to leave a good impression. " The runners-up of the past two years also want to do well: the strong Austrian Christina Kollmann and Michalina Ziolkowska from Poland as well as the winner of the Alpine Cup, the Frenchwoman Manon Socquet Juglard, the Slovenian Blaza Pintaric and the Austrian Andrea Böttger. From South Tyrol, all eyes are on Agnes Tschurtschenthaler. The nearby Pustertal-valley-native athlete has already won a mountain bike marathon. VICTORIES / NATIONS RANKINGS So far, there have been eight editions of the HERO Südtirol Dolomites. Italy leads the nations rankings with five wins ahead of Colombia with four and Germany with three. Great Britain follows with two, then Norway and Austria with one victory each. For the men, Leonardo Paez is the absolute record holder with four wins. For the ladies Sally Bigham and Katrin Schwing share the first position with two wins each. For further information: www.herodolomites.com Organisation HERO Südtirol Dolomites Committee Str. Meisules, 144 I-39048 Selva Val Gardena (BZ) Tel. +39 0471 773033 www.herodolomites.com - [email protected] Press Office COMeta Press / Carlo BRENA Tel. +39 335 5724520 www.cometapress.it – [email protected] .