Kristian Hynek and Sally Bigham have won the Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike – the first race after the UCI Marathon World Championships. This year the long-distance race in the Dolomites forms part of the “UCI Marathon World Series”. The elite men had to race 113, 8 km (3,357 m); the elite women’s 80 km (2,307 m). Second in the men’s was last year’s winner Alban Lakata (AUT), in third was Luke Büchli from Switzerland. Among the women Elena Gaddoni (ITA) and Daniela Veronesi (San Marino) coming in behind Bigham raking in second and third.
Having a good starting spot helps when there are about 4000 entrants.
Women are allowed to race the 113.8km course, but rules created by the UCI stipulate maximum distances for both the men’s and women’s events in UCI Marathon Series races
In bright sunshine and cool morning weather Kristian Hynek mastered the marathon in 4:25:16 hours. The former Ex-European champion and World Cup fourth placed distanced Alban Lakata by 1:51 minutes. Luke Büchli lost to the winner at the finish by 6:36 minutes.
The field leads into the opening climb at the 2013 Dolomiti Superbike
Hynek just had more on the climbs than the rest of the field. For this reason at the first mountain prize at the Helm Mountain (43 km), he had a lead of 37 seconds over Italian Tony Longo and 43 seconds on Alban Lakata.
“Today I simply had more power on the climbs”, said Hynek.
The head start of the 33-year-old Czech shrank at the second mountain prize located at Haunold (65 km) above Innichen, in comparison to Lakata’s eight-and Tony Longo’s 29 seconds. On the descent towards Dobbiaco only then could Lakata keep up with the eventual winner. The two raced together along the long false flat to the Schluderbach (86 km), where the last eight-kilometer climb begins to the Prato Piazza (2,000) m). It was here where Hynek set the final and decisive attack.
“Alban gave everything at the World Championships”, declared Hynek.
Photo: www.wisthaler.com
In fact power went out of Lakata; Hynek reached the Prato Piazza, plunged into the descent, conquered the last 18 km alone and with his arms raised, crossed the finish line first in Niederdorf.
“Hynek was simply too strong today”, said Alban Lakata. “The mountains were a real torture for me today, but I am very happy as you cannot always win. The clockwise direction does not suit me very much. After the World Championships, I was not 100 percent present in my head, causing my motivation to subside a bit. So, I was not as concentrated as in the World Champs.”
Lukas Büchli fought for a long time against Tony Longo for third place. On ascending to Prato Piazza, power left the Italian, and Büchli who in 2008 in Niederdorf was placed sixth having achieved his best World Cup result, pulled up and head away. “Up to the third technical feed zone we were still close together. Then Hynek turned the turbo on at the short, steep climb to Haunold (second mountain prize) and opened a gap. From there, I kept up with Tony Longo. On the climb to Prato Piazza he lost power and I carried on alone.”
Bigham lonely lead amongst the ladies
Sally Bigham won the Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike for the second time in a row. The 35-year-old Vice World Champion from the UK was back in 3:46:31 minutes from the 80 km (2.307 m) marathon distance, thereby making her 13.35 minutes faster than the former Italian cross-country champion, Elena Gaddoni. With 18:26 minutes behind the winner the Italian marathon champion Daniela Veronesi reached the finish.
Sally Bigham (Topeak-Ergon) was victorious at the 19th Dolomiti Superbike. Photo: www.wisthaler.com
“Although I felt in great shape,” said Sally Bigham, ” I had to cycle very carefully, because I had problems with my gears. For that reason I wanted to avoid breaking the chain if I pushed too hard”.
Bigham went into the lead right after the start. Although Veronesi and Gaddoni tried to remain at her rear wheel, but Bigham soon tore away and visibly enlarged her lead. In the battle for second and third place Elena Gaddoni on the last climb to Prato Piazza passed Daniela Veronesi to reach second place at the finish.
Men
1. Hynek Kristian (CZE) 4:25.16,2 25,739 kmh;
2. Lakata Alban (AUT) +1.51,8;
3. Buchli Lukas (CH) +6.36,7;
4. Platt Karl (GER) +13.14,3;
5. Ferraro Damiano (ITA) +14.19,7;
6. Mensi Daniele (ITA) +14.28;
7. Paulissen Roel (BEL) +14.29,0;
8. Nissen Soren (DEN) +14.53,2;
9. Vastaranta Jukka (FIN) +16.30,6;
10. Pirazzoli Mirko (ITA) +16.32,5
Women
1. Bigham Sally (GB) 3:46.31,5 21,189 kmh;
2. Gaddoni Elena (ITA) +13.35,5;
3. Veronesi Daniela (RSM) +18.26,7;
4. Schwing Katrin (GER) +25.12,6;
5. Krenslehner Verena (AUT) +25.33,4;
6. Hadraschek-Jochem Steffi (GER) +27.52,7;
7. Ferrari Anna (ITA) +31.37,3;
8. Clement Alexandra (SUI) +32.33,0;
9. Gantois Inne (GER) +33.56,9;
10. Menapace Lorenza (ITA) +38.43,9;