Leonardo Paez has triumphed in the seventh Sellaronda Hero in the Südtirol Dolomites: the mountain biker from the Olympia Polimedical team won in the 86 kilometre race (making it the fourh time he has won the race), leaving Markus Kaufmann from team RJC Ravensburg in second and third home was Daniele Mensi from Top Race Team ASD.
In the women’s race victory went to Sally Bigham from Topeak Ergon Racing and the podium was completed by Michalina Ziolkowska representing Volkswagen Samochody Uzytkowe and Maria Cristina Nisi from Veneto in Italy, racing for Bike Garage Revolution . In the shorter 60 kilometre race first home was Johnny Cattaneo followed by Johann Pallhuber.
The organiser Gerhard Vanzi commented: “The HERO is ever more the race which bikers need to add to their cv, and it of course represents a great boost for tourism here in our mountains.”
“I am very happy about this fourth victory,” said Paez. “All thanks to my team for having supported me throughout the race. On the first ascent I kept a regular pace and the Germans Kauffman and Käß were ahead of me. I did not panic for I know how long the race is and I caught up with them on the descent to Corvara and then stayed ahead until the end.”
Bigham wins again at Sellaronda Hero
The women’s race was a hard, technical and physical test and Sally Bigham remakred, “It was a hard race with long uphills and downhills… The route was difficult and technically demanding, especially because of the weather conditions.”
Men – 86 km
1. Paez Leon Hector Leonardo COL 4:34.51,8
2. Kaufmann Markus DE 4:40.11,0
3. Mensi Daniele ITA 4:40.13,5
4. Geismayr Daniel AUT 4:41.53,2
5. Ragnoli Juri ITA 4:44.45,5
Women – 60 km
1. Bigham Sally GB 4:02.50,4
2. Ziolkowska Michalina PL 4:06.37,6
3. Nisi Maria Cristina ITA 4:25.55,8
4. Sadlecka Magdalena PL 4:28.04,8
5. Sommer Sabine AUT 4:31.03,1
Men – 60 km
1. Cattaneo Johnny ITA 3:30.35,2
2. Pallhuber Johann ITA 3:30.35,8
3. Rauchfuss Marek CZ 3:38.41,0
4. Tiberi Andrea ITA 3:39.04,4
5. Pliem Manuel AUT 3:40.07,7
The wonder of the Dolomites
4,016 athletes competed in the race, and this year the two routes designed around the Sella Group have proved to be be both of unrivalled beauty and of incomparable toughness – a ‘must do’ race on the international circuit.