The Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race returns to the fore in the world of international mtb. The clawed wheel race in Nals, in South Tyrol, scheduled for Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 April, will shine for the 22nd time thanks to the well-tested organizing committee "Sunshine Racers ASV Nals" led by president Florian Pallweber.
Source: Newspower press release
It will be the fourth stage of the circuit cross country Italia Bike Cup Chaoyang 2023, which brings together the best cycling events in Northern Italy born with the aim of enhancing the territories and local communities in which they take place, also giving ample space to young bikers.
The Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race, thanks to its technical and 'explosive' route that characterizes it, has rightfully entered the list of HC (Hors Categorie) category races, a term used by the UCI to indicate some races considered among the most difficult.
The first weekend of April, Elites, Under 23s and Juniors will ride on the track created in the splendid nature amidst flowering scented apple orchards and vineyards, and "devoured" in the past by the greats of MTB, starting with Marco Bui, the first athlete to sign the prestigious register of gold in 2001, who repeated his success in 2003 and also won five Italian titles, two World Cups and an Under 23 World Championship, and again Martino Fruet from Trentino, on the first step of the podium in 2002, passing through the Belgian world champion Roel Paulissen (2004 and 2007), the Frenchman Julien Absalon (2005), two-time Olympic gold medalist cross country and winner of 9 world and 10 European medals, the Swiss Nino Schurter (2010), 2016 Olympic champion in Rio de Janeiro and ten times Elite world champion, the Italian champion Tony Longo (2011), the Olympic bronze medalist Marco Aurelio Fontana (2012 and 2017) and the Swiss Florian Vogel (2015), two times European champion and winner of three world medals, to name a few. The undisputed queens were the Norwegian Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå, the most successful athlete in the South Tyrolean race between 2003 and 2017, as well as Olympic gold medalist in Athens 2004 and holder of 8 world titles between marathon and cross country, and the multi-medal "home" biker Eva Lechner, who counts 4 victories. Two consecutive victories (2018 and 2019) went to the Swiss Sina Frei, silver medal cross country at the Tokyo Olympic Games, while in 2021 the French Loana Lecomte won the XC World Cup in the same year. Finally, last year the Austrian Mona Mitterwallner, Marathon 2021 world champion, celebrated.
The competition program for 2023 will take place over two days: on Saturday 1st April the Elite-Under 23 and Junior categories for men and women will compete, while the following day it will be the turn of the Beginners and Allievi categories (1st and 2nd year).
With great commitment, the Sunshine Racers ASV Nals company, born in 1996 from the enthusiasm of a group of cyclists, grows and supports the youth sector and with the Race Team made up of 17 athletes participates in national and international competitions both in Italy and abroad , obtaining excellent results. In 2022 South Tyrolean Niclas Pallweber won the Italian Allievi title and also won the bronze medal at the XCE European Championships, teammate Jana Pallweber wore a precious silver medal around her neck at the XCC Italian Championships, Katharina Telser won bronze at the Italian XCO Championships, Carmine Del Riccio, Italian CX and E-Bike champion, Hannes Wenter, XCE silver at the 2021 European Championships, Anna Sinner, silver at the Italian XCO 2020 Championships. President Florian Pallweber thanks all the collaborators, volunteers, Firefighters, White Cross, Alpine Rescue, the media, partners and all those who have contributed to the success of this historic race.
More than twenty years have passed since it began, but the fascination of the resplendent Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race has remained unchanged. The beauty of the South Tyrolean mountains, the particularity of the track and the exceptional organization have made it one of the longest-running and most popular events in the sector in Italy and beyond.
The appointment for passionate bikers is therefore launched, time flies and the Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race is ready to light up the green Nals in spring.
