Sellaronda Hero 2023 standings: Leonardo Paez wins

The spotlights on the toughest mountain bike marathon in the world went out a few hours ago and the Colombian Leon Paez climbed the top step of the men's podium for the eighth time, preceding Samuele Porro and his compatriot Diego Arias Cuervo. Among women triumph for the second year of the German Adelheid Morath in front of Katazina Sosna and the South Tyrolean Sandra Mairhofer.

Among the members also the "Shark" Vincenzo Nibali who closed his first HERO tired but smiling, and above all satisfied.

Already from the conference on the eve it was understood that today's BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites would be a high-level race, thanks to a parterre de rois with the best interpreters in the world of mountain bike marathon trials. And the expectations in this thirteenth edition have been confirmed.

THE PODIUM OF HEROES

The Colombian Leon Hector Leonardo Paez put his signature in the roll of honor of the 2023 edition of the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites for the eighth time, who covered the "long" track of 86 kilometers with 4.500 meters in altitude , in a time of 4:29.05,9.

«I am extremely happy with this victory, because for me it is a very important race and one that has seen me grow - says Paez a few moments after crossing the finish line – and every year I always find the motivation to return to the mountains, the people and the HERO organization».

A first place conquered with determination, managing to put top-level rivals behind him, such as Samuele Porro of the Wilier Pirelli Factory Team, who finished his performance in 4:36.29,9, who repeated the second position as in 2021.

Third was the Colombian Diego Arias Cuervo of Team Futura ASD, detached from the winner in 7'34”.

Respectively in fourth and fifth position, the Austrian Daniel Geismayr, Porro's teammate, and the Czech Martin Stosek of the Canyon Northwave MTB Team.

The race report tells that after the initial skirmishes on the Danterciepes climb and towards Pralongià, the five competitors maintained a pace collaborating up to the foot of the deadly Ornella climb, where Paez accelerated out of the woods with an advantage of almost 4 minutes on the trackers and former escape companions. Paez's subsequent rides were a lonely ride to his eighth HERO win. At the finish, his advantage was 7'24” over Porro and Arias Cuervo.

A prestigious result for Paez, because the HERO is the toughest mountain bike marathon in the world in terms of the ratio between distance covered and altitude difference: designed around the Sella and Sassolungo groups, this year the race received the UCI classification Hors Class.

THE HEROINES

The spectacle on the 60-kilometre track with 3.200 meters in altitude where the elite athletes put themselves to the test was no less. The German Adelheid Morath of Team Mount7, who has always celebrated the winners of the HERO, was the first to arrive in the square of Selva Val Gardena for the second year in a row with a time of 3:58.59,5.

«When the race started, I didn't know what to expect, I was tired but I was fine - Morath declares with her eyes shining with joy at having achieved this result for the second year in a row - and therefore I was cautious from the beginning to have control of the my race".

Despite her cautious attitude, the German raced alone from the first ascent of Passo Gardena.

«However, with this result I can say that I surprised even myself, because I didn't feel totally rested after last week's race in Finale Ligure» concludes the German.

On the second step of the women's podium went the Lithuanian (but naturalized Italian) Katazina Sosna of the Torpado Factory Team, who finished her performance in 4:02.07,4, conquering her fourth HERO podium. The home athlete, Sandra Mairhofer, closes the podium, the athlete of the ASD Granbike Velo Club finished the race in 4:02.57.

Followed in fourth and fifth place by Stefanie Dorn of the Canyon Northwave MTB Team and Lejla Njemčević of the Allebike Team, currently number 1 in the world results who had promised a battle the day before.

THE "SHARK" EXPRUINS THE DOLOMITES

Also present at this exciting edition of HERO was Vincenzo Nibali who, having finished his incredible career as a professional on the road, took up the HERO challenge to test himself on the climbs he used to ride on asphalt until last year. With a time of 5:22.32,1, signed on the 86-kilometre course, he was greeted with an ovation as he crossed the finish line:

«It was a really tough test, but I'm satisfied that I took part in it. I took my own pace, but also enjoyed the wonderful panorama of the Dolomites» commented the Shark of Messina live on television and streaming in 85 countries on five continents. The classification places him in 48th position, a positive result in light of the numerous commitments of recent months that have kept him away from specific preparation for a marathon like the HERO.

The London 2012 Olympic medalist Marco Aurelio Fontana also pedaled alongside Nibali, who defended himself well on a track that he himself described on the eve of the race as "crazy": the biker from Castel Arquato finished in 126rd place, above all winning the challenge of completing a test as tough as the HERO.

MALE RANKING 80km

classification 60km Men

WOMEN'S RANKING 60km

classification 86km Women