ANDREAS SEEWALD AND KATAZINA SOSNA SIGN THE RELEASE EDITION OF THE BMW HERO SÜDTIROL DOLOMITES 2021.
Source: press release
The flags of Germany and Lithuania fly at the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites 2021. An edition long awaited by professional athletes and amateurs who today have returned to pedal on the iconic routes of the toughest mountain bike marathon in the world. Samuele Porro and Colombian Leonardo Paez completed the men's podium of the 86-kilometer track; among the women who competed on the 60-kilometer course in second place was the Swiss Ariane Lüthi followed by the Austrian Angelika Tazreiter.
Selva di Val Gardena (BZ), 12 June 2021 The spotlights of a real show have just gone out, with the leading names on the international mountain bike marathon scene as protagonists. The BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites 2021 was staged in Selva di Val Gardena which, with its iconic routes, is considered the hardest mountain bike marathon in the world, so much so that it became part of the prestigious 2021 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series .
THE MEN'S PODIUM
The German Andreas Seewald of the Canyon Northwave MTB Team climbed the highest step of the men's podium in the Elite category, who pedaled the 86 kilometers with 4.500 meters of altitude difference of the long route, crossing the Gardena, Campolongo, Pordoi and Duron passes, in 4: 26.57. Behind him, Samuele Porro of Team Trek Pirelli who finished 2'13 late, preceding Leonardo Paez of Team Giant Polimedical in third place.
Originally from Lenggries, in Upper Bavaria, the country that gave birth to the ski Olympian Hilde Gerg, Andreas Seewald practiced alpine skiing until the age of 16, when he began to approach mountain biking, but only four years older. later he made off-road cycling a profession, thanks also to the Canyon Northwave MTB Team formation that followed him in this rapid growth.
"I started immediately at a high pace in the hope of doing a solitary race, but during the race there were some changes at the top: during the descent from Campolongo I had to stop for a puncture, and just at that moment Leonardo Paez he overtook me - said the German biker - which I did after the Duron Pass, when he too had the same problems as me ».
In reality Leonardo Paez was doubly unlucky having punctured twice. "If Leonardo hadn't had these difficulties, we probably would have played the HERO in the sprint, but this is sport - concluded Andreas Seewald - it's a dream to be here today, on this very important podium".
THE WOMEN'S PODIUM
Great spectacle also on the female front, which saw the Elite athletes compete, being the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites registered in the international calendar of the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series, on the 60-kilometer course with 3.200 meters of elevation gain. The women's race has never been questioned with the national champion of Lithuania Katazina Sosna of Team Torpado-Südtirol International MT who has always led the race, and who placed her signature at the top of the 2021 standings with a time of 3 : 50.45.
"I have been waiting for this day for a long time: I have really focused a lot on this race, and with me my team with whom I have been in training camp in Anterselva for two weeks" said Katazina after crossing the finish line, in a liberating cry. Speaking to Eurosport, he also added: «With our coach Luca Bramati we have planned specific training sessions to increase endurance, and today I have reaped the fruits of this work. After having touched the top step of the podium in past editions, today it is a great thrill for me to have achieved my seasonal goal: to win the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites ».
Place of honor goes to the Swiss Ariane Lüthi of Team Salusmed, who reached the finish line in 3: 54.54 and third step of the podium for the Austrian Angelika Tazreiter of the KTM Factory MTB Team who stopped the time trial in 4: 02.01. First Italian and fourth classified Sandra Mairhofer of the Pedale Leynicese formation detached by more than four minutes from the podium.
A DEPARTURE
A 2021 edition that wanted to symbolize the restart after months of waiting: «For us it was a challenge, in the challenge. They have been very demanding months, from different points of view, but the satisfaction of seeing our competitors on the starting line this morning is the most important thing for us - commented Gerhard Vanzi, - from the beginning we wanted this to be a edition to remember, symbol of a new departure, which communicated strength and a lot of positivity ».
CLASSIFICATION BMW HERO SÜDTIROL DOLOMITES 2021 MEN (86 KM)
- Seewald Andreas - GER - Canyon Northwave Mtb Team - 4: 26.57
- Porro Samuele - ITA - Team Trek Pirelli - 4: 29.11
- Paez Leon Hector Leonardo - COL - Team Giant Polimedical - 4: 30.04
- Arias Cuervo Diego Alfonso - COL - Team Giant Polimedical - 4: 30.24
- Stosek Martin - CZE - Canyon Northwave Mtb Team - 4: 38.57
RANKING BMW HERO SÜDTIROL DOLOMITES 2021 WOMEN (60 KM)
- Sosna Katazina - LIT - ASD Torpado-Südtirol International Mt - 3: 50.45
- Lüthi Ariane - SUI - Salusmed - 3: 54.54
- Tazreiter Angelika - AUT - KTM Factory Mtb Team - 4: 02.01
- Mairhofer Sandra - ITA - AS Dilettantistica Pedale Leynicese - 4: 06.04
- Morel Estelle - FRA - Team Vtt Ornans - 4: 07.17
