Numerous world champions, European champions and World Cup winners will not miss one of the most challenging and most beautiful MTB Marathons. A total of around 2200 bikers will participate in the event in Villabassa.
Source: press release
It has long been known that the record holder of victories Leonardo Paez will participate in the race. The Colombian has won five editions of the Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike (2006, 2016, 2021, 2022 and 2023) and wants to reach six victories. The South American biker living in Italy showed that he is in form by winning the second stage of the World Cup of the season in Haute-Savoie (France).
But in the 3 Peaks/3 Zinnen Dolomiti region Paes will have to face some very strong opponents. Among others, the local showman Fabian Rabensteiner, second in the last edition, who became Italian Marathon champion a month ago, will participate. He also boasts a European title in his palmarès, as well as a continental silver and bronze. The biker from Villandro also stood out in the World Cup: last year he won the final ranking and this year he won the first stage of the season in Nove Mesto. The German Andreas Seewald, world champion in 2021 and vice world champion in 2022, will also be present. Rabensteiner's teammate Samuele Porro, who this year achieved two third places in the World Cup, will also be present on the starting grid. and the Austrian Daniel Geismayr, winner of a silver (2018) and a bronze (2017) world championship. The Italian Lorenzo Samparisi, fourth in the Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike 2023, will also be at the game.
Equally strong will be the bikers in the women's Elite race, starting with the German Adelheid Morath. In 2023, the winner of the last edition also became European champion and obtained the bronze medal at the World Championships. Her biggest rival could be Italian Claudia Peretti, winner of the classic in the Dolomites in 2022 and reigning Italian Marathon champion.
But in the challenge for the best placings, two local star performers could also have their say. On the one hand, cross triathlete Sandra Mairhofer, multiple world champion in her discipline (including Winter Triathlon). In the last edition the athlete from Tesido placed fifth, while in 2022 she placed fourth on the 85 km route. On the other hand, another sensational result could come from Agnes Tschurtschenthaler, a great runner from Sesto Pusteria. Suffice it to say that 12 months ago the 42-year-old placed second, beating some top bikers.
Three routes with different lengths and difficulties
“Naturally we are very happy to be able to welcome such strong participants. The 2024 Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike could easily pass for a stage of the World Cup. It shows that great top athletes like our race: the route, the organization and also our family environment that has distinguished us for almost 30 years", the head of the organizing committee Kurt Ploner is convinced of this.
On Saturday, after the first starting signals at 7.25 am, attention will not only be paid to the bikers of the Elite category. The heart and soul of the Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike will, in fact, be the thousands of amateur bikers who will pedal with great commitment along the three routes. The most difficult will be the 123 kilometer route, not only due to the distance but also due to the 3400 meters of altitude difference to be tackled on the mountain bike. The average route, however, includes 85 kilometers with 2360 meters of altitude difference. The last scheduled distance, the shortest, is 60 kilometers with 1570 meters of altitude difference.
Registrations for the 29th Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike continue to be open on the official website of the event www.dolomitisuperbike.com.
