Source: press release
In a memorable day of sport, competition and effort, Leonardo Paez wins the success at the seventh edition of the HERO Südtirol Dolomites: the Colombian of the Olympia Polimedical team dominates in the 86-kilometer course (conquering the fourth victory in the HERO) leaving the place of honor to German Markus Kaufmann of RJC Ravensburg and third place to Daniele Mensi of Top Race Team ASD. Among the women, Sally Bigham of the Topeak Ergon Racing team won over the Polish Michalina Ziolkowska of the Volkswagen Samochody Uzytkowe team and the Venetian Maria Cristina Nisi of the Bike Garage Revolutiom team. Jhonny Cattaneo won over Johann Pallhuber in the short 60-kilometer course.
4.016 bikers representing 50 nations and 103 Italian provinces are at the start.
The organizer Gerhard Vanzi: «The HERO is increasingly the race of the wishes of the mountain bike enthusiast, and is an added value for the tourism of our mountains».
Selva di Val Gardena (BZ) 18.06.2016 – In the end, Leonardo Paez won the day, the biker in the Olympia Polimedical team who finished the 86-kilometre HERO Südtirol Dolomites course (with 4.500 meters of difference in altitude) in 4:34.51 . A high-level performance by the Colombian based in Italy, who with today's success writes his name in the HERO roll of honor for the fourth time. The worries on the eve about Paez's form worried the Colombian's team a little, which also competed in trials this season cross country in an attempt to detach the ticket to the Rio Olympic test, but without success. With the chapter five circles closed, Leonardo returned to focus on long distances and above all on repeating himself in the race that saw him win in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Paez left behind him two fierce opponents such as the German, Markus Kaufmann of the RJC team Ravensburg and Daniele Mensi of the Top Race Team ASD team who arrived almost paired up but more than 5 minutes behind the Colombian.
«I am very happy with this fourth victory, I thank the team for supporting me and supporting me in this race - declared the winner Paez - on the first climb I kept a steady pace, the Germans Kauffman and Käß were in front of me, but I knew that the race was still very long. I took them back on the descent towards Corvara and from then on I continued alone until the victory ».
The HERO Südtirol Dolomites was a valid test for the UCI Marathon World Series circuit, the World Cup of long-distance mountain bike competitions, a grueling race that circumnavigates the Sella massif, in the heart of the Dolomites.
Highly competitive race also among women that saw Sally Bigham of the Topeak Ergon Racing team defeating the competition of the Polish Michalina Ziolkowska, standard bearer of the Volkswagen Samochody Uzytkowe Team, and Maria Cristina Nisi of the Bike Garage Revolutiom team.
«It was a very tough race, long climbs and very steep descents - declared the winner Sally Bigham - and I found the route difficult and technical, also due to the track conditions. The Hero is a special race with an incredible atmosphere. Despite my two falls coming down from Passo Pordoi, I'm happy not to have hurt myself, even in anticipation of next week's World Championships ».
In the short course of 60 kilometers, but not for this undemanding, given the 3.300 meters of altitude to be overcome, a statement by Johnny Cattaneo of the Wilier Force Squadra Corse team who stopped the clock on a time of 3: 30.32,2.
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 PL 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 ITA 3: 40.07,7
