Leonardo Paez likes the Sellaronda. Among women, Adelheid Morath excelled.
Source: press release
The spotlight on the twelfth edition of the toughest mountain bike marathon in the world has gone out a few hours ago. For the seventh time, Colombian Leonardo Paez wrote his name in the register of honor of the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites 2022 on the usual and most blinding 86-kilometer route. Among the women success of the German Adelheid Morath who dominated the 60 km track. To complete the male podium also Diego Alfonso Arias Cuervo and the home favorite Gerhard Kerschbaumer, while the Italian Debora Piana and Elena Gaddoni climbed the female one.
The twelfth edition of the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites was kissed by the sun which, with its iconic routes designed around the Sella group in the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites,
it has been defined since its inception as the toughest mountain bike marathon in the world.At the starting line athletes from 42 nations: an international sport show, which saw the participation of important names of reference in the panorama of the discipline at professional, despite the concomitance of a race that awarded the continental title. But anyway: the charm of the HERO is an attraction that not everyone can resist.
THE MEN'S PODIUM
So Leonardo Paez was the first to cross the finish line of the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites 2022, from this year the Soudal - Lee Cougan International Team rider. After passing the first step, that of Gardena, paired with compatriot Arias Cuervo Diego Alfonso, Paez went on a solitary escape along the "long" track of 86 kilometers with 4.500 meters of altitude difference, which he concluded with a time of 4: 33.52. For him it is the seventh success at the HERO Dolomites, which confirms, in addition to his great physical preparation, how comfortable he is with hard routes like this.
«It was a busy day, also due to the high temperatures. I confess I had digestive problems on the Pordoi Pass which I passed with patience and without exaggerating - commented Leo Paez after crossing the finish line - but when I got back to feeling good, I pushed on the pedals uphill because I know the downhill skills of Diego and I had to keep the advantage gained ».
At the seventh victory at the HERO that embellishes a long career, the Colombian does not seem to give in as he gets older: "Yes, it's true, I'm approaching the 40-year-old milestone and I'm still competitive: it's a satisfaction, but this is thanks to the life of an athlete that I have always done and the passion for the bike that I cultivate every day in a professional way »underlined Paez.
Behind him, his compatriot and former teammate, Arias Cuervo Diego Alfonso of the Hubbers Polimedical team who finished the HERO in 4: 36.20, in turn followed by the home favorite Gerhard Kerschbaumer of Specialized Factory Racing who finished in 4 : 41.20 who was able to conquer the third step of the podium thanks to an imperial comeback on the last climb of Passo Duron, against the Swiss Urs Huber (second in 2019 and 2014) and the Belgian Frans Claes, fourth and fifth respectively.
THE WOMEN'S PODIUM
The emotions were certainly not less on the 60-kilometer track with 3.200 meters of altitude difference where the elite athletes put themselves to the test, with excellent results obtained by the Italians present.
Triumphing with a final time of 3: 55.27 was the German Adelheid Morath of Team Mount7, for the first time on the podium here in Selva: "I'm really excited, because winning the HERO was a dream I had and now it has come true - Adelheid commented after crossing the finish line - and this victory takes on an even more important value because I don't have much experience in marathon trials, but today I felt in a state of grace ».
A success celebrated between fatigue and big smiles also by the second classified,
the Italian Debora Piana of the Velo Club Cicli Cingolani, who reached the finish line in 4: 06.07, and closing the “pink” podium, in 4: 06.41, was the winner of the 2017 edition Elena Gaddoni of the Rolling Bike Team.
CLASSIFICATION BMW HERO SÜDTIROL DOLOMITES 2022 MEN (86 KM)
- Paez Leon Hector Leonardo - COL - Soudal Lee Cougan International Team -4: 33.52
- Arias Cuervo Diego Alfonso - COL- Hubbers Polimedical- 4: 36.20
- Kerschbaumer Gerhard - ITA - Specialized Racing XCO Team - 4: 41.20
- Huber Urs - SUI - Team BULLS - 4: 41.33
- Claes Frans - BEL - Verhofsté MTB Team - 4: 42.05
RANKING BMW HERO SÜDTIROL DOLOMITES 2022 WOMEN (60 KM)
- Morath Adelheid - GER - Team Mount7 - 3: 55.27
- Piana Debora - ITA - Velo Club Cicli Cingolani ASD - 4: 06.07
- Gaddoni Elena - ITA Rolling Bike - 4: 06.41
- Sheppard Samara - NZL - Port Nicholson Poneke MTB - 4: 09.02
- Fasolis Costanza - ITA - Amateur Leynicese Pedal - 4: 13.58
COMPLETE results
