The names on the starting grid of the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites 2024 promised a spectacle, and expectations were not disappointed. The toughest mountain bike marathon in the world was attended by the strongest bikers in the world according to the UCI ranking of the "marathon" specialty and to raise the bar of media and social attention, there was also the presence of Peter Sagan, Ned Overend and Marco Aurelio Fontana.
THE HEROES
The men's podium bears the signature of the German Andreas Seewald of the Canyon Sidi Mtb Team, who today repeats his success in 2021, which conquered the long route of 86 km and 4.500 meters of altitude difference in 4:31'32”.

“I knew that Paez was the man to beat – declares Seewald – and to put pressure on him I deliberately started very strong, because I know that his true strength comes out in the long distance. A somewhat risky move in an extremely tough course like that of the HERO, but I knew I had the necessary resistance to be able to manage the second part of the race and maintain the lead of the race"
A victory that takes on even more value if you consider those who finished behind him, top-level rivals such as the Czech and teammate Martin Stosek who finished the race in second place, 3'16" behind the winner. Completing the podium was eight-time HERO winner Leo Paez, with a time of 4:37'48”.

THE HEROINES
The elite athletes clashed on the 60 km route with 3.200 meters of altitude difference, and the victory went to the Namibian Vera Looser of the Lapierre Bikes team, who established herself with a time of 4:04'34"
“During the race I had to maintain maximum concentration, unlike my opponent Mairhofer, in fact, I am not a great climber: my strengths are the flat and the descent. – declares Looser – I am very happy with this result because it is a test of strength that I have done in view of the Olympics, in which I will compete on the road”
BMW HERO Südtorol Dolomites © wisthaler.com
Defeating the direct competition of the South Tyrolean Sandra Mairhofer of the Polisportiva Caluschese Ciclismo ASD, who took second place with a gap of 6'02", and in third place Debora Piana of the Velo Club Cicli Cingolani team in 4:10'52"



THE LEGENDS
Among the ranks of heroes there were also some legends of road and off-road cycling.
The highly anticipated Peter Sagan, who left his professional road career, returned to his first passion: mountain biking. After his presence at the HERO in Abu Dhabi, he returned to the Dolomites to compete in the main race. The Slovakian enjoyed "battling" with Marco Aurelio Fontana (the challenge was on the first climb of Danterciepes) with whom he was an opponent in several races cross country when Sagan attempted the Olympic adventure at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

The presence of Ned Overend, the first mountain bike world champion in the specialty, is also highly anticipated cross country in 1990 in Durando (USA). The Specialized ambassador champion, who is now 68 years old, has not lost his passion over the years, and in his second participation in the HERO (after 2019) he chose the 60 km route, finishing with a time of 5:10'08" .
After last year's experience, Marco Aurelio Fontana also returns to the Dolomites. The Olympian and bronze medalist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games tackled the 60km course and finished in 4:07'28”.
The complete results are available on the site: www.datasport.com
MEN'S RANKING
- SEEWALD Andreas – GER – Canyon Sidi Mtb Team – 04:31:32,6
- STOSEK Martin – CZE – Canyon Sidi Mtb Team – 04:34:49,5 – +3:16,9
- PAEZ LEON Hector Leonardo – COL – TOP RACE TEAM ASS. AMATEUR CYCLING SPORTS – 04:37:48,3 – +6:15,7
- ROSA Diego – ITA – ASD TORPADO-SÜDTIROL INTERNATIONAL MTB PRO TEAM – 04:41:00,0 – +9:27,4
- STUTZMANN Marc – SUI – Canyon Sidi Mtb Team – 4:42:44,5 – +11:11,9
- PORRO Samuele – ITA – AMATEUR SPORTS ASSOCIATION EASY INFINITY – 04:42:46,2 – +11:13,6
- GEISMAYR Daniel – AUT – EASY INFINITY AMATEUR SPORTS ASSOCIATION – 04:42:46,7 – +11:14,1
- DORIGONI Jakob – ITA – SD TORPADO-SÜDTIROL INTERNATIONAL MTB PRO TEAM – 04:44:13,2 – +12:40,6
- CHERCHI Dario – ITA – TOP RACE TEAM – 04:46:24,8 – +14:52,2
- DE COSMO Gioele – ITA – S. SCOTT RACING TEAM AMATEUR SPORTS ASSOCIATION – 04:47:42,4 – +16:09,8
FEMALE RANKING
- LOOSER Vera – NAM – Lapierre Bikes – 004:04:34
- MAIRHOFER Sandra – ITA – POLISPORTIVA CALUSCHESE CICLISMO ASD – 4:10:37 – +6:02,7
- PIANA Debora – ITA – VELO CLUB TRACK CYCLES ASD – 04:10:52 – +6:18,5
- MORATH Adelheid – GER – 04:16:46 – +12:12,5
- WALTER Stefanie – GER – CANYON SIDI MTB TEAM – 4:18:28 – +13:54,0
- ZARANTONELLO Maria – ITA – 4:20:09 – +15:35,3
- BURATO Chiara – ITA – 4:20:54 – +16:20,6
- FASOLIS Costanza – ITA – MENTECORPO BY BIEMME AMATEUR SPORTS ASSOCIATION – 4:20:55 – +16:20,8
- NAY Alessia – SUI – KOBA / RMV-Chur – 4:25:02 – +20:28,2
- ZIOLKOWSKA Michalina – POL – 4:31:22 – +26:48,0
For information and registration: www.herodolomites.com
