Two South Tyroleans were also able to celebrate in the two Elite races: Fabian Rabensteiner (Villandro) and Agnes Tschurtschenthaler (Sesto Pusteria) climbed onto the podium in second position. Almost 3000 mountain bikers from 41 countries made the event in the 3 Peaks/3 Zinnen Dolomites region spectacular.
Source: press release
The story between Leonardo Paez and the Dolomiti Superbike is a legendary story studded with successes. The Colombian, who will turn 41 on Monday, triumphed for the fifth time in the classic Marathon in the 3 Zinnen Dolomites region. At first in the race, characterized by a distance of 3 kilometers by 123 meters of altitude, other athletes were in the lead. About halfway through, the South American was sixth in the standings, 3400 minutes behind Juri Ragnoli from Brescia.
At the passage to the Rocca dei Baranci, after three hours of racing, Paez had halved the gap and was leading a strong group of chasers, which included among others Martin Stosek (Czech Republic) and the Azzurri Diego Rosa, Fabian Rabensteiner and Lorenzo Samparisi. The passage to Prato Piazza was decisive, as often happens in the Dolomiti Superbike, where Paez launched the decisive attack and gained a minute advantage over his pursuers. Later he defended this gap and crossed the finish line as winner after 4h37'39 ”. Fabian Rabensteiner prevailed in the sprint for second place, beating Martin Stosek. The mountain biker from Villandro staked everything on the last downhill run and narrowly prevailed
Adelheid Morath leads from start to finish
In the women's Elite race, held over an average distance of 85 kilometers and 2360 meters in altitude, Adelheid Morath prevailed. The 38-year-old German from Stegen im Schwarzwald took a risk and quickly took the lead. Subsequently, the reigning European champion increased the gap and won the twenty-eighth edition of the South Tyrolean classic with a time of 3h46'04”. Agnes Tschurtschenthaler (Sesto Pusteria) surprisingly placed second, who had not started with the Elite bikers, but 10 minutes later with the group. With a net time of 3h52'39” the former middle-distance runner and international-level steeplechase beat the leading mountain bikers and also took advantage of a “detour” made by Morath's pursuers who had missed an intersection. In third place was Costanza Fasolis from Turin, who also moved forward because athletes like the outgoing champion Claudia Peretti had made a mistake in turning. Fasolis finished the race in 3h53'02”.
The men's race over 85 kilometers was won by the Ligurian Lorenzo Trincheri. The under 23 biker crossed the finish line in 3h17'32” and prevailed over Christian Cominelli (Brescia/3h18'47”) and the Belgian resident of Anterselva Roel Paulissen (3h20'26”).
A South Tyrolean victory in the 60 km race
At 28a Dolomiti Superbike the classic distance was also held, equal to 60 kilometers with 1570 meters of difference in altitude Klaus Fontana (Valdaora) triumphed in this race among men, who stopped the clock after 2h21'07”. Second place went to the Austrian Daniel Webhofer, while third place went to Benjamin Schwingshackl (Val Casies/2h22'28”). In the women's field, the Polish Anna Urban repeated last year's success. This time the 43-year-old from Łódź triumphed in 2h59'09” remaining just under three hours. Together with her, two South Tyroleans climbed the podium: Daniela Brugger (Dobbiaco) and Hannah Wiesthaler (San Candido). Finally Greta Recchia (Fondi) entered the annals of the 28a Dolomiti Superbike as winner of the women's race over 123 kilometres
Dolomiti Superbike 2023
123km Overall Elite Men
1. Leon Hector Leonardo Paez 4h37'39”6 (COL)
2. Fabian Rabensteiner 4h38'34”5 (ITA)
3. Martin Stosek 4h38'34”6 (CZ)
4. Lorenzo Samparisi 4h38'35”5 (ITA)
5. Diego Rosa 4h38'41”7 (ITA)
85km Overall Elite Men
1. Lorenzo Trincheri 3h17'32”5 (ITA)
2. Cristian Cominelli 3h18'47”9 (ITA)
3. Roel Paulissen 3h20'26” (BEL)
4. Andrea Candeago 3h21'18”1 (ITA)
5. Michele Guadagnini 3h22'12″ (ITA)
85km Overall Elite Women
1. Adelheid Morath 3h46'04”1 (GER)
2. Agnes Tschurtschenthaler 3h52'39”2 (ITA)
3. Costanza Fasolis 3h53'02”4 (ITA)
4. Irina Luetzelschwab 3h54'20”4 (CH)
5. Sandra Mairhofer 3h54'20”7 (ITA)
60km Overall Men
1. Klaus Fontana 2h21'07”7 (ITA – Torpado Südtirol)
2. Daniel Webhofer 2h21'34”9 (ITA – dolomite.bike)
3. Benjamin Schwingshackl 2h22'28”1 (ITA)
4. Philipp Plunger 2h23'42”4 (ITA – Martini Team)
5. Alberto Magnani 2h23'44”2 (ITA)
60km Overall Women
1. Anna Urban 2h59'09”6 (POL)
2. Daniela Brugger 3h05'34”3 (ITA)
3. Hannah Wiesthaler 3h08'56”4 (ITA – Team Eirisch Grill)
4. Andrea Brugger 3h14'50”3 (ITA)
5. Sophie Auer 3h15'18”5 (ITA)
COMPLETE results
