The Dolomiti Superbike will take place in the Pustertal on July 13th. © Jens Voegele

Dolomiti Superbike: Middle distances are becoming increasingly popular

The countdown is ticking down inexorably: in two months, the South Tyrol Dolomiti Superbike will take place on Saturday, July 13th. The country's most traditional mountain bike marathon is taking place for the 29th time. There are once again three routes to choose from, this time the focus of this presentation is on the medium distance (85 km/2360 hm).

14 Maj 2024

From: pm

It was offered for the first time two years ago at the South Tyrol Dolomiti Superbike and has since become very popular with hundreds of participants: We are talking about the middle route, which is 85 kilometers long and has an altitude difference of 2360 meters. Like all other routes of the South Tyrol Dolomiti Superbike, it begins in the center of Niederdorf. The participants then go along the Toblacher Höhenweg to the Silvesteralmmoos, then the Walderweg and the Jaufenstraße down to Vierschach and along the Drau to Innichen.

From here the route leads along the Sesto stream towards the mountaineering village, before the bikers climb to Haunold and then the rapid descent back to Innichen. As soon as the cyclists have left Dobbiaco behind them, they continue along the old railway line towards Cortina to Schluderbach, finally zigzagging up to the Dürrensteinhütte - also the highest point on this route - and down over the picturesque Plätzwiesen to Schmieden and from there to the destination in Niederdorf.

An increase for everyone for whom the 60 kilometers is too short

“The middle distance is intended for all those bikers for whom the 60 kilometers are now too short, but who do not (yet) dare to tackle the long distance. So it's a first improvement, an approach to our king's route over 123 kilometers,” explains Kurt Ploner, busy OC boss at one of the most renowned MTB marathons in the world.

A varied route awaits the participants. © Jens Voegele

The medium distance is also characterized by the fact that the bikers spend a lot of time on loose surfaces and gravel. Asphalt sections are limited over the 85 kilometers with an altitude difference of 2360 meters. “That makes the whole thing a bit more technically demanding for the participants. There is another advantage for us as the organizer: We can redirect all bikers who are on the long distance but don't make it to Schluderbach in time for the time slot to this middle route and still include them in the ranking," adds Ploner .

The women's elite race is also held at this medium distance. In 2022, the Italian Claudia Peretti prevailed, while last year Adelheid Morath from Germany won the day in the South Tyrol Dolomiti Superbike.