Sandra Mairhofer aims for victory at the HERO. © Roc d'Azur

Sandra Mairhofer: “I miss a HERO victory”

The starting signal for this year's HERO Südtirol Dolomites will be given in Selva at 7.10:XNUMX a.m. on Saturday. The day before, numerous protagonists of the mountain bike race spoke at the press conference.

June 13, 2025

From: cst

"We're fully focused on the HERO on Saturday. It's sure to be a major spectacle," said Gerhard Vanzi, head of the organizing committee, opening the press conference in Selva. The HERO is the third stage of the UCI World Cup, which is why numerous top athletes are competing.

In the women's race, Dutch rider Rosa Van Doorn is one of the big favorites. "In 2021, when I participated in the HERO for the first time, I immediately fell in love with this race. Even though I'm Dutch, I love the climbs here," smiles Van Doorn, who, like Wout Alleman, leads the men's overall standings. The Belgian is less enthusiastic about the climbs: "My physical structure isn't quite ideal for climbs like this, so it will definitely be a very difficult race for me. It's one of the toughest, but also one of the most anticipated races of the year."

The press conference took place in Wolkenstein on Friday. © Harald Wisthaler

From a South Tyrolean perspective, the focus is on Sandra Mairhofer, who has already achieved third and second place in the HERO – but: "I'm still missing a win. Last year, my competitors controlled the race, and this year I want to do the same. I can try anything, but I'll give it my best."