The HERO attracts the world elite to the Val Gardena

Among the top favorites are the three first-placed men from last year's edition. So the four-time winner and third place in the World Cup, Leonardo Paez from Colombia; then the German marathon champion and HERO runner-up in 2016, Markus Kaufmann; and the Italian Daniele Mensi (3rd 2016). There are also well-known names such as the Swiss Cape Epic winner from 2016, Urs Huber, the Italian Juri Ragnoli (2nd in 2011) and his compatriot Luca Ronchi or the Austrian World Cup eleventh from Val Gardena, Daniel Geismayr.

Among the women, the names of Katrin Schwing (D), HERO winner 2011 and 2012, the Austrian endurance specialist Verena Krenslehner (2nd 2012) and the former Italian marathon champion Annabella Stropparo stand out.

4.017 bikers at the start

In just under four years, HERO has increased its number of participants tenfold from 400 to 4000. The limit this year is 4000 participants plus the annual number. Of the 4017 starters from 45 nations, 77% come from Italy and 23% from abroad. The proportion of foreign participants increased by 34 percent compared to the previous year. With over 100 provinces, all Italian regions are represented in the marathon. Around 200 participants from Trentino-South Tyrol are taking part.

The two marathon routes of 86 km / 4.500 meters altitude and 60 km / 3200 meters altitude first lead from Wolkenstein to Dantercepies. From there it goes down to Gardena Pass and on to Corvara, where the next long climb to the Pralongià hut awaits the riders. The bikers reach the Campolongo pass via the high mountain pastures of Alta Badia and then descend to Arabba in the province of Belluno. Shortly after Arabba, the most difficult and longest climb of 1000 meters to the highest point of the event, the Sourasass (2.351 m), begins. The route then crosses high-altitude single trails to the Pordoi Pass before the descent to Canazei in Trentino begins. Shortly before Canazei, the two routes separate: the short one winds up to the Sella Pass, where, after crossing the Stone City, the descent begins down to the finish in Wolkenstein. The long route takes the riders from the Fassa valley into the Durontal and uphill to the Mahlknechtjoch. The participants reach their destination via the Seiser Alm and Monte Pana. The riders cross a total of four passes from start to finish: the Gardena Pass, the Campolongo Pass, the Pordoi Pass and the Mahlknecht Pass (Sella Pass on the short route).

This year the HERO is part of the newly created international racing series MTB Alpine Cup. It combines the four toughest mountain bike marathons in the Alps with a total length of 450 kilometers and almost 20.000 meters in altitude: The HERO Südtirol Dolomites kicks off the racing series on June 17, 2017. After the HERO, it continues with the MB Race Culture Vélo ( France) in July, the Grand Raid BCVS (Switzerland) in August and the Forestière Bulls Bikes (France) in September. The UCI has taken over the patronage of the MTB Alpine Cup. The winner of the racing series will be crowned King of Europe.

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The HERO attracts the world elite to the Val Gardena

The 17th edition of the HERO Südtirol Dolomites will take place on Saturday, June 2017, 8. This year, 4017 participants from 45 nations are taking part in the world's toughest mountain bike marathon, including many international stars.

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