Val Gardena is preparing for the toughest marathon in the world

With 4018 registrations from 45 nations, it is the Hero marathon with the most participants in the Alps. Because of its almost murderous ratio between route length and altitude, it is also the hardest marathon in the world. The long route is over 86 km and 4.500 meters in altitude, the short route is over 60 km and 3.200 meters in altitude. The bikers have to overcome four passes: the Gardena Pass, the Campolongo Pass, the Pordoi Pass and the Mahlknecht Pass (Sella Pass on the short route).

The Hero South Tyrol is again part of the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series, the world cup of long-distance races, and the Alpine Cup, a racing series that includes the four toughest MTB marathons in the Alps. This is another reason why the starting field is again top-class.

The world champion returns One of the top stars of the ninth edition is Alban Lakata from Austria. The three-time and reigning marathon world champion and four-time silver medalist is competing in Val Gardena for the first time after his gold medal at the 2015 Hero World Championships. “The route around the Sellastock suits me and I hope that it goes as well as it did in 2015, but I know that some competitors are in a very good mood, especially Ragnoli and Paez, but also Urs Huber.”

After the Cape Epic, the European Championships and a UCI Marathon Series race on Elba, the 39-year-old East Tyrolean took a long break from racing “to rebuild the form for the hero,” as he says. “I’m curious to see whether the training worked.” The world champion is definitely highly motivated:

Likewise Leonardo Paez, who has already won the Hero four times: 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. He came third at the World Cup and second last year. Nobody knows the route better than him. “The course is perfect for my abilities as a climber,” says the crowd favorite from Colombia.

With last year's winner Juri Ragnoli, who has already won two long-distance races in this young season, the reigning Italian marathon champion is also coming to Val Gardena. “I want to be in top shape by the time I get to Hero. I recently completed altitude training in Livigno,” says the 30-year-old from the province of Brescia. “The route doesn’t allow for any special tactics. It’s important to listen to yourself and not look at your opponents.”

Alexey Medvedev from Russia, the newly crowned European champion, is also at the start. Based on the latest race results, Urs Huber (SUI) also seems to be in impressive form and is considered the hot favorite by world champion Lakata. Other stars of the event include former world champions Roel Paulissen (BEL) and Massimo Debertolis (ITA). In addition, almost the entire Italian national marathon team is at the start: Luca Ronchi, Tony Longo, Cristian Cominelli, Simone Ferrero, Cristiano Salerno, Francesco Casagrande, Mattia Longa and Johnny Cattaneo. Fabian Rabensteiner is also taking part in the race as an ambitious local hero. Agnes Tschurtschenthaler gets back on the bike The women's field is also extremely well filled. The names of Sally Bigham (GBR), Katrin Schwing (GER) and Elena Gaddoni (ITA) stand out. Bigham and Schwing have won the Hero twice, while Gaddoni won gold in 2017. Bigham is coming back from a long maternity leave. “After the birth of my son Max five months ago, I’m slowly trying to get back into my old shape,” says the proud mother.

Gaddoni, on the other hand, says her goal is to finish no worse than last year. “It is important that you feel good in such an important race. The Hero is the largest and most important event in the entire mountain bike movement. And of course you want to present yourself well.”

The runners-up from the last two years also want to present themselves well: the strong Austrian Christina Kollmann and the Pole Michalina Ziolkowska (POL) as well as the winner of the Alpine Cup, the French Manon Socquet Juglard, the Slovenian Blaza Pintaric and the Austrian Andrea Böttger. From a South Tyrolean perspective, Agnes Tschurtschenthaler is under special observation. The Puster athlete has already won a mountain bike marathon. Leonardo Paez is the record champion Eight editions of Hero have been held so far. In the nations rankings, Italy leads with five wins, ahead of Colombia with four and Germany with three. They are followed by Great Britain with two wins and Norway and Austria with one win each.

In the men's category, Leonardo Paez is the absolute record holder with four wins. In the women's category, Sally Bigham and Katrin Schwing share first place with two wins each.

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Val Gardena is preparing for the toughest marathon in the world

Everything is ready for the ninth edition of the BMW Hero South Tyrol Dolomites next Saturday. In just eight years, the event has managed to rise to the top of the international mountain bike movement. This is also thanks to the hosting of the 2015 World Marathon Championships.

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