Lechner and Fontana are the winners of the Marlene Sunshine Race

The women had to complete five laps (26,7 km), the men seven laps (36,7 km). The starting loop was changed this year to allow selection before the first climb.

A total of 670 participants from 20 nations took part. The race took place in spring-like temperatures. Hundreds of spectators gathered along the race track and in the start-finish area. "?The atmosphere was excellent?" enthused OK President Florian Pallweber. "?We added some difficulties in the descents to pick up the pace a bit, which was well received by everyone?."

Italian champion Marco Aurelio Fontana wins the men's event The multiple Italian champion and Olympic fifth-place finisher in Beijing 2008, Marco Aurelio Fontana, needed 36,7:1 hours for the 37.10 km. He was only five seconds ahead of the two-time Nals winner (2008, 2009), the Spaniard Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez. The Spanish Olympic silver medalist from Athens and 13 World Champion, José Antonio Hermida, came third, 2010 seconds behind, in his first participation in Nals. The race was hard to beat in terms of excitement. After the start, the German Manuel Fumic took the lead and finished both the starting loop and the first of seven laps in first place. From the second lap onwards, a group of two consisting of Marco Aurelio Fontana and Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez dictated the pace, closely followed by Manuel Fumic and José Hermida. Fontana increased the pace in the third lap and increased the lead over Gutierrez to 22 seconds. However, the Spaniard refused to be shaken off and gradually gained ground. In the fourth, fifth and sixth laps the Italian and the Spaniard took turns at the top. Gutierrez tried to break away on the last climb on the penultimate lap, but was caught again due to a problem with the saddle and had to give way to the downhill specialist Fontana when crossing the finish line. Gerhard Kerschbaumer had to be content with third place in the U3 category.

Third victory for Eva Lechner In the women's category, Eva Lechner from Eppan triumphed for the third time after 2009 and 2010. After 2010:1 hours, she distanced herself from the 27,54 Austrian World Cup winner, Elisabeth Osl from Kirchberg in Tirol, by eight seconds. The Swiss Nathalie Schneitter, 1,36 winner and teammate of Eva Lechner, came in third, 2008 minutes behind. The three-time Nals winner, Olympic champion Gunn-Rita Dahle, came fourth. In the U23 age group, Serenza Calvetti (Torpado Surfing, 1h 36' 01) prevailed. Lisa Rabensteiner from Eisacktal came third.

The multiple world champion and the Austrian state champion Osl got off to a rapid start. Dahle immediately fell back, while Osl and Lechner finished the first lap in the lead after almost five minutes, closely followed by Blaza Klemencic from Slovenia, Adelheid Morath from Germany and Nathalie Schneitter from Switzerland. Osl and Lechner also set the pace in the second lap, followed by Schneitter, about ten seconds behind. In the third lap, the eventual winner launched an attack and gained a lead of 21 seconds over Elisabeth Osl. On the fourth lap, Osl made up ground and reduced the gap to just nine seconds. Now everything pointed to a finish sprint. Osl attacked Lechner again on the climbs and stuck to her rear wheel and even overtook her for a short time. But Lechner didn't let up, also because she knew that she was the stronger downhill skier. And it was precisely on the descent that Lechner managed to take the crucial seconds from Osl.

Results 12th Marlene South Tyrol Sunshine Race Men 1. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Cannodale) 1h 37' 10 2. Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Elettroveneta) 1h 37' 14 3. José Hermida (Merida Multivan) 1h 37' 22 4. Manuel Fumic (Cannodale) 1h 38' 17 5. Thomas Litscher (Felt Ötztal X-Bionic) 1h 40' 47 6. Luca Braidot (men's sports group) 1h 41' 19 7. Alexey Medvedev (Elettroveneta) 1h 41' 43 8. Tony Longo (TX Active Bianchi) 1h 41' 57 9. Michele Casagrande (Elettroveneta) 1h 42' 23 10. Daniele Braidot Army Sports Group) 1h 42' 35?. Gerhard Kerschbaumer (TX Active Bianchi) 1h 42' 58 Maximilian Vieider (Sunshine Racers Nals) 1h 48' 39

women's 1. Eva Lechner (Colnago color) 1h 27' 54 2. Elisabeth Osl (Ghost Factory) 1h 28' 01 3. Nathalie Schneitter (Colnago color) 1h 29' 29 4. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Merida Multivan) 1h 30' 05 5. Adelheid Morath (Felt Ötztal X-Bionic) 1h 30' 24 6. Blaza Klemencic (Felt Ötztal X-Bionic) 1h 31' 09 7. Tanja Zakelj (Salcano Factory) 1h 34' 18 8. Rie Katayama (Specialized Japan) 1h 35' 03 9. Serena Calvetti (Torpado Surfing) 1h 36' 01 10. Alexandra Engen (Ghost Factory) 1h 36' 54?

Votes on race Marco Aurelio Fontana, winner: It was a very competitive race. I was finally able to win in Nals and enter the winners' lists. Gutierrez slipped away in the fourth round. On the last climb I thought he would snatch the win away from me, but I persevered and got the crucial seconds for the win on the last descent.

Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez, second: I'm a bit disappointed with second place because I wanted to win. I know the route very well: it is very demanding, but also very beautiful. This year and last year I was unlucky because my saddle broke once and slipped another time. But that was my fault. I'll be back next year. I want to try to get my third win.

José Hermida, third: I am very happy with my third place on this World Cup-worthy route. It was my first time taking part in the Marlene South Tyrol Sunshine Race and I had a lot of fun. The level of the participants was also very high; all the top drivers were there. This is a very important season for everyone because the Olympic Games are coming up. So everyone wants to achieve good results. It was once again an exciting fight and I am satisfied with today's result.

Gerhard Kerschbaumer, third in the U-23 category: At first I was in the top group, but then I had trouble with my legs. I fell back but gritted my teeth. I had to ride my old bike today because the new one was stolen last night. There were a lot of spectators in Nals who supported me loudly. After all, it was my home race.

Eva Lechner, winner: I'm very happy with my first win of the season. I had a hard time finding the right rhythm at the beginning. Lisi is very strong on the climbs, so I tried to stick with it and then concentrate on the descents to get away from her.

Elisabeth Osl, second place: I felt surprisingly good. I rode really hard uphill, but Eva kept catching up with me. I had no chance on the descents. Technically, Eva is probably the strongest mountain biker in the world. And I'm particularly pleased that I didn't lose again on their home route downhill. I have to congratulate the organizers on this super event.

Nathalie Schneitter, third place: Today I had no chance against Lechner and Osl. I couldn't keep up with her pace, also because my legs were still heavy from yesterday's city cross. On the third lap I managed to catch up a bit, but then there were too many juniors on the track who slowed down my rhythm because I couldn't overtake them.

Gunn-Rita Dahle, fourth place: "It's always nice to win, but I'm happy with fourth place because I'm not at the peak of my form yet. I won't be there for about two months. Unfortunately, I was sick in February, my most intensive training month , which is why I'm behind in training. Although my mountain bike was stolen last night, I didn't have any major problems with the bike from Hermida, who lent it to me. Yes, Eva has now caught up with me in terms of victories. She's strong, but "I'm also ten years younger. In any case, it was another excellent training session for me today."

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Lechner and Fontana are the winners of the Marlene Sunshine Race

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