Sandra Mairhofer beams from the World Cup podium

The sports teacher from Taisten finished seventh as the best Azzurra in the fifth and final race of the HERO UCI World Cup for marathon bikers, the “La Tramun Sea Otter Europe” on the Spanish Costa Brava, on Sunday.

She completed the 82 kilometers and 2.969 meters of elevation gain in 6:16.58 hours, about 22 minutes slower than the victorious Paula Gorycka-Kurmann. The Pole finished ahead of the Dutchwoman Rosa Van Doorn (+4 minutes) and the Swede Amanda Bohlin.

This seventh place was enough for Mairhofer to secure second place in the overall standings behind Van Doorn. Gorycka-Kurmann completed the overall World Cup podium thanks to her victory in the final race.

Sandra Mairhofer is one of the best mountain bikers in Italy has to offer.

"Unfortunately, my fitness wasn't what I'd hoped for at the end of the season," Mairhofer said. The last few races were complicated, especially the final: "It was extremely long, and the rain made it increasingly difficult." Since the race featured many technical sections, which she excels at, she was able to secure seventh place. This also marks the end of a great MTB World Cup season for her. "The highlight was definitely the victory in June at the HERO Dolomites in Val Gardena. That will be remembered forever; it was a very emotional success," said the 33-year-old about her first-ever World Cup victory.

Dorigoni makes a comeback Fabian Rabensteiner from Villandro also competed in the World Cup finals. He was still in the lead after about 30 km, but then struggled more and more in the onset of heavy rain, encountered problems with his bike, and ultimately had to abandon the race. After two consecutive overall victories in this difficult season, he was no longer a factor in the battle for the overall World Cup title. This year, the title went to German Andreas Seewald, ahead of Belgian Wout Alleman. Third place in the UCI World Cup overall standings went to Colombian Leonardo Paez.

The victory in the final in Spain went to South African Casey South in 4:34.05 hours ahead of Azzurro Samuele Porro (+ 18 seconds) and Swiss Marc Stutzmann (+1.08 min.).

Jakob Dorigoni finished 20th in his comeback (+20.43). The 27-year-old from Pfatten had a fall while training for the European Championships at the beginning of June and suffered a broken scaphoid bone in his hand. "My legs are good, but I'm still lacking a lot in the downhill. I don't have much strength in my hand, and I'm still lacking some confidence," he analyzed.

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Sandra Mairhofer beams from the World Cup podium

"My goal was to defend second place in the overall World Cup. I succeeded. I'm very happy about that," says a satisfied Sandra Mairhofer.

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