Giro delle Dolomiti started

On the timed section (11,7 km/800 meters altitude), local hero Eduard Rizzi from Sarntal and the Swiss Esther Frei achieved the fastest times.

Eduard Rizzi has already achieved top positions in many cycling races and even won some of them. The 47-year-old from Sarnen also won stages at the Giro delle Dolomiti - it was enough for overall victory for Rizzi, who, according to his own statements, has been there "for 15 years", but not yet. On Sunday, Rizzi showed his class again. In 33.25 minutes he completed the timed section on the Rittner Straße from Rentsch up to the Oberbozen intersection with a length of 11,7 kilometers and around 800 meters in altitude.

“I wasn't immediately in the top group and had to fight my way up to it at first. Then we rode up the hairpin bends very quickly in a group of maybe 30 cyclists. Shortly before the Finstral headquarters I increased the pace and pedaled 30 watts more. Only one competitor could follow me. At the end I increased it again. The fact that I know the route very well certainly benefited me today. My big goal this year is to win overall - I hope that maybe when I'm almost 48 years old, it'll finally be enough," said the driver from the sports team.

Leefmann with a strong performance Behind Rizzi, Jonas Leefmann from Munich came in second, just seven seconds behind. Leefmann, an ex-professional who now works full-time as a lawyer, is a freelancer for the magazine “RennRad” and will record his impressions of the Giro delle Dolomiti in a multi-page report. The podium of the first stage was completed by Stefano Scala (+9 seconds) from Carugo in the province of Como.

Esther Frei achieved the fastest time among women. The Swiss, who took second place in the overall ranking last year, rode the Ritten in 2 minutes. She took 41.16 seconds off her strongest opponent, last year's winner Monika Dietl from Bavaria, and gained a good cushion for the rest of the week. Annette Pronk from the Netherlands came third with a time of 49 minutes. The best South Tyrolean, Liviana Faoro from Gargazon, came in 42.53th place. The cyclist from Team Zanolini Bike crossed the finish line after 4 minutes. Ex-professional Quinziato honors the organizers Former Bolzano professional Manuel Quinziato was among the almost 600 participants from 26 different nations on Sunday. Since retiring from his career, he has been friendly with the week-long event and goes to the start whenever his schedule allows.

On Monday, cycling enthusiasts have to conquer the Würzjoch from the Funes Valley: 133,6 kilometers, 1920 meters in altitude - these are the bare numbers of the second stage.

Results 1th stage

Men: 1. Eduard Rizzi ITA 33.25 minutes 2. Jonas Leefmann GER 33.32 3. Stefano Scala ITA 33.34 4. Stefano Monfrini ITA 33.49 5. Federico Lualdi ITA 34.04 Women: 1. Esther Frei SUI 41.16 minutes 2. Monika Dietl GER 42.05 3. Annette Pronk NED 42.53 4. Liviana Faoro ITA 44.05 5. Tanja Cais AUT 44.39

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Giro delle Dolomiti started

The 2019 Dolomites cycle tour began on Sunday with the first stage from Bolzano via Ritten and Sarntal. Around 1 participants from 600 nations walked the 26 kilometer route back to the Bolzano trade fair.

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