In the redesigned and relaunched UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in the marathon category, the HERO Dolomites South Tyrol represents the turning point of the five races in the 2025 season: None of the riders taking part in the race series can hide now: For those hoping for a top spot in the overall standings of the HERO UCI Marathon Word Cup 2025, the Dolomites are an extremely important passage to collect points.

The heroines of the day

The first to cut the finishing tape in Selva di Val Gardena, where the HERO had also started and where the HERO Bike Festival had taken place, were the elite female riders who had battled over the 60-kilometer course with 3200 vertical meters.

The women's race also developed in a thrilling up and down, with the American Chelsea Bolton attempting to break to the front and the Polish outsider Paula Gorycka Kurmann of the Strüby Sting Team responding, while the Italian Sandra Mairhofer of Team Soudal Leecougan confirmed the "prediction" suggested by the results of her last HERO races: After a fourth place in 2021, a third place the following year and a silver medal at the last edition, the Italian rider knew only one goal this year: to win the HERO. Which she did. After letting her new opponents run riot and controlling her traditional rivals (Rosa van Doorn from the Netherlands, who struggled with the altitude, and Vera Looser from Namibia, who fell behind after a mistake on the course and finished in fifth place) from a distance, the athlete from Team Soudal Leecougan International remained in the lead until the finish in Selva di Val Gardena. With a time of 3:58:51, she won the race - and afterwards was as happy as a young woman who has realized her dream can be.

"I'm incredibly happy and can't even describe it in words. It was a really tough day: after the attack on the Lupo Bianco, I feared that Gorycka Kurmann from Poland would catch me," commented Sandra Mairhofer. "But I still had strength in my legs and I think I was able to show what I'm made of on the downhill in particular. I'm really happy!"

The young woman from the South Tyrolean village of Taisten was able to directly beat her rival and fellow Italian Mara Fumagalli, who finished second (and took 1:36.2 longer to do so) after making up ground on the ascent to the Sella Pass. Third place went to the surprise rider from Poland, Paula Gorycka Kurmann. After being ahead at the Pordoi Pass and already dreaming of victory, she had to admit defeat to the extra power of the two Italians in the end. She finished 3:29.1 after Sandra Mairhofer.

The leaders in the World Cup

The results also influence the overall standings of the HERO UCI Marathon World Cup 2025. After three races, the Dutchwoman Rosa Van Doorn (in 8th place at the HERO today) from Team Buff Megamo now leads the women's standings with 610 points, followed by the Italian Sandra Mairhofer with 590 points.

German Andreas Seewald currently leads the overall standings in the men's race with 580 points, followed by Belgian Wout Alleman with 540 points.

The heroes of the day

This must also have been on the mind of German Andreas Seewald, rider for the Singer KTM Racing Team and - just last weekend - winner of the European Championships in the marathon distance. The 34-year-old has already won the HERO twice in the past (2021 and 2024) and is very familiar with the challenges of this toughest mountain bike race in the world. After a rather slow start and reaching the Gardena Pass in fifth place, the German was able to catch up with his rivals and ride into Arabba in the lead. Only veteran Leo Paez managed to keep pace. But when it came to the climb to the Pordoi Pass and Paez also had to contend with a crash and a technical problem, Seewald was definitely left behind.

After that, Seewald flew to victory single-handedly, so to speak. However, it was not easy for him, which was not least due to the sudden rise in temperature that was recorded this weekend in the Eastern Alps and which put the German to a tough test.

After 86 kilometers and 4500 meters of altitude difference, Seewald needed 4:29:20 hours to reach the finish in Wolkenstein. He waved the German flag at the finish line and celebrated his extraordinary third HERO victory full of happiness.

"I'm very happy, but I have to admit that it wasn't easy. At a certain point in the race, I was on the verge of giving up because I was sure Paez would catch me. But then I gritted my teeth and overcame the crisis," said the winner. "But I also have to say that I'm in really great form at the moment. Winning the European Championships has given me a lot of momentum!"

Right behind the European champion was the Colombian Leo Paez, also satisfied with his race, which he could almost have taken over at a certain point. With the tenacity that has always characterized the 43-year-old mountain biker, Paez made it onto the podium. A "pulpit" on which he has stood at every one of his participations since his first start at the HERO in 2012. Third place went to 26-year-old Andrea Siffredi, who crossed the finish line 5'20'' minutes after the winner. With this result, the mountain biker from Pontedassio in Liguria proves that he is a real hope for the Italian marathon scene. Belgian Wout Alleman, who started the race in the leading jersey of the HERO UCI Marathon World Cup 2025, finished in sixth place.

International line-up

The international character of the HERO Südtirol Dolomites is reflected not only by the start list of this 15th edition (with almost 3000 participants from 46 countries from all continents), but also by the presence of different nationalities in the first places of the HERO rankings. For example, six nations are represented in the top ten places for women and eight for men. The visibility of the HERO also extended far beyond Italy's national borders, as there were broadcasting agreements for the TV recordings of the HERO Südtirol Dolomiten with 106 countries on five continents.

The complete rankings can be viewed at: www.datasport.com

www.herodolomites.com

www.heroucimarathonworldcup.com