Leo Paez and Rosa van Doorn Triumph in Andorra at the 2025 HERO UCI Marathon World Cup
The rugged Pyrenean terrain of Naturland played host to the thrilling second round of the 2025 HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup, where over 100 elite riders from 20 nations battled across a demanding 60 km course with 1,984 metres of elevation gain.
Colombian veteran Héctor Leonardo Paez León, better known as Leo Paez, delivered a masterclass in endurance and strategy to claim victory in the men’s race. Clocking in at 2:45:06, Paez outpaced Germany’s Andreas Seewald and Belgium’s Wout Alleman, who finished second and third respectively. Despite his third-place finish, Alleman retains the overall World Cup leader’s jersey.
“I felt incredibly good today,” said Paez at the finish. “I paced myself carefully on the descents and pushed hard on the climbs. I’m in great shape and looking forward to the next round in the Dolomites – a race I’ve already won eight times.”
In the women’s field, Dutch rider Rosa van Doorn of the Buff Megamo Team continued her dominant form, securing her second consecutive win with a time of 3:24:41. Italy’s Sandra Mayrhofer followed 2 minutes and 37 seconds behind, while Vera Looser of Namibia rounded out the podium.
“I’m a bit surprised by today’s win,” van Doorn admitted. “Capoliveri was at sea level, and I wasn’t sure how I’d perform at 2,000 metres. But I gave it everything, and I’m over the moon.”
The international flavour of the event was evident, with nine countries represented in the top ten men’s finishers and a similarly diverse women’s leaderboard. The high-altitude course and technical challenges tested even the most seasoned riders, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
With two rounds completed, Wout Alleman and Rosa van Doorn continue to lead the overall standings in the Elite category. In the Masters division, Spain’s Alexandre Llado Diaz currently tops the leaderboard.
The next stop on the calendar is the iconic HERO Südtirol Dolomites in Val Gardena, Italy, on Saturday, 14 June, marking the 15th edition of the prestigious race.
For full results and rankings, visit heroucimarathonworldcup.com
