The Giants of MTB at the 2022 BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites

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The BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites kicks off on Saturday, 18 June 2022. The usual suspects will grace the starting line, including Leonardo Paez and Diego Alfonso Arias Cuervo from Columbia. They’ll have to face Urs Huber, Samuele Porro, Juri Ragnoli and Gerhard Kerschabaumer. Among the women’s starting line we’ll have Costanza Fasolis, Amy Wakefield, Adelheid Morath, and Samara Sheppard. Fabio Aru, who’d retired from professional road cycling, will honour us with his first participation. The “Knight of the Four Moors” will return to his first love – mountain biking.

There’s not long to go until Saturday 18 June 2022 – the start of the twelfth edition of the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites, the toughest mountain bike marathon in the world. 2022 promises to be another edition with plenty of surprises and packed with adrenaline!

There are currently over 3,000 participants registered, ready to test their skills and face the iconic race courses across the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Professional cyclists and amateurs alike will join us from 41 countries – Brazil, Australia and, for the first time ever, even the Arab Emirates and the Philippines. Just further proof of the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites’ ever-growing international profile. This year, the edition will also kick off the HERO Series circuit, inspired by the HERO Dolomites.

The men competing for the podium

The event will kick off from the traditional starting point, i.e. Selva di Val Gardena. Some of the most well-known off-road cycling names will take part in the race, specifically on the 86 km course boasting 4,500 hm. A course which holds no secrets for Leonardo Paez from Colombia, who this year will represent the Soudal – Lee Cougan International Team. Diego Alfonso Arias Cuervo, also from Colombia and representing Team Hubbers Polimedical, will also be competing for the title: World Marathon Champion in 2019 and 2020, he’s secured a spot on the HERO podium a good nine times, and is the current world vice champion. He returns to the Dolomites, his sight on the podium after his fourth spot in the 2021 edition. Urs Huber, Switzerland, representing Team Bulls and no.7 in the UCI ranking, will also return to the HERO – while he never ranked first, he graced the podium in 2014, 2018, and 2019. Samuele Porro from Team Wilier Triestina – Pirelli Factory Team will also compete: five-time Italian Marathon XCM Champion and third at the 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships XCM, he finished second at the 2021 BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites. Juri Ragnoli, Scott Racing Team, won the 2017 HERO Dolomites and will be back for more. South Tyrolean Gerhard Kerschabaumer, Specialized Factory Racing, will also attempt to secure a spot on the podium.

BMW HERO
BMW HERO

From Sardinia to South Tyrol

This edition of the HERO Dolomites will welcome a beloved cyclist who has chieved one victory after the other in the world of road cycling, including his amazing victory at the 2015 Vuelta a España. The “Knight of the Four Moors”, Fabio Aru, will return to off-road cycling and mountain biking, a discipline he thrived in when he started competing in the Juniores category.

Another champion and friend of the HERO is Pasquale Bruno: the former Juventus and Torino F.C. footballer will compete for the fifth time at the HERO.

The women competing for the podium

The women competing on the 60-km course boasting 3,200 hm at the 2022 BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites are a force to be reckoned with. Costanza Fasolis, no. 6 in the UCI ranking, placed seventh during the 2021 HERO Dolomites, will have to face Adelheid Morath (Germany) representing Team Mount 7 and her first time competing in the Dolomites. Amy Wakefield will travel all the way from South Africa for her very first HERO Dolomites – Wakefield recently won the South African Championships – and will be joined by Samara Sheppard from New Zealand, two-time champion of the Oceania Continental Championships. Katrin Schwing, representing TV Mosbach, won the HERO in 2011 and 2012 and is well-known face at the HERO Dolomites. Elena Gaddoni, winner of the HERO Dolomites in 2017, will also kick off from the starting line. Better keep our eyes peeled for Michalina Ziolkowska from Poland, representing Team Huzar Bike Academy. After her second place in 2014 and 2016, she could be someone to watch out for during the race. And South Tyrolean Anna Oberparleiter will take part for the first time at the HERO Dolomites after her numerous victories at XCO and XCE European and Italian Championships. Costanza Fasolis’ and Samara Sheppard’s (New Zealand) participation has also been confirmed.

Watch the HERO from all over the world

The BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites is an international event if there ever was one. This is proved by the vast broadcasting range planned for the 2022 edition. The race will be broadcast for over 2 hours between 10 am and 12.15 pm (CEST) live on Saturday, 18 June 2022. Broadcasters from over 40 countries in the world, including the USA, South America, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Indonesia will transmit the footage of the race. In Italy, Raisport will broadcast the event between 10 am and 12.15 pm. The event can also be followed between 10 am and 12.15 pm (CEST) live on Saturday, 18 June 2022 on digital sport platforms such as Global Cycling Network (GCN) in 207 countries, and Eurosport Player in 75 countries.

For further information visit www.herodolomites.com

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