source: press release
Niederdorf/Villabassa (South Tyrol/Italy), 26 June 2013 - In just ten days the Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike will take place. The registration was closed last weekend. On reaching 4000 applications, the traditional Mountain Bike Marathon held in the Dolomites attained a new record. 3741 men and 353 women from 34 nations will be at the start on the 6th of July in Niederdorf; including a myriad top stars.
To date, 94 elite riders have registered engaging 80 men and 14 women. Amongst the men are the Colombian Leonardo Paez; former European Champion Kristian Hynek; Triple Winner Urs Huber; former World Champion Massimo Debertolis; Alban Lakata and Thomas Dietsch winner of the last year’s spectacular Marathon in the Dolomites. In the women's line-up Elena Gaddoni, Verena Krenslehner, Katrin Schwing and Silke Keinath will be in the front row.
As the 19th rendition of the Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike forms part of the Marathon World Series, the routes have had to be defined. The men tackle the 113.8 km/3.357m course; the ladies contest the 80km/2.307m. All other categories totalling 24 can choose either the long or the short distance of 60km/1.785m. The youngest and juniors under 14 taking part in the different categories of the DSB, have a special course reserved in the village center of Niederdorf.
The registered participants are from four continents: Europe, North America, South America and Asia. The majority of them, 83% are from Italy, followed by 7% from Germany; Austria, Belgium and Switzerland make up just 2%. Twenty percent of the Italian participation comes from the Trentino Alto Adige region, followed by the provinces of Treviso, Rome, Padua and Bologna. The oldest cyclist is 71 year old Reiner Racek from Germany, and the most senior woman born in 1956 comes from Rome.
Programme - The race weekend in Alta Pusteria begins on Thursday, July 4, at 20:00 pm with the opening of the Expo and Tech Area exhibition grounds on the main square in Niederdorf. Concurrently, the handing out of the start numbers commences at the Fraction Hall. Musical entertainment will continue on the village center.
On Friday July 5, the exhibition grounds will be open between 09:00 to 19:00. The start numbers can be collected between 10:00 and 19:00. There will be a team managers meeting at 17.30 about the programme and a press conference for the top athletes will be held 18:30 where after the village square will be enlivened by a famous band.
Saturday, July 6th is Race Day! The last of the start numbers will be handed out between 06:00 to 07:00 followed by the start of the 19th Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike. The 4000 participants will be divided into six starting blocks. The Elite Women race off at 07:15, followed by the elite men and all the other participants. By 08:20 the last biker should have left the main square. The finish of the fastest contestant on the 60km route is expected at about 09:30. The pasta party goes into motion at 11:30 and the winner of the 113 km race is likely to arrive at midday. The award ceremony and distribution of prizes will take place at 16:00. The big party in the tent kicks off at 20:00 on the main square.
On Sunday, the youngest and smallest dominate the series. The Dolomiti Superbike Junior Trophy for children aged 2 to 14 wheels through Niederdorf. The races commence at 10 o clock and the award ceremony will take place immediately thereafter.
