MIRKO CELESTINO TRIUMPHS IN THE SÜDTIROL SELLARONDA HERO

@Copyright by G.Planinschek

In the second edition of the mountain bike marathon around the Sella Group the Italian Mirko Celestino was victorious on the 82 km course. Trailing in second place was Juri Ragnoli and the Russian biker Alexey Medvedev came in third. In the Womens race first was the German  Katrin Schwing, second Barbara Kaltenhauser and completing the podium in third place was Anna Ferrari. In the 50 km race first home was Stefano Dal Grande finishing ahead of the Argentinian Dorhmann Manzano and the local South Tyrolean athlete Daniel Jung being placed third. More than 1,500 bikers from 27 countries took: each and every athlete manged to overcome the challenge they faced in the toughest of all mountain bike races.

@ Copyright by G. Planinschek

Selva Gardena, 02.07.2011 - Favourite at the outset and winner at the end. Mirko Celestino was able to respect the pre-race talk and come home in first place in the second edition of the Südtirol Sellaronda HERO Mtb-Marathon. The race will live as an unforgettable experience for the 1,600 competitors. Leader of the Axevo Haibike Semperlux team, Celestino crossed the line arms held high in triumph. Joining him on the podium of the 82 km race was Juri Ragnoli from Bergam in the colours of team Scott, at a distance of 2’44” from the winner. Third place went to the Russian Alexey Medvedev, member of the Elettroveneta Corratec team, who completed the course in 4:35’06”. After a fast start he was able to maintain his position and leave local South Tyrol rider Johann Pallhuber in 4th place. Celestino’s success, and let’s remember that he recently came 3rd in the Marathon World Cup Finals, was not clear from the start for Medvedev set out at a fast pace with the objective of winning the Dantercepies GPM and was able to maintain the adantage as far as Campolongo Pass, and then at this point a group of riders led by Celestino took over the pace. A noteable absence in this group was one of the pre-race favourites, Massimo De Bertolis, whose race was ruined by a double puncture in the first downhill stretch of Gardena Pass, thus leading to him pulling up and out of the race. Celestino, originally of Liguria, continued to set the pace as others gradually failed to keep up and by the time he reached Duron Pass he was alone and ahead. A frightening moment came on the last downhill stretch when a collision with a spectator caused Celestino to fall and hurt his right knee badly. «We fell together but Iwas able to get up quickly and on checking that all was ok with the lady involved I was off again quickly. I am so happy to have won this tough yet beautiful race», declared Celestino. His winning time was 4:26’07, bettering by 20 minutes the time of last year’s winner, Klaus Fontana, Klaus finishing 7th this time round.

@ Copyright by G.Planinschek
(Katrin Schwing)

The heroine of the day was the German Katrin Schwing, riding in the colours of the Trek-Domatec team, clocking a HERO time of in 5:59’09”. Second was her compatriot Barbara Kaltenhauser in a time of 6:12’57” and last year’s winner, Anna Ferrari of team Elettroveneta-Corratec had to be happy with third place in 6:20’08”.

 As far as the 50 km race was concerned it was the 21 year old Stefano Dal Grande (3:04’20”) from team FullDynamix who proved victorious over another 21 year old, German Dorhmann Manzano (team Axevo Haibike Semperlux) from Argentinia, 3’14” being the time difference. Third place went to the South Tytolean rider Daniel Jung from the team Mountain Heroes, finishing in 3:15’05” . Unfortunately his third place was little consolation after a second place finish last year.

@ Copyright by Freddy Planinschek

In the shorter race amongst those competing were the stars of the Italian national ski team (Hobby Category). Christof Innerhofer, a Ski World Cup champion of last season, finished in 35th place ( 4:38’54” ) and was beaten by ski colleague Peter Fill (4:16’19”) who came home in 11th position. The third Italian national skier, Florianrian Eisath, fell badly and had to be taken to hospital in Brunico for treatment to a nasty cut on the elbow. Congratulations to Thomas Widmann, Minister for Transport and Commerce of the Bolzano Provincial Government, who, fortified by his experience last year, finished his second her in 28th position in 4:30’55”.

In the Womens race Michela Benzoni from Bergamasco and in the Lissone MTB team won in 3:45’23” . Almost a quarter of an hour behind the Bolzano rider Andrea Tasser (team Sarntal Rad) came is second with the BelgianKristien Nelen of Scott Goeman Cyclim Team finishing third.

@ Copyright by Töchterle Daniel

«Now that the race is over and its success is clear for all to see we mention immediately all those that have contributed to making the HERO the great race it is.» These the words of Peter Runggaldier, who together with Gerhard Vanzi is organiser in chief of the Südtirol Sellaronda HERO, – «First and above all thanks go to the hundreds of volunteers who with unlimited enthusiasm have supported we organisers and without whose help the event would not be possible». In these terms the thanks are certinly extended to all the companies acting as sponsors and to the local organisations such as The Tourism Association of Selva Val Gardena, Val Gardena Marketing and the Tourist Consortiums of ’Alta Badia, Arabba, Val di Fassa and Alpe di Siusi.

Our attention now turns to the television screens to relive the great race moments: see Rai Sport 1 On Tuesday 5th July at 21.30.

Results Sudtirol Sellaronda HERO 2011

Men - 82 km tesserate

1 - Celestino Mirko - 1974 - ITA - Axevo AhibikeSemperlux in 4.26.07

2 - Ragnoli Juri - 1988 - ITA - Scott Racing Team a 02.44,3

3 - Medvedev Alexey - 1983 - RUS - Eletroveneta Corratec a 08.58,8

4 - Pallhuber Johann - 1974 - ITA - Silmax Cannondale Racing a 10.32,1

5 - Felderer Mike - 1983 - ITA - Team Full Dynamix a 13.06,7

6 - Piazza Georg - 1979 - ITA - Sunshine Racers ASV Nals a 20.55,0

7 - Fontana Klaus - 1973 - ITA - ASC Olang a 24.06,2

8 - Pollone Daniele - 1981 - ITA - Giai Team asd a 25.46,6

9 - Costa Walter - 1976 - ITA - Silmax Cannondale Racing a 26.22,6

10 - Bianchi Ramon ITA a 26.41,3



Women - 82 km tesserate

1 - Schwing Katrin - 1972 - GER - Trek-Domatec in 5.59.09

2 - Kaltenhauser Barbara - 1977 - GER - Corratec World Team a 13.47,4

3 - Ferrari Anna - 1978 - ITA - Elettroveneta-Corratec a 20.58,4

4 - Munoz Cariza - 1970 - ITA - los locos a 22.39,5

5 - Kellermayr Theresia - 1978 - AUT - GIANT Stattegg a 37.46,3



Men - 50 km tesserate

1 - Dal Grande Stefano - 1990 - ITA - Team Full Dynamix in3.04.20

2 - Dorhmann Manzano German - 1990 - ARG - Axevo Ahibike Semperlux a 03.13,9

3 - Jung Daniel - 1983 - ITA - Mountain Heroes a 10.44,3

4 - Piazza Thomas - 1973 - ITA - Sunshine Racers ASV Nals a 16.35,3

5 - Alber Florian - 1973 - ITA - S.C.Meran Zorzi Kältetec a 27.54,9



Women - 50 km tesserate

1 - Benzoni Michela - 1978 - ITA - asd Lissone MTB 3.45.23

2 - Tasser Andrea - 1979 - ITA - ASC Sarntal RAD a 14.38,3

3 - Nelen Kristien - 1978 - BEL - Scott-Goeman Cycling Tea a 40.42,5

4 - Stormo Trude Wermskog - 1980 - NOR - Team Oslo Sportslager a 46.21,3

5 - Unterweger Heidi - 1978 - ITA - ASC Sarntal RAD a 55.17,0



Men – 82 km hobby

1 - Rabensteiner Johann - 1968 - ITA - Olmbiker.it in 5.22.11

2 - Ferrari Gianluca - 1973 - ITA - Altogarda Bike Team a 03.14,5

3 - Cech Roman - 1977 - AUT - Sebamed a 06.46,5

4 - Rehmann Matthias - 1982 - ITA - Dowe Sportswear a 12.09,1

5 - Deutschendorf Andreas - 1978 - GER - Rennteam Da schau Her a 25.41,8



Women - 82 km hobby

1 - Vlaskova Lucie - 1987 - CZK - Kellys Bike Ranch Team in 6.45.00

2 - Anderluh Natalija - 1981 - SLO - MTB Koroskain a 28.21



Men – 50 km hobby

1 - Pittracher Oskar - 1972 - ITA - Olmbiker in 3.37.48

2 - Jud Rainer - 1979 - ITA - ASC Olang - a - 04.32,6

3 - Ladner Kurt - 1972 - SUI - Bike-club.ch - a - 07.13,2

4 - Grebe Jan - 1972 - GER - Berg Frei Starnberg - a - 07.48,2

5 - Vovk Blaz - 1980 - SLO - Jeklena Tetiva - a - 17.27,6



Women – 50 km hobby

1 - Schnarr Sibylle - 1959 - SUI in 4.42.38

2 - Kutlíkov Tatiana - 1972 - ITA a 23.36,1

3 - Senoner Catherine - 1982 - ITA a 28.42,8

4 - Wietzorek Sonja - 1960 - GER - Excelsior-Racing a 32.31,3

5 - Schulz Susanne - 1983 - AUT - arbö rc bike-point innsb a 46.09,2



For information: www.sellarondahero.com  and www.facebook.com/sellarondahero

@ Copyright by Daniel Töchterle

@ Copyright by Daniel Töchterle

@ Copyright by Daniel Töchterle

@ Copyright by Daniel Töchterle