Val Gardena (South Tyrol/Italy), 3 June 2015 – The UCI MTB Marathon World Championships 2015 are not far away now. And with this clearly in mind the Italian national team have been up in Val Gardena for 2 days and will stay until 5 June so as to train on the Südtirol Sellaronda HERO route, it hosting the event on 27 June.
“We wish to leave no stone untouched – these the words of Hubert Pallhuber the head coach of the national team and himself a world XCO champion in 1997. -. We are here to carry out detailed preparations to best face the many different sections of the race. In this way we hope that all will turn out well on the day of the race itself and we need to bear in mind that the team will only arrive in Val Gardena shortly before the race.” Not all of the team members know the route well and
therefore it is essential that they get to grips with those parts of the route
which will be fundamental in securing a good performance. The Italian Federation, FCI, has called up the following bikers for the intensive training camp in Val Gardena: Johnny Cattaneo (Team Selle San Marco-Trek), Damiano Ferraro (Team Selle San Marco-Trek), Elena Gaddoni (Scapin Soudal Pro Racing Team), Tony Longo (Bianchi I.Idro Drain), Daniele Mensi (Scapin Soudal Pro Racing Team), Samuele Porro (Silmax X-Bionic Racing Team), Luca Ronchi (Repartosport-Leecougan), Daniela Veronesi (Torpado Factory Team). Missing will be Johnny Cattaneo who has had to give forfeit due to illness.
The Italian stars are out every day on the World Championship route from 7.30 in the morning to 4.00 pm. These days together are also more than useful to establish arrangements between the athletes, coaches and mechanics, in that the various timings and interaction between all is an essential element in a comprehensive preparation building up to the big day itself.
From
a mechanical standing an important result has emerged – working hand in hand
with the athletes the mechanics have realised that to tackle the steep climbs
of the HERO the
only front chainring is better set on 28 teeth rather than 30. The greater the
number of teeth the more complicated it will be for the athletes to overcome
the super challenging ascents which are a prominent feature of the Sella
Dolomites. “This
said, we are naturally looking at the best way to adapt all to the particular
characteristics of the individual biker” added the coach. Some of the bikers have just returned from a high altitude training session in Livigno and for this reason are staying in accommodation up at 2,000 metres and not with the rest of the group at Selva di Val Gardena.
The main features of the HERO are the length of the route and the elevation difference covered. It is these features that the national team’s marathon specialists are focusing on in their preparation, knowing that little time is left before the home crowd will be shouting them on on 27 June. The mens race is 87 km long with 4,700 metres of total altitude difference to cover and the womens race figures are 60 km and 3,400 metres.
Next week Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjå, the Norwegian Olympic Champion and five times Marathon Word Champion, will be training in Val Gardena.
For more information visit: www.sellarondahero.bike
Info
Südtirol Sellaronda HERO
Via Mëisules 213
39048 Selva - Wolkenstein
Tel. +39 0471 777 900
info@sellarondahero.com
www.sellarondahero.com
Südtirol Sellaronda HERO
Via Mëisules 213
39048 Selva - Wolkenstein
Tel. +39 0471 777 900
info@sellarondahero.com
www.sellarondahero.com
