9th Dolomiti Superbike (E2)

Villabassa Niederdorf, Italy, July 6, 2003

Results

Thomas Dietsch from France and Andrea Huser from Switzerland have won the 9th Dolomiti Superbike with a new record time, with Massimo Debertolis and Monica Brunati winners over the middle distance events.

Elite distance, 111 km

French MTB pro Thomas Dietsch (Motorex-Bianchi) has won the 9th Dolomiti Superbike at Villabassa in record time. It took the 28-year-old 4 hours 22 minutes 37 seconds to cover the 111 km, denying Mauro Bettin (Full Dynamix), who finished with a delay of 2 minutes (4 hours 24 minutes 36 seconds) his fourth victory in a row. Bettin also improved his time from last year (4 hours 28 minutes 33 seconds). Third Bettin's team-mate Dario Aquaroli with a delay of 4.28 minutes on the winner. 4th Sandro Späth from Switzerland.

Among the women the victory goes to Andrea Huser from Switzerland. The 30-year-old wins the Dolomiti Superbike for the first time (5 hours 18 minutes 52 seconds), after winning in Garmisch, Kirchzarten (BRD) and Fribourg (CH), while preparing for the Lugano World Champs. Second the Swiss Daniela Louis (8.40 minutes delay) and the German Birgit Jüngst (delay: 12.46 minutes), who was at her first marathon after a one-year-pause because of an injury. She was ahead for one hour, and was them overtaken by the two Swiss. Huser could improve the record of the course by 9 minutes.

Post-race quotes

Thomas Dietsch: 'Today I did my best because I really wanted to win. This marathon was one of my goals of the season as a preparation for the Marathon Worlds at Lugano at the beginning of September. At the moment I am in a really good shape, and my victories at Alpe d'Huez (first World Cup Marathon), at Kirchzarten ('Eurobike extreme') and last week-end at Fribourg ('Michelin Bike classic') prove it. Both Bettin and Acquaroli are very stron. Bettin is a good tactic, at the beginning he was back but then he caught up. I knew he is strong downhill and that I had no chance against him. I had to attack in the last climb. In the downhill then I did a clean race without taking risks, and I made it'.

Mauro Bettin: 'Today I was very tired. Dietsch was in a great shape and he continued to increase his advantage (up to 4 minutes). For a while I managed to follow him, then in the last climb to Prato Piazza (2050 m) he went off. I could diminish my delay downhill, but not enough. Last year I felt better, today I was not in a good shape'.

Dario Aquaroli: 'I started wanting to win. Bettin suffered a lot at the beginning, and then improved. I had cramps and could not help him. Now I'm looking forward to the Italian Championships'.

Andrea Huser: 'Today my legs were great and I could follow the men. During the race I did not know how big my advantage was. I'm surprised. I had a great season and my big goal are the World Championships in Switzerland'.

Middle distance, 59 km

Another victory for the 28-year-old Massimo Debertolis, who wins the middle distance of the Dolomiti Superbike already for the third time. However he could not improve his record set last year. With a time of 2 hours 18 minutes 33 seconds he lays back by 2 minutes. Second Massimo Induni (Mapei) with a delay of 2.40 minutes, third the Italian U23 Champion Franz Hofer (delay: 4.57 minutes).

Monica Brunati is the winner among the women. The 28-year-old reached the finish after 2 hours 48 minutes 26 seconds with an advantage of nearly 3 minutes on the in Sicilian-married Englishwoman Elizabeth Scalia and Marion Gufler.

Post-race quotes

Massimo Debertolis: 'I'm satisfied although I was slower than last year by 2 minutes. First I was sick, then in the second climb my stomach started to feel better. Induni, Hofer and I set the rhythm for a long time, then Induni started off on the last climb towards Prato Piazza and reached an advantage of 40 seconds. About 1 km before the highest point, 20 km before the finish, I managed to overtake him'.

Monica Brunati: 'I decided late to participate at the race. I wanted to take a rest because I was tired after the World Cup in Canada. The race is great, I was here already two years ago, when I finished third behind Paola Pezzo. Today I finally won, and I am really happy about it. First I was sick, then in the second climb I started to feel better and the technical and fast descent at the end was not a problem. This year I have been called into the National Team and I took part in all of the three World Cup races. At the last in Canada I was 10th at the 3rd round, when I had a flat tyre and had to stop'.

Short distance, 28 km

On the short distance, newly introduced last year, the winner was Luca Broll (32) with a time of 1 hour 10 minutes 28 seconds, thus improving Thomas Paccagnella's record by 1.31 minutes. Second and third Martin Pramstaller and Kurt Wolfahrter.

Among the women the winner was the cross-country skier Barbara Felder (23) with a time of 1 hour 33 minutes 27 seconds. Second Sonja Maier, third Simone Fabry from Germany.

The 3011 participants came from 21 nations. They could choose among 3 courses, 28, 59 and 111 km.

Results

Elite, 111 km
 
1 Thomas Dietsch (Motorex-Bianchi)         4.22.37
2 Mauro Bettin (Full Dynamix)
3 Dario Aquaroli (Full Dynamix)
 
Middle distance, 59 km
 
1 Massimo Debertolis                       2.18.33
2 Massimo Induni (Mapei)
3 Franz Hofer
 
Short distance, 28 km
 
1 Luca Broll                               1.33.27
2 Sonja Maier
3 Simone Fabry