MendelRace 2018

7.4.2018

Andrea Zamboni the undisputed king of the Mendel Pass; Monika Dietl new female winner

It was the announced and eagerly awaited first showdown of the 2018 season. Or, as Andreas Pichler, president of the Eppan organisers Dynamic Bike Team, said at the end, "an awesome race with a furious finale"!

On Saturday 7 April, Eppan hosted the 3rd edition of the MendelRace, the mountain race for amateur cyclists; at the same time the first stage of the South Tyrolean mountain race series Südtirol.Berg.Cup 2018.
At the start, as in the two previous editions, were the crème-de-la-crème of the national (mountain) racing scene, including the reigning Italian champion and two-time champion at the Mendel Pass Andrea Zamboni, as well as Michael Spögler from Sarner, newcomer to the amateur racing scene and already winner of the Kaunertal Glacier Kaiser and the Kitzbüheler Horn. And it was these two who were to leave their mark on the race ...

But first things first: the race started at the well-known bike shop Sanvit Bike & Fitness, from where the bunch rolled together at a controlled speed to the start of the race - the Mendelpass road, which was closed off to traffic. From there, the starting signal was given shortly before 2 p.m.: off went 154 participants towards the top of the pass.
Shortly after the start Wolfgang Hofmann (E-Racers Augsburg) tried to break away from the field: the German was able to gain a lead of about 30m on the chasing pack and hold it for the time being. First stop on the 14.5km long course was the so-called "DigiSprint" - a sprint classification worth € 100 after about 4km of the course. And it was the young Michael Spögler from Sarner who launched a first attack shortly before the sprint line, caught Hoffmann and crossed the line first - the winner of the first "DigiSprint" was thus determined!

As a result, a leading group of about 10 formed again, from which Alessandro Sogne and Wolfgang Hoffmann were able to break away a little halfway through the stage at Matschatsch. The two were controlled by the rest of the group in a short distance and caught up again shortly afterwards.
Shortly below the rocks at Tumortal (start of the last 4 km of the race course), Sogne increased the pace again and gained a lead of about 20m over the peloton. Shortly after that, it was one after the other: at the rocks (3 km before the finish), Zamboni suddenly took off from the group with a strong attack, which only Spögler could follow at the beginning. They were soon caught up by the rest of the leading group: it was a first test. The next bends the leading group rode together and one could guess that the third edition of the MendelRace would again be decided in a sprint. In the last kilometre, the pace was pushed again: single riders like Sogne, Hofmann and Stadler broke away from the group. It remained tight at the front: with Celebi, Spögler and Zamboni, three riders turned into the last bend before the final 500m.
It became the eagerly awaited duel for the day's victory: all three seek the decision with a spirited sprint, but Zamboni has the longest breath and wins in a heartbeat final with a bike length ahead of Spögler! Just behind the two, Celebi follows in third place, 2 seconds behind.

In the women's race, Germany's Monika Dietl could be celebrated as the fastest rider on the Mendel Pass:
she won ahead of the two South Tyroleans Eva Maria Gatscher (Fer.Lu Racing Team) and Lorna Ciacci (Sportler Team).

At this point the Dynamic Bike Team Eppan would like to thank the many volunteers (start number distribution, course marshals, course preparation, prize distribution, work in the background...) who contributed to the success of the event through their participation.
Thanks go to the municipality of Eppan an der Weinstrasse with Mayor Wilfied Trettl and to the municipal police of Eppan and Kaltern.
What would such a great event be without sponsors? Arthur and his Team from Sanvit Bike & Fitness / KIKU Apples / DigiPrint – www.digiprint.net / Möbel Planer / Pur Südtirol / Raiffeisenkasse Überetsch / Aktiv3 / Bricocenter Straudi / FEA srl autoricambi / Peer.tv / Würth Italia / Kellerei Schreckbichl – Cantina Colterenzio
Special thanks to Hannes Mathá from Montiggler Porphyr for the unique trophies!

Fotos: Nino Lazzarotto

MENDELRACE 2018 - official results

Men
1. Andrea Zamboni – Carina Brao Caffè – 39.16 min
2. Michael Spögler – ASC Sarntal – RAD – 39.16 min
3. Huseyin Celebi – MTB-Club München e.V. – 39.18 min
4. Wolfgang Hofmann – E-Racers Augsburg – 39.28
5. Franz Wieser – Rodes Val Badia – 39.30
6. Piero Lorenzini – Gianluca Faenza Team – 39.39
7. Roberto Dalsant – Club Ciclistico Rotaliano – 39.40
8. Tobi Stadler – Team Melasan Sport Cycling – 39.42
9. Alessandro Sogne – Team Brema Pissei – 39.50
10. Daniel Pechtl – Radclub Union Sporthütte Fiegl – 40.23

Women
1. Monika Dietl – GER – 49.21 min
2. Eva Maria Gatscher – Fer.Lu Racing Team – 49.30 min
3. Lorna Ciacci – SPORTLER Team – 51.02 min
4. Barbara Zambotti – Somec MG.K Vis – 52.19
5. Andrea Parigger – Poli AVI Bike Team – 52.59
6. Andrea Tasser – ASC Sarntal – RAD – 54.12
7. Sonja Velten – LCO Edenkoben – 58.45
8. Roswitha Gostner – Forstenrieder SC München – 1:10.41 h

DigiSprint powered by DigiPrint (after 4,25 km)
1. Michael Spögler – ASC Sarntal Raiffeisen/Rad – 10.02 min (25.41 km/h)
2. Georg Roschatt – Camin Bike Team – 10.04 min
3. Andrea Zamboni – Carina Brao Caffè – 10.19 min

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MendelRace 2018

7.4.2018

Andrea Zamboni the undisputed king of the Mendel Pass; Monika Dietl new female winner

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Dynamic Bike Team Eppan ASV