SuperGiroDolomiti: Former luge athlete Brugger wins – 15-year-old causes a sensation in Lienz

Over 2,000 participants from 26 countries took part in the 38th Dolomitenradrundfahrt and the 11th SuperGiroDolomiti in East Tyrol. Martin Strobl, aged 81, was the oldest participant to take part, whilst Lara Auer, aged 14, was the youngest. Helmut Wechselberger, winner of the Tour de Suisse and the Tour of Austria in the 1980s, competed in the SuperGiroDolomiti at the age of 73.

Brugger dominates the SuperGiroDolomiti

Among the favourites for the SuperGiroDolomiti were last year’s winner Jack Burke, MTB world champion Alban Lakata, Ötztaler winner Daniel Federspiel, former winner Patrick Hagenaars and Tyrolean marathon specialist Philip Handl. Burke had been injured in a collision with a car during training two weeks earlier. Manuel Popp and former national team luge athlete Miguel Brugger set the pace from the start. The pair led the way until Monte Zoncolan. At Paluzza, Anton Metternich and Quirin Raubinger caught up. A four-man chasing group featuring Lakata and Federspiel was a minute behind.

After crossing the Plöcken Pass through the Lesach Valley, Brugger from Sautens pulled away from the pack. The Tyrolean had already completed the 2025 Ötztal Cycle Marathon in 7 hours and 2 minutes. By the time he reached Maria Luggau, his lead had already grown to three minutes. Brugger cruised to an unchallenged victory in 6 hours 30 minutes, relegating Daniel Federspiel to second place, six minutes behind. David Schöggl from southern Styria came third. Brugger expressed a desire to join a Continental team and compete in professional races. Federspiel praised the former luger’s performance.

Van der Moeren sets a record at the SuperGiroDolomiti

Belgian rider Ils van der Moeren, winner in 2023 and 2024, put in a strong performance right from the start at the SuperGiroDolomiti. By the time she reached Monte Zoncolan, she already had a lead of over five minutes over two-time Dolomites Tour winner Eva Schien from Germany. Van der Moeren steadily extended her lead and, after 7 hours 28 minutes and 43 seconds, celebrated her third victory and a new course record. Schien finished second, seven minutes behind. Katharina Machner took third place in the women’s classification at the SuperGiroDolomiti after 8:07 hours.

Kuen secures record-breaking victory in the Dolomites Cycling Tour

The local team dolomite.bike fielded 40 riders for the Dolomites Cycle Tour. Among the favourites were four-time winner Max Kuen, national marathon champion Anton Erlbacher, UCI world champion Johnny Hoogerland and Olympic ski mountaineering competitor Paul Verbnjak. Last year’s winner and national champion Rene Pammer was forced to abandon the race following a crash near Oberdrauburg. By the time the race reached Maria Luggau in the Lesachtal valley, a nine-man leading group had formed, comprising course record holder Jan Kattanek, Anton Erlbacher, Paul Verbnjak, Johnny Hoogerland and Max Kuen. The rider in tenth place was already two and a half minutes behind just before Obertilliach.

Strong headwinds prevented further attacks on the way to Lienz. The nine riders decided the race in a sprint. Max Kuen from Kufstein came out on top after 2 hours, 50 minutes and 14 seconds, celebrating his fifth victory in the Dolomitenradrundfahrt. Jan Kattanek of Dolomite.bike finished second, with amateur world champion Johnny Hoogerland completing the podium. Kattanek continues to hold the course record of 2 hours 46 minutes. After his historic fifth triumph, Kuen said that the race had a strong field and that the young riders were coming through.

Swiss young rider beats Gall's time

15-year-old Swiss rider Mic Willy narrowly missed out on a podium place, finishing fourth. His coach, Helmut Dollinger, who also manages the WorldTour team XDS Astana, sees great potential in the young rider from Graubünden. Felix Gall also competed in his first Tour of the Dolomites at the age of 15, finishing in 3 hours 15 minutes. Mic Willy crossed the line with the leading group after 2 hours 50 minutes, significantly beating Gall’s time.

Traxl-Pintarelli defends title

Last year’s winner, Daniela Traxl-Pintarelli, and Continental rider Jana Gigele, the reigning national gravel champion, were locked in a fierce battle in the women’s race. They passed through Maria Luggau together with a lead of almost three minutes and reached the Kartitscher Sattel together. Gigele withdrew, presumably due to technical problems. The 42-year-old Tyrolean Traxl-Pintarelli won ahead of Lena Zeiringer and Corina Pichler.

SuperGiroDolomiti and the Dolomites Cycle Tour

The Dolomites Cycle Tour covered 112 kilometres, with the Gailberg Pass and Kartitscher Pass as the main climbs. The SuperGiroDolomiti challenged the riders over 218 kilometres and 5,060 metres of elevation gain. The route ran from Lienz through Carinthia into the Italian region of Friuli and back to East Tyrol. Along the way, the riders had to tackle the Gailberg Pass, the Plöcken Pass twice, and Monte Zoncolan.The date for next year has already been set: on 13 June 2027, thousands of cyclists are once again expected in Lienz for the Dolomitenradrundfahrt and the SuperGiroDolomiti.

Reception for Gall, runner-up in the Giro

East Tyrol will remain the focus of the cycling world over the coming days. The East Tyrol Tourist Board and the municipality of Nußdorf-Debant are organising a welcome event for Giro d’Italia runner-up Felix Gall. Hundreds of fans are expected to gather in Lienz’s main square on Friday, 19 June. Participants can cycle from Lienz’s main square to the Nußdorf-Debant sports stadium wearing specially provided “Giro del Gall” shirts. Free registration is available until Thursday at https://www.dolomitensport.at.
Lienz will be the sporting focus this coming weekend: The TOUR Transalp starts on 21 June in Lienz.