Paving the way for the Marathon World Championship this coming Sunday in Laissac (FRA) — Sally Bigham from the Topeak-Ergon Racing Team wins the Sella Ronda Marathon in Val Gardena for the second time. The Brit overcomes 60 brutal kilometers riding to her triumph, but not without some difficulties …
3.200 meters gain in elevation stood in the way of the competitors at the Sella Ronda, a number which rightfully gives Stella Ronda the epithet hero. If on the top of that, extreme rainfall turns meadows and forest passages into additional challenges for man and materials, that’s when heroes are born.
Sally Bigham is the fastest on the first climb. She expands her lead more and more. But at the highest point, the Passo Pordoi, a four kilometers descent needed to be ridden, and there the dance along the edge of the razor blade started for ”Iron Sally.”
The smeary ground could be barely controlled and as a result Sally bailed several times. She was able to climb back on her bike fairly unscathed, but one time she had to fix her racing machine at first. ”This cost me about one and a half minutes, but my pursuers couldn’t touch me anymore,” says the relieved winner about the exciting minutes.
She expanded her lead again on the way to the Sellajoch and reached the finish line in Wolkenstein with a comfortable lead over the Polish Michalina Ziolkowska. She celebrates her second victory at this classic in South Tyrol. ”I felt good, but looking at the World Championships next week in Laissac, I chose not to go to the limit,” explains Bigham.
More information and results at: www.sellarondahero.com
This article was originally posted on topeak-ergon-racing.com.
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