# Chasing the Dolomites: Inside the Elite Strategy and Alpine Drama of HERO 2026

**By Amelie Fontaine**  \nPublished August 9, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> From David Valero Serrano’s calculated masterclass to Claudia Peretti’s daring early break, dissecting the key moves that shaped the 16th HERO Dolomites.

When the 16th edition of the HERO Südtirol Dolomites unfolded across the punishing Italian terrain, it delivered much more than a routine stop on the UCI Marathon World Cup calendar. Competing on a demanding 86-kilometer course featuring 4,500 meters of elevation gain for the men, and a brutal 60-kilometer route with 3,200 meters of climbing for the Elite women, the race served as a masterclass in pacing, tactical restraint, and uncompromising alpine endurance.

In the women's Elite race, Italian champion Claudia Peretti carved her name into the event's history with a bold, uncompromising strategy. Peretti seized control of the race from the very first climb toward the Passo Gardena, refusing to relinquish her advantage and grinding out a winning time of 3:53:48. Behind her, Dutch competitor Rosa van Doorn mounted an impressive recovery to finish 2 minutes and 32 seconds back, marking a triumphant return to high-level competition following an early-season injury. Poland’s Paula Gorycka-Kurmann secured third, while Switzerland’s Anna Weinbeer narrowly missed the podium by a mere three seconds.

The men's showdown played out as a calculated game of chess before exploding into a high-wattage finale on the long course. Spain's David Valero Serrano, riding for the Klimatiza Orbea Team and wearing the UCI World Cup leader's jersey, deployed a notoriously patient opening phase. While rivals tested the waters, Valero Serrano preserved his reserves before launching a surging crescendo that left the rest of the field behind, crossing the line in 4:30:11. Former road professional Diego Rosa finished 41.4 seconds behind in second place, with Dutch national champion Tim Smeenge rounding out the podium.

## Tactical Breakdown of the Elite Podiums

Valero Serrano's victory was a triumph of race management. In grueling marathon events where altitude and vertical drop conspire to punish early overexertion, his choice to let others force the pace early on proved decisive. Conversely, Peretti’s front-running masterclass relied on immediate aggression, establishing an insurmountable psychological and physical gap on the steep gradients of Passo Gardena.

## Key Race Metrics and Terrain Facts

- **Men's Long Course:** 86 km with 4,500 meters of vertical elevation gain.

- **Women's Elite Course:** 60 km with 3,200 meters of vertical elevation gain.

- **Winning Men's Time:** David Valero Serrano, 4:30:11.

- **Winning Women's Time:** Claudia Peretti, 3:53:48.
**Equipment and Technical Support:** The extreme nature of the Dolomites placed immense demands on machinery. Teams relied on specialized configurations, such as the DMT KM0 and MH10 footwear utilizing Michelin and carbon dual-compound soles, alongside dedicated neutral technical assistance zones managed by Vittoria to manage high-pressure descents and rocky climbs.

As the UCI Marathon World Cup circus moves forward, the performances etched into the gravel and mud of Val Gardena have fundamentally redrawn the general classification hierarchy. For athletes like Valero Serrano and Peretti, the day proved that mastery of the Dolomites requires equal parts physical capacity and tactical discipline.

## Sources

- [herodolomites.com](https://www.herodolomites.com/it/multimedia/news) — original
- [dantepraga.cz](https://dantepraga.cz/it/) — original
- [sengineering.it](https://www.sengineering.it/agenda/smartengineering-apre-le-sedi-di-roma-e-napoli/) — original