The 2024 hero series: three races to become the titan hero of mountain biking

The next edition of the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites will take place on 15 June 2024, marking the official start of the mountain bike marathon circuit. The series will kick off in Italy, proceed to Germany with the Black Forest ULTRA Bike Marathon, and end in Switzerland with the Iron Bike Race.

The circuit will test the men competing across 287 km and over 11,180 hm, while the women will have to bike across 261 km and nearly 9,880 hm. Training and stamina is a must – hardly surprising for the race which will turn you into a TITAN HERO

Arguably some of the best mountain bike marathon races come together in this project, boasting a star-studded starting line, joined by thousands of amateurs wanting to test their mettle. The HERO Series is a cross-border initiative featuring three monumental races, the go-to events in their respective countries: the Series starts in Val Gardena against the stunning backdrop of the Dolomites. Join us on Saturday, 15 June 2024, for the HERO Südtirol Dolomites. You’ll get a month to recharge your batteries until the next challenge in Germany’s Black Forest on 14 July 2024: the Black Forest ULTRA Bike Marathon. The final race will take you to Switzerland on 22 September 2024 – the Iron Bike Race, held during the BikeSide MTB Festival, is also where our HERO TITANs will be crowned.

The three Organising Committees are in complete alignment when it came to creating this high-level sports circuit. They also acknowledge the significance of this race, a beacon gathering thousands of enthusiasts to give them the chance to test their skills on this ultra mountain bike race.

SUSTAINABILITY AND EXPLORING THE LOCATIONS

Three of the most iconic and stunning marathon races in Europe join forces to create this series. All united by common values, breathtaking landscapes, and focusing on protecting and respecting their respective environment and landscapes. Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword at these events – in 2021, the HERO Südtirol Dolomites signed up to the UN’s Sports For Climate Action, an initiative developed to fight the climate crisis by implementing activities during sports events. These different initiatives and plans support the events in becoming more and more carbon-free. The goal? Reducing the CO2 emissions generated by the events as much as possible – something which is shared by all three organisers of the 2024 HERO Series.

The new circuit offers the opportunity to discover new areas - the Dolomites, the Black Forest, and the Swiss lakes around Einsiedeln and their culture, cuisine, history, and traditions. Countries which, despite their geographical proximity, are as different as can be.

REGISTRATIONS AND RANKINGS

To qualify for the 2024 HERO Series final ranking, the men (elite and hobby) will have to compete on the long tracks of the three competitions (totalling 287 km and 11,180 hm), while the women will have to race on the 60 km/3,200 hm of the HERO Südtirol Dolomites and the long tracks of the other two races (totalling 261 km and 9,880 hm). The qualifying points will be given to the first 100 finishers of every race. You can read the regulation on www.heroworldseries.com as well as sign up to all three races. 

BMW HERO SÜDTIROL DOLOMITES

Known as the toughest mountain bike marathon in the world, and the namesake of this brand-new Series, the 14^th edition of the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites is the first leg of this multimarathon adventure. Its tracks have become iconic (86 km and 4,500 hm, 60 km and 3,200, and the brand-new 71 km and 4,100 hm) wending their way across the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, crossing Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba, Val di Fassa, and the Seiser Alm

BLACK FOREST ULTRA BIKE MARATHON

These may be the lands of fairy tales, but don’t be lulled into a sense of false complacency. The Black Forest Ultra Bike Marathon boasts 118 km and 3,550 hm, making it a veritable challenge for the heroes in this story. It features four tracks of 43 km, 54 km, 71 km, and 118 km – only the longest one will count to qualify for the 2024 HERO Series. Start in Kirchzarten, reach the highest summit in Baden-Württemberg – the Feldberg, at 1,493 m – and continue via Hofsgrund  until Menzenschwand. From here, return to Kirchzarten to cross the finish line.

IRON BIKE RACE

The Iron Bike Race is one of the oldest mountain bike marathons in Europe – 2024 will be its 28^th edition, taking place during the Festival BikeSide. Einsiedeln Monastery is famous the world over and boasts a unique experience: the monastery’s abbot blesses the cyclists before the kick-off – talk of an unforgettable moment! The different tracks criss-cross the picturesque region of Einsiedeln-Alpthal. The qualifying race for the HERO Series is the one boasting 83 km and 3,130 hm; the other two tracks boast 49 km and 1,800 hm, and 34 km and 1,330 hm.