Red Bull Dolomitenmann 2024: Race report

Several top pilots competed in the annual adventure relay race, Red Bull Dolomitenmann over the weekend of 7/8 September. The fast and furious battle saw 120 four-person teams run, fly, mountain bike and kayak over a wet course-line in the mountains of Lienz, Austria after much rainfall in the build-up.

Among them were Red Bull X-Alps regulars Chrigel Maurer, Tobias Grossrubatscher and Aaron Durogati. Other pilots included Elisabeth Kofler (this being only the second year the race has allowed female entries). For the second year in a row Kolland Top Sport Future won, finishing in a time of 4h 12m 05s while Sport Auer 4 Angels were the first female team a little over an hour later.

The first stage saw mountain runners sprint 2,000m up a 12km track, handing over to pilots to make a 2,441m sled ride to the Lienzer stadium via an obligatory landing and hike stage. Nova’s size 12 Bantam 2 was a popular wing choice among pilots, according to Maurer.

The paragliding section saw one of the tightest battles on the course, with just a few seconds separating fastest pilot Aaron Durogati (25m 47s) from Martin Stofner (25m 52s).

Tobias Grossrubatscher (25m 08s) was in the winning team but was third fastest pilot. He said he suffered a collapse near the first landing. “It was a bit scary and I lost 30 or 40 seconds for sure.”

Chrigel Maurer was fourth pilot overall (26m 19s) but ended up in the second-placed team, Kolland Topsport Professional. He said: “The clouds were quite nearby at take off – and it was not sure until shortly before the race that we would be able to fly. But Red Bull Dolomitenmann is always lucky with weather!”

After the flight, Aaron said it felt like he was on his own in the air. “I had the next pilot far in front, and the other one far behind. But it was a beautiful day in the end, and I had a good race.”

The format is an unusual one for such seasoned cross-country and competition pilots – demanding that they bottom land as quickly as possible, handing over to mountain bikers and kayakers to complete the course.

RESULTS

Overall

1. Kolland Topsport Future (Richard Atuya, Tobias Grossrubatscher, Leonardo Paez-Leon, Hannes Aigner)
2. Kolland Topsport Professional (Josphat Kiprotich, Chrigel Maurer, Luca Braidot, Lukas Kubrican)
3. Elk (Henri Aymonod, Aaron Durogati, Andreas Seewald, Gerhard Schmid)

Women

1. Sport Auer 4 Angels (Nina Engelhard, Elisabeth Kofler, Greta Seiwald, Sophia Schmid)
2. Team Verleiht Flüüügel (Johanna Hiemer, Viktoria Brunner, Elisabeth Osl, Alexandra Plachtova)
3. Intersport Lienz (Marcela Vasinova, Lea Rouiller, Karla Löffelmann, Lucie Souckova)

Full results via Pentek Timing