Kronplatz King 2025

The 2025 royal couple from Kronplatz are Paez Leon Hector Leonardo and Paretti Claudia, after winning their respective categories in the long distance race of this year's edition of one of the most popular MTB marathons in the Dolomites.
The Kronplatz King MTB Marathon was held for the 9th time and this year the race was once again part of the European “Mountainbike Challenge” series. In addition to the numerous elite riders, another 500 cyclists from 17 nations battled it out over the 64 km with 3,150 meters of elevation gain of the King Marathon distance and the 49 km with 2,160 meters of elevation gain of the Prince Classic, offering spectators an exciting “point to point” race. One of the characteristics of the Kronplatz King Marathon is that it starts in the village of St. Vigil at 1,200 m and finishes at the summit of the famous Kronplatz ski mountain at 2,275 m above sea level. This year, many top athletes from the HERO UCI MTB Marathon World Cup had registered, led by multiple and last year's winner Leonardo Paez from Team Soudal Lee Cougan, along with the evergreen Juri Ragnoli and a strong field of female participants, which had to do without last year's winner Heidi Morath, but still provided excitement with Italians Claudia Peretti, Chiara Burato, and local hero Sandra Mairhofer from the Puster Valley, who unfortunately had to withdraw at the last minute due to illness.

Once again this year, many top athletes from the HERO UCI MTB Marathon World Cup had registered, led by multiple and last year's winner Leonardo Paez from Team Soudal Lee Cougan, along with the evergreen Juri Ragnoli and a strong field of female competitors. Although last year's winner Heidi Morath was unable to attend, the Italian riders Claudia Peretti and Chiara Burato, and local hero Sandra Mairhofer from the Puster Valley, who unfortunately had to withdraw at the last minute due to illness. The professional teams Soudal Lee Cougan International Team, Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro Team, and El Camos Racing Team were also at the start.
Although bad weather had been forecast, the day turned out to be positive, accompanying the athletes from the start at 8:00 a.m. on the long course and twenty minutes later on the shorter course – until the award ceremony, with partly sunny skies and ideal temperatures. In the men's elite category, the competition was immediately noticeable, with frequent changes in the lead at the front while the group of favorites was still compact. In the end, however, Paez Leon Hector Leonardo (COL) made it and was the first to cross the finish line at the foot of the Concordia 2000 peace bell. He secured the title of King of Kronplatz and the golden crown for 2025 with a total time of 3h 14min 44sec. The places of honor went to Taffarel Nicola (ITA), 1:42 min behind, and Foccoli Davide (ITA), 3:18 min behind the winner.
The Queen of Kronplatz 2025 is Paretti Claudia (ITA), after a tough battle that ended for her at the finish line after 3h 56 min 18sec. She left her pursuers Marchet Giorgia (ITA) in second place, 4:47 min behind, and Gualandi Chiara (ITA) in third place, 9:36 min behind. As bombastic as every year, the winner's photo with the new royal couple of Kronplatz, crowned and dressed by race director Maurizio Kastlunger.

On the shorter distance, the Prince Classic over 49 km and just over 2000 meters of elevation gain, Schupfer Simon (AUT) stood out among the men with a finishing time of 2h 34min 12sec, and Zocca Lorena (ITA) among the women with a race time of 3h 30min 50 sec.

Summary of the results of the Kronplatz King Marathon and the Prince Classic 2025: