The Dolomitenmann relay race has been run annually since 1988. In recent years the race has been sponsored by the manufacturers of Red Bull energy drink and is now known as Red Bull Dolomitenmann. The race is billed by its organizers as "the world's toughest team relay race".
The competition is only open to male athletes.[1][2] Race organizer Werner Grissmann justifies this with the statement that he wishes to protect women, since the competition is only meant for the "hardest athletes", he does not want "to see women suffer" and that it would be "incompatible with their aesthetics".[3][4][5] In 2017 for the first time there was a side competition that was also open to female athletes.[6]
The race is started by the mountain runner on the town square of Lienz at 674 metres (2,211 ft) above sea level. who then runs a distance of around 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) up to Kühbodentörl at 2,441 metres (8,009 ft).[7]
When the runner makes the hand-off to the team's paraglider, he must also run, this time with his whole equipment to the first take-off point. After descending by air to Moosalm, the paraglider runs to a second take-off point, descending to Leisach where the mountain biker is ready and waiting.[8]
The mountain biker typically climbs 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) or more, over a distance of about 27 kilometres (17 mi). After the climb, the mountain biker must ride a downhill track to the finish.[9]
The teams kayaker swims across the river Drau where his boat is stationed. His first maneuver is an "alpine-start", or a drop off a 7 metres (23 ft) ramp into the river. After the jump the kayaker must navigate a difficult white water track on the river Isel before a last sprint back to the main square of Lienz.[10]
Winning teams and tracks
The fastest athlete of each discipline receives a trophy and the title Dolomitenmann. Until 2019 the trophies were designed by Jos Pirkner.
Dolomitenmen
As of September 2020, there are 58 Dolomitenmen from 10 nations.
Top 10 Dolomitenmen (as of September 2021)
References
^"Reglement 2022" (PDF). Retrieved 9 September 2022.
^"Red Bull Dolomitenmann Regelwerk" (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-26.
^"Dolomitenmann 2017 – Männersache" (in German). Archived from the original on 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
^"Nur die Harten kommen durch" (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-26.
^"Dolomitenmann für Anfänger" (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-26.
^Oblasser Catharina (2017-08-20). "Dolomitenmann mit weiblicher Note" (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-26.
^Racebook Berglauf 2016 [Racebook mountain running 2016] (PDF) (in German), archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-28, retrieved 2016-11-28
^Racebook Paragleiten 2016 [Racebook paragliding 2016] (PDF) (in German), archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-28, retrieved 2016-11-28
^Racebook Mountainbike 2016 (PDF) (in German), archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-28, retrieved 2016-11-28
^Racebook Kajak 2016 [Racebook whitewater kayak 2016] (PDF) (in German), archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-28, retrieved 2016-11-28
^"Official results 2014" (PDF), 27. Dolomitenmann, Dolomitenmann, archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2017, retrieved September 9, 2016
^"Official results 2015" (PDF), 28. Dolomitenmann, Dolomitenmann, archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2017, retrieved September 9, 2016
^"Results 2016" (PDF), 29. Dolomitenmann, Dolomitenmann, archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2017, retrieved September 12, 2017
^"Results 2016", 29. Dolomitenmann, Dolomitenmann, retrieved September 12, 2017
^No original route for 2017 Red Bull Dolomitenmann (in German), Dolomitenmann, archived from the original on September 11, 2017, retrieved September 12, 2017
^"PENTEK-timing Zeitmessung bei Massensportevents". www.pentek-timing.at. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
_pictogram.svg/1280px-Cycling_(mountain_biking)_pictogram.svg.png){kind=small}
_pictogram.svg/1280px-Canoeing_(slalom)_pictogram.svg.png){kind=small}