The mountain sports community mourns the death of well-known mountain biker and extreme sportsman Andreas Tonelli from South Tyrol. The 48-year-old was famous for his daring tours in the Dolomites and died on Tuesday evening after falling from a depth of around 200 meters.
As Tonelli had not returned from a bike tour, a search operation was launched in the area of Piz Duleda (2,909 m). During the night, the Val Gardena mountain rescue team managed to locate his lifeless body. The complex rescue operation by Aiut Alpin Dolomites could only be completed on Wednesday morning due to difficult conditions. A friend who had set off on his own to search for him was also brought to safety.
The rescue of Tonelli was one of six missions for the Val Gardena mountain rescue team on this eventful Tuesday.
Andreas Tonelli was considered an icon of the mountain bike scene. He regularly shared his experiences and the beauty of the mountains with his large fan base on social media and inspired numerous outdoor enthusiasts.
The exact circumstances of the accident are still unclear. What is certain, however, is that the world of mountaineering has lost one of its most charismatic representatives. Andreas Tonelli will be remembered for his undaunted passion and tireless commitment to mountain sports.
