When it first came into being few would have imagined that a race with only 400 participants could in just a handful of years become the UCI Mountain Bike World Championship over the marathon distance. However the HERO was able to overcome even its own expectations and succeed in doing so.
This book tells the story of the race through a series of documentary evidence and high-quality photo shots of how the race event developed in an astounding manner and became known as the toughest mountain bike marathon the world has ever known. Whoever is able to conquer one of the two race routes of 86 and 60 kilometres with respective altitude differences of 4,500 and 3,200 metres can add their name to the list of heroes who have accomplished an amazing feat. It is very simply the sporting achievement which all bikers aspire to.