
Italian mountain biker Andreas Tonelli died in a fall while riding solo in the Dolomites on July 15, according to Italian media outlet L’Unione Sarda. He was 48 years old.
Tonelli was riding alone in the mountains of Vallelunga above Val Gardena when he fell approximately 600 feet. He had departed in the morning and was reported overdue that evening. After friends alerted authorities, his body was discovered by an Aiut Alpin helicopter crew at 1 a.m. at the bottom of a steep ravine. Recovery operations were completed the following day.
The Carabinieri (Italian national police) are investigating the circumstances of the accident.
Tonelli was known for his mountain biking adventures throughout the world, climbing mountains and descending them with his LAST bike in challenging terrain. He and Giovanni Mattielo completed the first mountain bike ascent and descent of Argentina’s 22,211-foot Cerro Mercedario in January 2025.
His final Instagram story was posted at 7:15 p.m. on July 15 after he climbed to 9,530 feet on Piz Duleda peak in the Puez-Odle Nature Park. The video showed Tonelli carrying his bike on his shoulders with the valley visible below. The story is no longer available on his profile.
His most recent post from July 13 featured a point-of-view video of himself riding down a singletrack with a dropoff, describing it as Day 2 of 4 of a Dolomites Enduro Traverse with Norrรธna Adventure.
Tonelli worked as a guide for Norrรธna Adventure, a Norwegian company that organizes mountain biking trips worldwide. According to the company’s website, Tonelli was described as a passionate mountain biker committed to sustainable mountain living.
“Andreas Tonelli is a passionate mountain biker and splitboarder from Sรผdtirol, Italy,” his biography stated. “He calls the Dolomites his primary home but feels at home wherever he travels. Joining the Norrรธna family in 2023, Andreas is committed to sustainability, living in an eco-friendly wooden house, and minimizing his carbon footprint. His career highlights include adventurous biking expeditions and climbing feats. For Andreas, the Dolomites and Lofoten Islands are the most cherished places, and he advises everyone to travel extensively as a way of learning.”
Tonelli had built a following among clients and social media users for his mountain biking activities in the Dolomites. Friends and followers have been posting tributes on his social media accounts.
In his pinned post showing him scaling a Via Ferrata with his bike on his back, Tonelli wrote: “No matter how crazy your goals are, always remember to give everything to pursue your dreams! ๐ช”
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Article Category: Sports
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