Latest news with #AndreasTonelli
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Time of India
Extreme biker dies in Alps: Solo ride turns deadly; Andreas Tonelli falls 600 metres
Andreas Tonelli (@noronna) Extreme mountain biker and social media influencer Andreas Tonelli lost his life in a biking accident on July 15 while riding alone in the Vallelunga area of Val Gardena, located in Italy's South Tyrol region. The 48-year-old was navigating a steep and difficult section of alpine terrain when the incident occurred. He had set out for a late afternoon solo ride, according to the reports by the Italian media. Known for his daring mountain adventures, Tonelli had over 120,000 Instagram followers. His last Instagram story, posted at 7.15 PM, showed him reaching the 2,905-metre summit of Piz Duleda, smiling with his bike slung over his shoulder, against the dramatic backdrop of the valley below. Concerns were raised when Tonelli failed to return by nightfall. A friend, who had begun searching on his own, alerted authorities shortly after 9.00 PM. A search operation was launched by Alpine rescue teams and the Aiut Alpin helicopter, which scoured the mountainous region despite deteriorating weather. Around 1.00 AM, rescuers spotted Tonelli's lifeless body in a deep ravine - an area that proved difficult to access in the dark and amid heavy rainfall and freezing temperatures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doctors Beg: Take These 4 Ingredients Before Bed to Burn Fat The Healthy Way Learn More Undo His body was eventually recovered the following morning, reported L'Unione Sarda. The exact cause of the fall, estimated to be around 200 metres, remains under investigation by the Carabinieri, given the solo nature of his ride and the lack of witnesses. The biking community and fans across the world mourned the loss of the rider. Norrøna, the premium outdoor apparel brand for which Tonelli was an ambassador, expressed deep sorrow in a social media post. 'Andreas was a passionate, dedicated, and important voice within the Norrøna family… We will remember his big smile and his deep love for mountain biking, for nature, and for the friendships forged out there,' the brand wrote. 'He made a profound impression on everyone fortunate enough to meet him,' it added. Tonelli was not just a face for the brand, but also actively involved in product testing and development, and served as a bike guide for Norrøna Adventure, where he shared his passion for cycling with guests from around the world. Often described as a 'true gentleman,' Tonelli was admired not only for his technical prowess on difficult terrains but also for his humble personality and love for the mountains. His adventurous spirit inspired many through his social media content, which often featured high-altitude rides across the Alps and Dolomites.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
Extreme Mountain Biker Andreas Tonelli Dies in a Fall Riding Solo in the Dolomites
Extreme Mountain Biker Andreas Tonelli Dies in a Fall Riding Solo in the Dolomites originally appeared on BikeMag. Extreme mountain biker Andreas Tonelli, who awed and thrilled with his gravity-defying adventures in the Dolomites of his native South Tyrol region of northern Italy, died in a fall on July 15, Italian media L'Unione Sarda is reporting. He was 48. Tonelli was reportedly riding solo in the mountains of Vallelunga above Val Gardena when he fell some 600 feet. He had left in the morning and was reported overdue that evening. Friends alerted authorities, and his body was discovered by an Aiut Alpin helicopter crew at 1 a.m. at the bottom of a steep ravine. He was recovered later that day. The Carabinieri (Italian national police) are investigating the accident. Tonelli traveled the world climbing mountains and riding down them with his LAST bike in no-fall zones. He and Giovanni Mattielo are credited with the first mountain bike ascent and descent of Argentina's 22,211-foot Cerro Mercedario in January 2025. His last Instagram story was made 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 beaming with his bike on his shoulders and the valley stretching out below. The story is no longer on his site. His last post made on July 13 is a POV of himself cruising down a singletrack with a dropoff on the right, saying this was Day 2 of 4 of a Dolomites Enduro Traverse with Norrøna Adventure. Norrøna Adventure is the Norwegian company that Tonelli guided for, taking clients on mountain biking trips worldwide. On its site, Norrøna Adventure says Tonelli was a passionate mountain biker committed to sustainable mountain living. "Andreas Tonelli is a passionate mountain biker and splitboarder from Südtirol, Italy," his bio reads. "He calls the Dolomites his primary home but feels at home wherever he travels. Joining the Norrøna 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 earned the admiration of clients and social media followers worldwide with his white-knuckle missions in the Dolomites. Friends and admirers are leaving remembrances on his social sites. His top-pinned post that shows 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! 💪" extends our condolences to Tonelli's family, friends and many fans around the world. This story was originally reported by BikeMag on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Extreme sports influencer famed for dare-devil stunts plunges 650ft to his death in the Dolomites hours after posting haunting last Instagram video from mountain top
A mountain biker and extreme sports influencer has plunged more than 600ft to his death from atop the Dolomites just hours after sharing a triumphant video to social media. The lifeless body of Andreas Tonelli, 48, was found early Wednesday in a ravine in the Vallunga area of Val Gardena, part of the Dolomites mountain range in Italy 's South Tyrol province. The discovery marked the culmination of a swift rescue effort which began at 9pm local time on Tuesday night after Tonelli's concerned friends raised the alarm, telling emergency services that the daredevil had not returned from his excursion. Less than two hours prior to the launch of the rescue, Tonelli had shared a video to his cohort of 127,000 social media followers in which he was standing atop the summit of Piz Duleda, a mountain peak measuring 9,543ft (2,909 metres) high. The clip showed Tonelli flashing a huge grin while carrying his bike on his shoulders as he passed a small cross marking the mountain's summit. It is believed he suffered an accident or lost control of his bike while descending the mountain and fell some 650ft down the side of the peak, leaving him with fatal injuries. A helicopter was dispatched within minutes of the alarm being raised and the team located Tonelli at the bottom of the ravine around 1am on Wednesday morning, but rescuers could not deploy into the harsh terrain to reach him in the middle of the night. A search and rescue party reached Tonelli shortly after dawn on Wednesday morning, but found he had already succumbed to his injuries. Tonelli was a native of Italy's South Tyrol region and was therefore well acquainted with the Dolomites from a young age, but made a transition into extreme sports much later in life. He reportedly ditched a traditional office job to pursue a life on two wheels, working as a cycling guide in the Dolomites while generating a notable following on social media where he posted adrenaline-fuelled clips of his exploits. Tonelli became a well-known figure in the mountain biking community after achieving several impressive feats, including a successful ride to the summit of Chile's Nevado Ojos de Salado volcano (22,614ft/6,893m), according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero. He was also reportedly an avid snowboarder, and often summited mountains using a splitboard - a snowboard that can be broken down into skis for ascents and travelling over flat ground, then clipped into one solid plank for descents.
