Maratona dles Dolomites loop

What it is

The Maratona dles Dolomites is held on the first Sunday of July from La Villa in Alta Badia. The Maratona route is the longest of three options at 138 km and includes seven mountain passes — Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Campolongo again, Giau, Falzarego, and Valparola.

Terrain

The Dolomites are arguably the most beautiful place to ride a bike in the world. Pale rock spires rise vertically over alpine pastures. The roads are smooth, the surface is excellent, and the climbs themselves average a manageable 6 to 7 percent — but there are seven of them, back to back, with little flat between. The Passo Giau is the hardest — a sustained 9 percent for 9 km on the back of an already-tired day.

History

The Maratona has been run since 1987 and grown from a local event to a draw of 9,000 riders chosen by lottery from over 30,000 applicants annually. The roads are closed to motor traffic for the duration of the event — a privilege that makes it unlike any other gran fondo.

Tips

Get a lottery slot in autumn for the following July. Train for sustained climbing — a single long day in the hills is more representative than interval training. The course is well marked and well-supported with feed stations every 30 km. Plan accommodation in Alta Badia, Corvara or San Cassiano well in advance — prices spike during event week.

Best time

The event is the first Sunday of July. Outside the event, the roads are open from late May to October; the Giau and Falzarego passes typically clear of snow by early June. July and August are the busiest. September is glorious and quieter.