The Maratona dles Dolomites, is an annual single-day road bicycle race
covering seven spectacular mountain passes in the Dolomites. Open to amateur
cyclists, the Maratona—with 9,000 riders from over 40 nations—is one of the
biggest Italian Granfondo bicycle races. National Geographic described it as "one
of the biggest, most passionate, and most chaotic bike races on Earth."
History The first Maratona was held on July 12,
1987 as part of the tenth anniversary celebrations of the Alta
Badia-Raiffeisen Cycling Club [1]. 166 riders raced in this first event
covering 175 km and 7 passes in the Dolomites. In 1989 the race had to be
abandoned because of heavy snowfalls on the ascent to Giau Pass. But since then
the number of people who would like to ride the Maratona has increased
exponentially. In 2004 the number of participants had to be limited to 9,000
riders and lotteries were introduced to draw participants. For the 2012 edition
29,100 people registered to take part in that year’s lottery, which will allocate
4,800 entries. A further 4,200 entries are reserved for official tour
operators, fidelity Members of the Maratona, and charity racers bringing
the final tally of participants to 9,000 persons.
The race The race is actually divided into three
courses of varying difficulty: the Sellaronda course, the Middle course and
the Maratona course. All riders start at 6:30am in the village of La Ila and
complete the four pass Sellaronda course first. After completing the Sellaronda
course riders can either choose to finish the race or proceed directly
onwards with the Middle course. As the Maratona course is an extension of the
preceding shorter Middle course, riders wishing to tackle the full Maratona dles
Dolomites have to proceed with the Middle course. All three courses lead
the riders through the Dolomite mountains around the Sella Group and
over roads, where legendary rides by great champions of the Giro d'Italia
have taken place. The roads are lined with tens of thousands of cheering
spectators and the entire event is broadcast live on Italian national
broadcaster RAI. Along the courses seven refreshment stations are manned by
volunteers, where riders can strengthen themselves with foods and drinks,
varying from sports drink to coffee to Strudel or Speck sandwiches.
Riders' Week The week prior to the Maratona is an
event in itself called "Riders' Week". Group rides, training rides, cycling
events, and parties are organized and held daily. Most racers therefore spend
the entire week preceding the Maratona in the Val Badia.
The courses (see also: external map of the courses)
= Sellaronda course = The Sellaronda course starts in the
village of La Ila and finishes in the village of Corvara. The course goes
clockwise around the Sella mountain group. Four passes must be surmounted to
finish the course. After the start the course follows the main road through the
Val Badia to the village of Corvara. The ascent to Campolongo Pass begins
immediately behind the village. After crossing Campolongo Pass the course
descends to the village of Arabba in the Fodom valley; from there it climbs to
the Pordoi Pass and then descends into the Fassa valley. There the climb to the
Sella Pass begins, from which the riders descend into Gardena valley. The last
pass the Sellaronda course traverses is the Gardena Pass. From it the course
begins its final descent towards the finish at Corvara.
Passes: Campolongo Pass: 5.8 km, Gradient: 6.1%
Pordoi Pass: 9.2 km, Gradient: 6.9% Sella Pass: 5.5 km, Gradient: 7.9%
Gardena Pass: 5.8 km, Gradient: 4.3% Total distance: 55 km
Total altitude difference: 1,780 m = Middle course =
The Middle course follows immediately after the Sellaronda course. Riders
wishing to tackle it, do not stop after the Sellaronda's finish line, but
directly proceed to ascend Campolongo Pass a second time. In Arabba the middle
course deviates from the earlier course and follows the road out of the Fodom
valley to the village of Cernadoi. Here the course splits: rider choosing to do
the entire Maratona proceed to the village of Colle Santa Lucia, while the
remaining riders begin the ascend to the Falzarego Pass. At the top of the pass
riders climb further 80m to reach the Valparola Pass. From there the road
descends to the village of San Ćiascian and passing through La Ila reaches the
finishing line in Corvara. Passes:
Campolongo Pass: 5.8 km, Gradient: 6.1% Pordoi Pass: 9.2 km, Gradient: 6.9%
Sella Pass: 5.5 km, Gradient: 7.9% Gardena Pass: 5.8 km, Gradient: 4.3%
Campolongo Pass: 5.8 km, Gradient: 6.1% Falzarego Pass/ Valparola Pass: 11,8 km,
Gradient: 6.7% Total distance: 106 km
Total altitude difference: 3,090 m = Maratona course =
Riders who have chosen to do the Maratona course split off from the
Middle course in the village of Cernadoi. The Maratona dles Dolomites
proceeds from there to the village and uncategorised climb of the Colle Santa
Lucia, after which the steepest of all climbs begins: the climb to Giau Pass.
From Giau Pass the road goes down to Pocol, from where the course rises to
the Falzarego Pass. There it reunites with the Middle course and having
crossed Valparola Pass follows the same road through San Ćiascian and La Ila to
the finish line in Corvara. Passes:
Campolongo Pass: 5.8 km, Gradient: 6.1% Pordoi Pass: 9.2 km, Gradient: 6.9%
Sella Pass: 5.5 km, Gradient: 7.9% Gardena Pass: 5.8 km, Gradient: 4.3%
Campolongo Pass: 5.8 km, Gradient: 6.1% Giau Pass: 9.9 km, Gradient: 9.3%
Falzarego Pass/ Valparola Pass: 11.5 km, Gradient: 5.8%
Total distance: 138 km Total altitude difference: 4,190 m
Recent Results References
External links Maratona dles Dolomites homepage in
English Holimites The official Tour Operator of
the Maratona dles Dolomites