Amidst the most spectacular mountains in the Dolomites in July holds one of the most prominent events on the Italian cycling calendar. Bringing cyclists together since its conception in 1987, Maratona dles Dolomites is one of the most difficult and almost certainly the most scenic bike races in the world. It's hard not to have a love affair with the Italian Dolomites when being among the most spectacular cols in the region. The physical magnificence of being in the Italian mountains will leave one breathless in more ways than one.
Maratona dles Dolomites guided over 9,000 cyclists from all over the world through the seven most renowned peaks in the region. With roads completely closed off to traffic, participants spent the day conquering the breathtaking grandeur of this challenging terrain. A true cyclist's haven, nothing but tarmac and a trail of thousands of colorful bikes and jerseys could be seen on this day.
Divided into three courses of varying difficulty, all routes span through the Dolomite mountains and go on roads which the Giro d'Italia has taken place. Up at the crack of dawn, all riders begin their journey from the village of La Villa, beginning with the challenging four-pass Sellaronda course. Riders have the option to conclude the race after the Sellaronda or continue onto the middle course or the full Maratona course of 138 kilometers with 4230 meters of elevation. All routes are adorned with thousands of spectators cheering on the participants as well as photographers capturing parts of each cyclist's journey.
If you look at the side profile of the Maratona route, it resembles the jagged edge of a fearsome knife. The route has a continuous sequence of ascents and descents with seven magnificent peaks as aforementioned. Each evokes a sense of true poetic beauty: Passo Campolongo (1875 m), Pordoi (2239 m), Sella (2244 m), Gardena (2121 m), Giau (2236 m), Valparola (2200 m). Among these is the beast of the Dolomites, the Giau which covers 10 kilometers with an average gradient of 10%. It is the hard climb of the day for the Maratona riders who test their legs to the limit and fly down the other side of the mountain at record breaking speeds. An exhilarating part of the course to say the least.
Whether participants finish in five or ten hours, there is true magic that transpires at this event. A sense of pride and accomplishment comes from each rider that conquers this feat. This energy can be emulating not only from the riders but the cheer squad around them; event staff, photographers, and local residents. Find yourself riding alongside (or getting passed) by local legends or internationally recognized names who all relish in conquering switchback after switchback. The epitome of classic Italian riding and the ultimate test for any rider, Maratona dles Dolomites will certainly not disappoint any rider who is eager to conquer the mountains.
