Maratona of the Dolomites
Photo Gallery:
Maratona dles Dolomites
Upcoming Dates
- June 29, 2009
Accommodations
Classic
Ability Level
Expert
Terrain
Hilly with mountain passes
Distance
330 miles
Daily Average: 48
Arriving
Milan
Departing
Corvara
Price
- 3,995
Bike Rental
Included!
Space is very limited to a specific number of entries, so be sure to save your space today and join "Team Ciclismo" in Italy's premier Gran Fondo! THIS TOUR WILL SELL OUT.
Highlights
- Best of mountain culture
- Stays in the romantic village of Bormio and Corvara
- Daily backdrop of soaring rock spires, plunging waterfalls and cool forests
- Climb some of Italy's most spectacular and famous mountain passes
- Succulent, northern Italian cuisine
Celebrate the joy and challenge of cycling on the most important Italian "Gran Fondo": the "Maratona dles Dolomites," a timed cycling event attracting nearly 10,000 cycling enthusiasts from all around the world. Filled by a lottery with over 20,000 applicants, this Gran Fondo is also among the most popular in Italy!
Participants may choose from three timed routes: the "Sellaronda course" (55km), the "Middle course" (106km), and the "Maratona course" (138km)
About the Maratona dles Dolomites
The first and magnificent Maratona dles Dolomites took place in July 1987, when 166 courageous cyclists banded together to conquer a spectacular cycling route and challenge, crossing seven Dolomite passes to reach the finish line. The event has taken place every year since and has amassed thousands of participants and fans to become one of the most important amateur cycling events in Europe.
Conceived as part of the tenth anniversary celebrations of the Alta Badia-Raiffeisen Cycling Club, its organizers certainly never dreamed that they had created an event which in such a short period of time would have become one of the most important annual events in the Alta Badia valley.
The great success of the Maratona dles Dolomites is root itself in its stunning setting, where great champions have pedaled a rich page in the history of cycling.
Nearly ten thousand cyclists have taken part in recent years, divided into the various categories and routes offered. The Maratona is not merely a competition, but a celebration of the cycling sport.
For more on the Maratona dles Dolomites, visit the official web site.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Milan
After our group shuttle from the Milan airport, we'll hop on the bike for a 20-mile warm-up ride as we gear up for the Maratona.
Day 2—3 – Bormio
Ride through the mountain village of Bormio for a view of the climbs we'll conquer in the upcoming days. on Day 2, we'll summit the famous Mortirolo and Gavia climbs of the Dolomites. You will have cycled some of the Giro d'Italia's most notable terrain before looping back to Bormio.
Day 4 – Bolzano
On our way to Bolzano, one of northern Italy's jewels, we'll head for the king of all passes - the Stelvio. The summit, only 20 miles from Italy's border with Switzerland, stands at elev. 2,728m compared to elev. 1,200 at our starting point.
Day 5—6 – Corvara
After a flat start along the river Isarco, we begin a long ascent to the Passo Gardena across the homonymous valley: this is the gateway to the heart of the Dolomites. On the other side of the pass lies Corvara, homebase of the famous Maratona dles Dolomites. On day 5, we'll handle some pre-race housekeeping before we warm up for the big event of day 6. Our route is a beautiful and renown ride around the four passes of the "Sellaronda," one of the Alps' most beautiful circuits. A dream for skiers, and a challenge for cyclists, this is an 80-kilometer ride around the majestic Sella Massif, up and down the passes of Sella, Gardena, Campolongo and Pordoi.
Day 7 – Ride the Maratona dles Dolomites
The Maratona starts at 6:30am, with the choice of 3 routes: short, medium and long, ranging from 65km with 4 passes to 150km with 8 passes. Not only will you earn a finisher certificate on the best ride of your life, you will also have access to all the racer-only benefits including the huge post-event celebration. Meet people from around the world! Plus, you'll get your own race stats immediately after completion simply by providing your cell phone number and email address.
Day 8 – Arrividerci!
After breakfast, take a shuttle to the Bolzano train station to make connections throughout Italy.