The Maratona dles Dolomites is, like the classic Marmotte Alpes in France, one of these events that is hard – and expensive – to get a ticket for.
While an entry itself carries a fee of €150, which is perhaps reasonable, there is hardly a guarentee that you will actually get one.
Unless you buy a package via the Official Tour Operators and you’ll be lucky to get away with a package costing less than €2,000…
However, and to be honest, these all inclusive – accommodation and food – packages usually are multi-day events, including other scheduled rides.
At any rate, this has long been on my bucket list and I eventually cycled it all by myself, accompanied by Paula in the team car, during my Giro d’Italia of 2020 (Stage 6).
Which is probably what a lot of other people will do, albeit that you will have nothing to show for it in your hall of fame at home.
The “Percorso Maratona” is 138 kms long, with 4,230 m of elevation gain.
This long version of the Maratona dles Dolomites contains of two loops, the Sella Ronda and a loop over the Giau and Valparola.
The latter includes a second ascend of the Campolongo, but down in Arabba, you’ll turn left instead of right.
The shorter “Percorso Medio” (106 km/3,130 m elevation gain), splits and turns left in Cernadoi to get up the Falzarego/Valparola.
Other than in my Giro’s Stage 6 report, you can find more info on the official Maratona dles Dolomites site.
(At the time of writing, its homepage featured a photograph of the Campolongo – which is the first climb after the start in la Villa – with a gazillion cyclists, giving you a good impression of the number of participants.)
