Maratona dles Dolomites Guide

The Maratona dles Dolomites is, like the classic Marmotte Alpes in France, hard to get a ticket for.

While an entry ticket itself carries a fee of €150, which is reasonable, there is hardly a guarantee 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 €1,500…

However, and to be honest, these all inclusive packages are often multi-day events, including other scheduled rides.

Still, I think it’s a lot of money for – basically – one day of cycling…

At any rate, the Maratona dles Dolomites had long been on my bucket list.

I eventually cycled it all by myself, accompanied by Paula in the team car, during my Giro d’Italia of 2020¹ (Stage 6).

Which is probably what other people might do, albeit that you will have nothing to show for it in your hall of fame at home.

History

The first edition of the Maratona dles Dolomites was in 1987 when less than 200 (!) cyclists from Italy, Germany and Austria participated.

Steadily increasing from year to year, there were about 1,000 participants in 1990.

Before the turn of the century, that number had increased to over 6,000…

The – current – pre-registration system with draw was introduced in 2005.

Each year only 9,000 cyclists can participate, with over 30,000 (!) cyclists from all over the world hoping to be drawn.

Practical

Cut-off times

There are time limits / cut-off times to be observed.

You’d do well to (double)check these before departure!

Corvara – Campolongo 2nd passage: 11.30 am
You’re done if you don’t make this cut-off.

Cernadoi – towards the Passo Giau: 11.50 am
You will be obliged to continue along the percorso medio if you don’t make it in time.

Finish – Sellaronda course: 1 pm
Finish – 106km and 138km courses: 4.45 pm

These time limits are regardless of starting times.

Rest stops and assistance

Available until the following times:

Sella 11.15 am
Campolongo 12 noon
Gardena 12.15 pm
Colle S. Lucia 12.25 pm
Giau 2.15 pm
Falzarego 4 pm

Unlike the Marmotte Alpes, the Maratona is a car-free event.

Any road closures are established by local prefectures and are only in place until the final race car marked as “fine corsa” has passed.

Maratona dles Dolomites courses

“Percorso Sellaronda”: 55 kms / 1,780 m of D+
“Percorso Medio”: 106 km / 3,130 m of D+ = Sellaronda + Falzarego / Valparola loop
“Percorso Maratona”: 138 kms / 4,230 m of D+ = Sellaronda + Giau / Falzarego / Valparola loop

Sellaronda Course

The shortest version of the Maratona dles Dolomites is “just” the clockwise version of the Sellaronda.

Although you also start in La Villa, like the other two courses.

That means, clockwise:

Campolongo (1,875m)
Pordoi (2,239m)
Sella (2,243m – half of the ascent)
Gardena (2,121m – from Plan de Gralba)

Other than these four passes, the other two Maratona courses feature an additional Campolongo ascent.

They also feature the Mür dl Giat – the Cat Wall – as the final climb.

This also used to be the end of the Maratona dles Dolomites, before the finish was moved to Corvara.

Percorso Medio

Apart from the Sellaronda loop, this course additionally features Passo Falzarego / Passo Valparola (2,168m).

Where the “Percorso Maratona” turns right at Cernadoi, this course follows the Falzarego ascent from Andraz.

At the summit of that climb, you turn left for the final ~1.2 kms to the Valparola.

This is also the stretch where the medium and long version meet again.

Percorso Maratona

After the right turn at Cernadoi, down to Rucavà, you’ll get to climb about half the Colle Santa Lucia.

I was caught off guard by this short intermezzo, fully concentrated on the next climb…

Pièce the résistance of the Maratona dles Dolomites is absolutely the Passo Giau (2,236m).

Ten relentless kms at an average of close to 10% – if you think the Pordoi was hard, you’ll think again.

Especially since you’ve been in the saddle for almost 90 kms by now…

The Falzarego / Valparola from Pocol is not an easy climb either.

That is, if you think it is the first few kms after turning left near Pocol, you might regret that in the final 7 kms.

Then again, you might be a much better climber / cyclist than me 🙂

More info about the official Maratona event on the official Maratona dles Dolomites site.

Bonus: Supermaratona

If the long course of the Maratona dles Dolomites is not hard enough for you, try the Supermaratona.

That is 286.6 kilometers long, with 8,400 meters of D+ featuring several “bonus” passes, apart from the ones in the Percorso Maratona, with the Sellaronda loop as the final.

¹ The official event was cancelled that year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here’s the long route…

And a few pictures from my Maratona…