Maratona dles Dolomites
Encyclopedia
The Maratona dles Dolomites (Dolomites Marathon), is an annual single-day road bicycle race covering seven spectacular mountain passes in the Dolomites
. Open to amateurs 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."
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.
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.
. 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.
, 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 Cassiano
and passing through La Villa reaches the finishing line in Corvara.
, 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 Cassiano and La Villa to the finish line in Corvara.
Dolomites
The Dolomites are a mountain range located in north-eastern Italy. It is a part of Southern Limestone Alps and extends from the River Adige in the west to the Piave Valley in the east. The northern and southern borders are defined by the Puster Valley and the Sugana Valley...
. Open to amateurs 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 http://www.rodesvalbadia.org. 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 Villa 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 GroupSella group
The Sella is a plateau shaped massif in the Dolomites mountains of northern Italy. The Sella lies north of the Marmolada and to the east of the Langkofel...
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
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
.
Along the courses seven refreshment stations are manned by volunteers, where riders can strengthen themselves with foods and drinks, varying from sports drink
Sports drink
A sports drink beverage is designed to help athletes rehydrate when fluids are depleted after training or competition. Electrolyte replacement promotes proper rehydration, which is important in delaying the onset of fatigue during exercise...
to coffee to Strudel
Strudel
A strudel is a type of layered pastry with a — most often sweet — filling inside, often served with cream. It became well known and gained popularity in the 18th century through the Habsburg Empire....
or Speck
Speck
Speck is a distinctively juniper-flavored ham originally from Tyrol, a historical region that since 1918 partially lies in Austria and partially in Italy...
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 Villa and finishes in the village of Corvara. The course goes clockwise around the Sella mountain groupSella group
The Sella is a plateau shaped massif in the Dolomites mountains of northern Italy. The Sella lies north of the Marmolada and to the east of the Langkofel...
. 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
Fassa
Fassa is a minor Christian-democratic political party in the province of Trentino, Italy, which seeks to represent the Ladin minority in the Province and especially that living in Fascia Valley...
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 (34.2 mi)
- Total altitude difference: 1780 m (5,839.9 ft)
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 LuciaColle Santa Lucia
Colle Santa Lucia is a comune in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto, located about 120 km north of Venice and about 40 km northwest of Belluno...
, 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 Cassiano
San Cassiano
San Cassiano is a town and comune in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy....
and passing through La Villa 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 (65.9 mi)
- Total altitude difference: 3090 m (10,137.8 ft)
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 LuciaColle Santa Lucia
Colle Santa Lucia is a comune in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto, located about 120 km north of Venice and about 40 km northwest of Belluno...
, after which the steepest of all climbs begins: the climb to Giau Pass. From Giau Pass the road goes down to Pocol
Pocol
Pocol is a ski resort in the Veneto region of northeast Italy. The village is a località of the comune of Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the province of Belluno.-History:...
, 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 Cassiano and La Villa 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 (85.7 mi)
- Total altitude difference: 4190 m (13,746.7 ft)
External links
- Maratona dles Dolomites homepage in English
- Holimites The official Tour Operator of the Maratona dles Dolomites
- CYCLEFILM's Maratona dles Dolomites Reconnaissance DVD and Sportive Survival Guide