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Cycling in the dolomites is like nowhere else
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We take the opportunity during the week to ensure you leave with incredible photos of the scenery
Maratona dles Dolomites 2016
The Maratona dles Dolomites is a beautiful granfondo on a testing course in the Italian Dolomites mountain range.
The full 138km Maratona course takes riders over five 2,000m+ passes and the saw tooth profile means you are either ascending or descending throughout the day.
The readers of Cycling Weekly rated the Maratona dles Dolomites 3rd favorite international sportive behind the Etape du Tour and La Marmotte.
Looming large on the course profile are the Passo Giau (2,236m over 9.9km at 9.3%) and Passo Valparola (2,200m over 11.5km at 5.8%); make no mistake this is right up there with La Marmotte and Nove Colli for difficulty.
For many cyclists the Maratona is a ‘must do’ and it’s proximity to Venice and the Adriatic coast means a Maratona dles Dolomites Cycling Holiday can be combined with some sightseeing too.
Maratona dles Dolomites Cycling Holiday
Riders climbing the Passo Campolongo at the start of the Maratona dles Dolomites
Maratona dles Dolomites Event Details
- Date: Sunday July 3rd 2016
- Distances: 138km (Maratona), 106km (Middle) and 55km (Sellaronda)
- Cyclists: 9,000+ riders start
- Established since: 1987
- Start: La Villa, Italy
- Finish: Corvara, Italy
- Nearest Airport: Alta Badia is the host town and Bolzano, Treviso and Venice airports are all options
- Accommodation: Brevet’s Maratona dles Dolomites Cycling Holiday
Maratona dles Dolomites Course Preview
Maratona dles Dolomites Course Profile
There are three sportive distances to choose from including the full Gran Fondo “Maratona” length course. All of the routes start at La Villa and finish at Corvara, so you will not miss any of the pre or post race atmosphere if you choose to take on one of the shorter distances. As you can imagine cycling in the Dolomites involves plenty of climbing and the saw tooth profiles are testament to how challenging this gran fondo is!
- Maratona: 138km with 4,190m of climbing
- Middle: 106km with 3,090m of climbing
- Sellaronda: 55km with 1,780m of climbing
The 138km Maratona dles Dolomites course is a who’s who of famous Italian Dolomites climbs.
The full maratona distance includes five 2,000m+ passes or “Passo” in Italian:
- Passo Pordoi (2,239m) 9.2km at 6.9%
- Passo Sella (2, 239m) 5.5km at 7.9%
- Passo Gardena (2,121m) 5.8km at 4.3%
- Passo Giau (2,236m) 9.9km at 9.3%
- Passo Valparola (2,200m) 11.5km at 5.8%
2016 Maratona dles Dolomites Holiday
Brevet’s Maratona dles Dolomites Cycling Holiday includes a route recce on the famous Sella Ronda course as well as a great day out climbing the infamous Passo Giau.
Our fully supported tour includes a 6:1 client to guide ratio and support from a team car on all training rides in the days building up to Maratona 2016.
Maratona dles Dolomites Cycling Holiday
2016 Maratona dles Dolomites Entry
Places for the Maratona sell out immediately. At Brevet we have a limited number of guaranteed Maratona 2016 entries.
Training for Maratona dles Dolomites 2016
A quick look at the course profile welcomes you nicely to the reality of cycling in the mountains. The Dolomites provide an inspirational backdrop to this gran fondo and training consistently in advance of the big day will help you appreciate the views more.
The key to cycling up (and down) challenging mountain cols is experience. There are many long steady hills in the Maratona and it’s essential to build up experience of ascending climbs for up to 60 minutes at a steady, controllable cadence.
Get in shape for the Maratona with our 12 Week Maratona dles Dolomites Training Plan
Descending should also not be underestimated and it’s a good idea to focus on your descents rather than just using it as a freewheel recovery. Practicing lines around corners, refueling with water and energy products and getting in some back and leg stretches are all useful exercises to practice in advance so that you descend safely and intelligently come race day.
When you are in training for a challenging sportive it is very important to be consistent. Your body will adjust best to consistent training efforts, making continual improvements and changes if you train and rest consistently.
Maratona dles Dolomites Training Tips
- CYCLEFILM have a great full length Maratona dles Dolomites recon DVD version of the preview above for £7.99; perfect for indoor turbo or roller training
- Use this free Maratona dles Dolomites Training Plan and set training dates with mates for peer pressure – train consistently
- Book your Maratona dles Dolomites Cycling Holiday before places run out!
Maratona dles Dolomites Training Plan
To climb the Passo Pordoi with style you’ll need to follow a sportive training plan
Are you in training for the Maratona dles Dolomites? Use our free 12 week Maratona dles Dolomites Training Plan to get you in the best possible shape for the Maratona. Simply fill the form below and we’ll send you your free training plan:
Useful websites for the Maratona dles Dolomites
- Official website: Maratona dles Dolomites
- Facebook: Chat with fellow riders on the official Facebook page
- Twitter feed: Join in the conversation @mdolomites with the hashtag #mdd30
- YouTube: Watch race highlights on the official YouTube channel
- Brevet’s Maratona dles Dolomites Cycling Holiday