Maratona dles Dolomites 2026

The route

The Maratona dles Dolomites is the hardest bib to obtain in amateur cycling worldwide. Its 9,000 places are allocated by ballot from tens of thousands of applications across more than 70 countries. The reason is straightforward: a 138 km route with 4,230 metres of climbing through the most spectacular passes in the UNESCO Dolomites World Heritage Site, on fully closed roads with live television coverage, has no equivalent anywhere in amateur cycling. First week of July, Alta Badia, pink limestone slopes at dawn.

The course links six Alpine passes: Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Grödner Joch and Valparola, with the Falzarego as the final climb. The Passo Pordoi (2,239 m) is the highest point and the most photogenic, with the Sella massif as backdrop. The Passo Falzarego (2,105 m), the last pass, is where the Maratona is decided: riders who reach the top with energy left have an 18 km descent to recover before the final flat kilometres. Those who arrive empty feel the descent as much as the climb. Two shorter distances (106 and 55 km) exist for riders who are not ready for the full route or who simply want to experience the landscape without the pressure of the maximum distance.

The Dolomites have their own high-mountain climate. In July mornings are typically stable and sunny, but afternoon thunderstorms are almost certain in the first week of the month. The Maratona starts very early, from 6:30, precisely so that most participants are descending the Falzarego before the weather deteriorates. Wind on the Dolomite passes is typically valley-oriented: upvalley in the morning (a push on the climbs) and downvalley in the afternoon (which can be crosswind or headwind on descents). On the Pordoi and the Sella the exposure is total and gusts can reach 25 to 30 km/h as clouds begin to build.

Getting a bib is the first challenge. The ballot usually opens in October with results in November. A small quota of places is available for clubs and associations with multi-year accreditation. If you are drawn, keep the confirmation deadline: bibs can be lost for missing it. Logistics are based from the valley villages: La Villa, San Cassiano, Corvara and Badia are the most comfortable options. Alta Badia in July is pleasant at valley level (18 to 24°C) but temperature on the passes can drop to 6 to 10°C. Always carry a light layer in the back pocket, even on a clear-sky morning.

Variants and GPX

Past editions

Real Open-Meteo weather on each edition day.

How to register

Registration, price and rules are on the official website of the organization. Official march website →

More information

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