Race guide · Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy
Maratona dles Dolomites: Training Guide
The Dolomite gran fondo — closed roads, iconic passes, and a day of pure climbing.
The Maratona dles Dolomites is one of the world’s most celebrated gran fondos, held on closed roads in the Alta Badia region of the Italian Dolomites. The long route links the famous passes of the Sella Ronda and beyond — Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Giau and others — for around 138 kilometers and well over four thousand meters of climbing.
Entry is heavily oversubscribed and often allocated by lottery, so for many riders simply getting a place is the start of a season-long goal. The day itself is defined by sustained mountain climbing: pass after pass, on smooth tarmac, in the thin air and big scenery of the high Dolomites.
What makes it hard
- Sustained mountain climbing. The long route is essentially a series of major alpine passes back to back — the total vertical, and your ability to keep climbing late, decide the day.
- Altitude on the high passes. The upper sections of the Dolomite climbs reach real elevation, thinning the air and trimming power for riders who live low.
- Duration for amateurs. For most riders the long route is a many-hour day; durability over repeated long climbs matters far more than a strong sprint.
- Pacing a mass start on closed roads. Big fields and fast, crowded early kilometers tempt riders to start too hard before the first big climb.
What the day actually demands
The Maratona is a sustained climbing day. Your time tracks the steady power-to-weight you can hold up long passes, and how much of it survives repeated climbs and altitude. There’s nowhere to hide on a course that is mostly going up — train the climbing engine.
Pace by the long view. The early passes feel easy with fresh legs and a fast bunch; the riders who finish strong climb the first cols well within themselves and still have something for the Giau or whichever climb the route saves for late.
How to build toward it
Plan 14 to 20 weeks built on aerobic volume and a lot of climbing. The key sessions are long sustained efforts — 20-to-60-minute climbs at a steady tempo-to-threshold intensity — that prepare you for cols that last 30 minutes to over an hour.
Power-to-weight is what carries you uphill, so train the climbs specifically and arrive at a sensible, sustainable racing weight rather than crash-dieting. If you live somewhere flat, use long indoor climbing efforts or repeats of whatever hill you have to build the sustained-effort fitness.
Fueling and altitude
Practice 60–90 grams of carbohydrate per hour on long rides — it’s easy to under-fuel on a day made of climbs, where you’re working steadily for hours. The well-stocked feed stations help, but rehearse your own plan so you’re not improvising. Expect the high passes to feel harder if you live near sea level, and pace by feel up top.
Equipment for a day of climbing
Gearing is the choice that matters: fit a cassette and chainrings easy enough to spin the steep Dolomite ramps without grinding to a stop late in the day — most amateurs are happier with more range than they think. Beyond that it’s a road race on smooth closed tarmac. Check the official site for the current year’s route, distances, and entry process.
A sample build
A skeleton, not a prescription — the right plan flexes around your starting fitness, your weeks, and your life. Use it to picture the shape of the work.
Common questions
How hard is the long Maratona dles Dolomites route?
It’s a serious mountain day — around 138 km with well over four thousand meters of climbing across a string of major Dolomite passes. For most amateurs it’s a many-hour effort decided by sustained climbing fitness and pacing. Shorter routes offer a less demanding option on the same iconic roads.
How do I get into the Maratona dles Dolomites?
Demand far exceeds places, so entry is typically allocated by lottery (with some charity and tour-operator options). Treat securing a spot as the first step, then build a climbing-focused plan around your event date. Check the official site for the current entry process and deadlines.
Course distance, elevation, and dates shift year to year. Always confirm the current year's details on the official event site — Maratona dles Dolomites. This guide is general training information, not coaching advice tailored to you.
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