Maratona dles Dolomites Sportive 2016

If you're looking for the 2017 Maratona dles Dolomites then why not check out our 2017 Maratona listing?

Every year the Maratona gran fondo (that's the Italian for sportive!) gets bigger. In 2015 there were more than 31,000 cyclists chasing just 9,000 places.

The intense competition for places is a reflection of the legendary nature of this ride, which is up there with the Marmotte in terms of toughness and as a test of the amateur rider's physical and mental strength.

The 2016 edition of the Maratona is the 30th anniversary of the event and looks set to be one of the most memorable.

Billed as a race on (mostly) closed roads, the Maratona starts and finishes in Corvara, best known as a winter ski resort. It is a 138km ride with 4,320 metres of climbing; there are two shorter routes but most people who make the trip all the way out to Italy want to ride the full route. The winner usually finishes in a little under 5 hours but plenty of riders take at least double that.

The Maratona route takes in seven major climbs:

Passo Campolongo (length: 5.8km, average gradient: 6.1%)
Passo Pordoi (length: 9.2km, average gradient: 6.9%)
Passo Sella (length: 5.5km, average gradient: 7.9%)
Passo Gardena (length: 5.8km, average gradient: 4.3%)
Passo Giau (length: 9.9km, average gradient: 9.3%)
Passo Valparola (length: 11.8km, average gradient: 6.7%)
Mür dl giat (the cat wall) (length: 300m, average gradient: 13.1%)

A Maratona Village is set up around the event in the town of San Leonardo with a fan zone, pasta and music, big screens, a shuttle service to nearby towns and of course concession stands from leading cycling brands including Pinarello, Campagnolo, Mavic and Selle Italia.

To get some idea of how tough the Maratona is, read Joe Saumarez Smith's 2015 Maratona ride report.

Entries for the 2016 Maratona are now sold out. 

Travel

We are big fans of Velocamps. For 2016 they have booked a four star hotel almost at the start line. You have guided rides on the Friday and Saturday and four nights accommodation - based on two people sharing - the cost comes in at £900 (single supplement is £350 extra if you don't want to be kept awake by someone else's nervous shuffling). The price includes a pick up from Venice Marco Polo airport and mechanical assistance.