Maratona dles Dolomites - Classic

After breakfast in Treviso, a scenic transfer has you saddling up in the small town of San Vito di Cadore. From here, a dedicated bike path leads to the mountain town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, where a quick Espresso will get you ready for the main challenge of the day, the Passo Falzarego.

The mountain goats have the option of taking a detour up the ‘easier’ side of the Passo Giau before continuing to Arabba and climbing the Campolongo into Corvara. The main route continues on to the Passo Falzarego before descending into La Villa for the last gentle uphill stretch into Corvara.

This is a day to introduce yourself to the area and explore the beautiful options that are available a bit further afield. Leaving Corvara, it's mostly downhill until the turnoff at San Martino in Badia. From here the road climbs through Antermoia and up to the Passo delle Erbe. A picturesque loop in the Luson Valley brings you down towards the Eisack River before returning via the Passo delle Erbe back to Corvara. A shorter variation skips the Passo delle Erbe and continues along quiet roads to Rina-Welschellen before heading back to Corvara. For a medium mileage route and no serious passes, you can instead continue downhill after San Martino to Longega. Located at the end of a valley with restricted car traffic, the Pederú Lodge is the perfect place to get a bite and admire the 360-degree mountain views that surround you before heading back the way you came to Corvara.

Lots of options are available on this day depending on your ambition level and preferences.

One fantastic loop possible from Corvara passes through La Villa before heading up to the Passo Valparola and Falzarego. From here, the route descends down to Andraz then continues gently uphill to Arabba, before taking on the Passo Campolongo to return to Corvara. The route for the short course of the Maratona is the classic Sellaronda ride, considered one of the most beautiful bike rides in the world. It's also possible to do the Sellaronda route the opposite of the way it is done in the Maratona. Check out the Sellaronda Bike Day for more info on this equally spectacular route. There are also loops that head up the Passo Falzarego or the Passo Giau available. Take your pick!

Enjoy an easy spin down to the Maratona Village and back to pick up your race pack and take in the festive atmosphere, then rest up for your big day tomorrow.

If you want to warm up your legs with a bit of climbing, tack on the relatively tame Passo Campolongo on the way back and have a refreshment at the Ütia La Tambra lodge near the top. 

Following an early breakfast, you’ll have a short warm-up ride to La Villa for the start of this epic event. The first loop of the Sella Ronda is the same for all distances, so just ease yourself into the ride and decide later on how ambitious you want to be.

The full detailed description of the route and the different options can be found here.

After a last breakfast, it’s time for the transfer back to Venice for your trip home or further explorations in the area.