Maratona Dles Dolomites - The Legendary Bike Tour

Maratona Dles Dolomites | Discover the Legendary Bike Tour

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Since 1987, every first Sunday of July, the roads over the Dolomite passes are closed to traffic and given back entirely to cyclists. It is not a metaphor: for one full day, the silence of engines gives way to the whisper of tyres, the rhythm of lungs working hard on a climb, and the pure beauty of riding asphalt that feels made for exactly this moment.

The next edition is Sunday 5 July 2026 — the 39th — with 8,000 cyclists selected from over 32,400 applications submitted by riders from 85 countries. The theme chosen for this edition is Pax, peace: thousands of people from different languages and cultures, united by a pedal stroke and a shared gaze toward the same peaks.

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The three routes

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The Maratona offers three routes, all starting in La Villa and finishing in Corvara, on roads closed to motor traffic throughout the day.

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La Maratona — 138 km, 4,230 m of climbing.

The full version. It crosses all seven passes: Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Giau, Falzarego and Valparola. The Passo Giau — nearly 10 km at an average gradient of 9.3%, with slopes reaching 15% — is the wall that separates those who finish from those who do not.

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Il Medio — 106 km, 3,130 m of climbing.

‍ Includes Falzarego and Valparola, skips the Giau. Still a serious challenge, and well within reach for a trained cyclist who knows their own limits.

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Il Sellaronda — 55 km, 1,780 m of climbing.

The classic loop over four passes — Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena. Not a shortcut: a complete experience in its own right, and the perfect introduction to cycling the Dolomites.

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Pass by pass: what to expect

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Passo Campolongo (1,875 m) — 5.8 km at 6.1%. The first climb of the morning, the one that wakes up the legs while dawn is still lifting the mist from the valleys. From Arabba the gradient is steady and manageable, but should not be underestimated — it is the first of many. On the full Maratona route you climb it a second time, and that second ascent, with tired legs, is a completely different story.

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Passo Pordoi (2,239 m) — 9.2 km at 6.9%. The highest point of the Sellaronda loop and the roof of the whole circuit. A monument at the summit honours Fausto Coppi, one of cycling's greatest legends. The climb from Arabba is long and relentless, with no real rest, but the landscape that opens up around you as you gain altitude makes every metre worthwhile.

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Passo Sella (2,244 m) — 5.5 km at 7.9%. The hardest pass on the Sellaronda. At the top, the Sella Towers rise close enough to seem within arm's reach. The view over the Sasso Piatto and Sasso Lungo is among the most photographed in the Dolomites — and when you earn it in the saddle, after nearly 8% average gradient, you see it with completely different eyes.

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Passo Gardena (2,121 m) — 5.8 km at 4.3%. The gentlest pass on the Sellaronda is also the one that splits the routes: those on the Classico head toward Corvara and the finish, while those on the Medio or the full Maratona prepare for a far more demanding second half.

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Passo Giau (2,236 m) — 9.9 km at 9.3%. The beast. Exclusive to the full Maratona route, the Giau is the climb riders fear most — and for good reason. Nearly 10 km above 9% average: there is not a single metre where you can switch off and pedal on autopilot. Whoever crosses the Giau with their legs still intact has already won their own race.

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Passo Falzarego (2,105 m) — 11.5 km at 5.8%. Long and unrelenting, it comes after the Giau, when your reserves are already spent. The Cinque Torri in the background, the Tofane massif pushing into the sky: scenery that keeps even the most exhausted legs turning.

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Passo Valparola (2,200 m) — 11.8 km at 6.7%. The final pass of the full route. After nearly 130 km and four thousand metres of climbing, Valparola demands one last effort. Whoever reaches the top is no longer the same person who clipped in at six in the morning.

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No race bib? The roads are there all year

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The Maratona dles Dolomites selects 8,000 cyclists from over 32,000 applications. But the passes — Pordoi, Sella, Giau, Falzarego — are there every day, waiting for you.

We at Dolomites Bike Guide are the official guides of Arabba and we lead guided rides on the exact same routes as the Maratona. You can choose the full route, a single climb, or build a custom programme around your days in the Dolomites. Arabba sits at the crossroads of the Campolongo, the Pordoi and the Falzarego — the natural gateway to the entire Maratona circuit, and our home base.

A guide who knows these passes knows where the wind shifts, which section only looks impossible and breaks down with the right cadence, and where to stop for the exact view that no photo ever quite captures. They also know how to pace you through the second Campolongo climb, when your legs are no longer responding the way you want them to.

Whether you want to ride the full Maratona dles Dolomites or just one legendary climb — on a road bike or an e-bike, alone or with a group — get in touch and we will build the experience together. We are in Arabba, and we are ready when you are.

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Get in touch

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