THE 2021 MARATONA - Castelli Cycling

The Maratona dles Dolomites is truly a challenge, even for the most trained riders. But for all those who train 1 hour after work, it's something that goes beyond a challenge.

There are the Sella Ronda course with 55 km and 1780m of climbing, then the Middle Course with 106km and "only" 3130m of elevation gain, and lastly the Maratona course with 138km and 4230m of elevation.

Yesss, truly a breeze.

We decided to go for the Middle Course. This year we have had many things to do, so we didn't have enough time to train properly.

4.30am - we had breakfast with dozens of other people in our hotel. Pasta (yes, like the pros) and some proteins in the menù.

6.34 am - we started our Maratona just before dawn breaks, together with other 6000 riders.

The atmosphere was electric. At the front, where there were the contenders of the three courses, the pace was like that of the pros. Definitely not a pace for us.

We climbed the Campolongo (5,8km at 6,1% - max 11%) and the Pordoi (9,2km at 6,9%) passes quite easily. Then it was the turn of the Sella pass (5,5km at 7,9% - max 12%) and we wondered several times why we signed up.

At the Gardena pass, we stopped at the refreshment zone to rest and to replenish by eating strudel and fabulous cakes.

The pace at the second transit to the Campolongo pass was even better than the first one.

At this point of the Maratona the legs were still good and we started thinking about going the long course instead of the mid one. But, in the end, we decided to stick to the initial plan and there was no better choice.

After 8km of the Falzarego pass, some of us went into a slight crisis and the pace has dropped dramatically, so we stopped for a moment to rest and to do a bit of stretching.

We got back in the saddle for the last four kilometers of climbing and then we went straight down towards the finish line in Corvara.

Finally, the climbs of the day were over!!!

When we arrived in La Villa we heard two cyclists talking about the Mür dl Giat (370m at 12,4% - max 19%) and we realized we forgot this last climb! The initial goal was not to get off the bike in the steepest part and we achieved it.

Now the climbs were TRULY OVER.

At the finish line, there were some good craft beers waiting for us.

THIS IS THE MARATONA DLES DOLOMITES.

It's not only a Gran Fondo, it's a real celebration of cycling and the Dolomites.

It's beautiful, fun, overwhelming and UNFORGETTABLE.

If you are a cycling fan you must ride it at least once in your life.

FOOTNOTES
PHOTOS | MARATONA DLES DOLOMITES

Corvara