Tour Type
Granfondo
Riding Level
Active
Location
Alta Badia, Dolomites
Duration
6 Days | 5 Nights
Length
65 - 135 km daily
Climb
1,500 - 4,000m daily
We return to one of our favourite cycling regions in the whole world - the beautiful Dolomites - for the 38th edition (2025) of the Maratona dels Dolomites Enel. The race is one of the most prestigious granfondos in the world with over 32,000 cyclists competing for 9,000 entries. Join us for this unique event. Start numbers guaranteed!
This short tour is well-suited for riders of different levels. The “col collectors” will have the opportunity to tick many boxes from their bucket list and challenge themselves on the long Maratona course (138km). The short (55km) and medium (106km) courses are ideal to get a taste of mountain riding with short and ridiculously scenic climbs.”Can I do it?” That’s what you may ask yourself. Kath was wondering too before riding the Maratona last year. Read her story here.
Prior to the Maratona Gran Fondo on Sunday, we will enjoy three days of cycling to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites. We will also relax on the day before the event to enjoy the local cuisine, unique culture and extraordinary history of the South Tyrol. All of this with the support of our bike-friendly hotel situated next to the registration village and run by our good friend Klaus.
This trip is ideal for your non-riding partner and your children, who will enjoy a wonderful holiday in the Dolomites; activities such as hiking, a Summer For Kids programme, wellness and golf are available (contact us for more information). There is a Grand Tours Project for everybody!
As an official tour operator of the Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel we can guarantee start numbers to this world famous Gran Fondo, which sells out in hours. Book now and guarantee your place in this iconic event as this tour is expected to sell out quickly.
We will meet you at Venice airport and shuttle you to Badia and our HQ for this tour: Hotel Melodia del Bosco. Once there, we will help you to settle in and prepare your bike. You can then join us for an optional short ride to Passo Campolongo, the first climb for the 3 courses of the Maratona. At dinner, you will have the opportunity to meet the whole group and have a first taste of the local cuisine we will enjoy throughout the next few days.
Today’s ride is 65km. Only? But we climb 4 prestigious passes: Passo Campolongo (1,875m), Passo Pordoi (2,239m), Passo Sella (2,244m) and Passo Gardena (2,136m). That’s the famous Sella Ronda loop, which is also part of all three Maratona courses you can choose on race day. On Passo Pordoi, ride by the memorial to Fausto Coppi, the legendary Italian champion who won some of his most famous victories in the Dolomites.
Today we will all ride the Passo Falzarego, one of the legendary climbs of the Dolomites. Those who target the Maratona long course on Sunday may want to test their legs on Passo Giau (9.9km at 9.3%). « I love the Giau. It’s a hard climb but the view from the top is amazing. And the descent towards Pocol is pure fun! » says Alain. Have an Aperol Spritz at the hotel bar to make it a perfect day in the Dolomites.
In the morning we will pick up our number and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Maratona village. You’re then free to go for an easy coffee ride – just like the pros – or relax at the hotel spa. Maybe you’ll do both? In the evening, local products and delicious cuisine will take your pre-race carb loading dinner to new heights.
After an early breakfast, ride 3 kilometers from our hotel to the start area with 9,000 riders. The excitement is growing as TV helicopters buzz above your head. At 6:30am, the first riders cross the line. Your best day ever on the bike is about to start. Whichever course you have chosen, enjoy the Maratona experience. Pace yourself on the climbs and enjoy fully closed roads on descents. Don’t forget to stop at the feeding stations and taste local specialties! You will need it to make it to the finish and share your best moments with us.
All good things have an end. After a last apfelstrudel and espresso (or cappuccino, or macchiato), the shuttle will take you back to Venice Marco Polo Airport. Time to go home and share your Maratona stories (and photos) with your envious cycling friends!
Run by passionate cyclist Klaus Irsara, Hotel Melodia del Bosco is our base for the tour. Every day, you’ll ride straight from the hotel, a member of the Italy Bike Hotel network, to conquer the mighty Dolomites passes. When you come back, leave your bike in the garage, have an plate of pasta and make good use of the spa: Finnish sauna or steam bath? Maybe both! Or stretch your muscles with a massage. Have an Aperol Spritz (our favorite) at the Lounge Bar before dinner; enjoy healthy gourmet cuisine using fresh, mostly locally grown ingredients, accompanied by selected fine wines.
Your non-riding partner and your children will also enjoy the traditional Ladin hospitality of the Irsara family as well as many activities such as hiking, via ferrata, golf, horse riding, adventure parks… In the hotel, kids can enjoy their very own playroom and in the summer have fun in the private outdoor play area or enjoy a game of ping-pong.
Set in woodland and meadows, the hotel is within walking distance from the sponsors’ village, heart of the week long Maratona cycling festival. It is also just 3 km from the start of the race, an important detail as you have to be there before 6am.
What’s Not Included ?
