Maratona dles Dolomites 2027 Guide: Route, Cut-Offs and Training Plan
By Jakub Novak, Head Coach · Updated November 2026 · 15 min read
Everything you need for the 40th Maratona dles Dolomites: how to get an entry, the 138, 106 and 55 km routes, every pass and cut-off, a course profile, a finish-time calculator and a 16-week training plan from our coaches.
Key dates and deadlines for Maratona dles Dolomites 2027
Late Nov 2026The draw for 2027 places. Pre-entry ran from 14 October to 10 November 2026.
Wed 25 Nov 2026First release of charity places on maratona.it.
Early Dec 2026Riders drawn in the ballot pay to confirm their place (the deadline was 4 December last year).
Sun 14 Mar 2027Latest start for a 16-week Maratona training plan.
Thu 18 Mar 2027Second release of charity places on maratona.it.
Sun 6 Jun 2027Four weeks out: time for your last long rehearsal ride in the mountains.
Sun 4 Jul 2027Ride day, the 40th edition. Start 6:30 am at La Villa, finish in Corvara.
The Maratona dles Dolomites is one of Europe's best-known gran fondos, and one of the hardest to get into. Every July around 8,000 riders take on the passes around the Sella group on roads closed to traffic, with three routes to choose from: the 55 km Sellaronda, the 106 km Medio and the full 138 km Maratona, with 4,230 m of climbing and the Passo Giau.
This guide covers how to get an entry, every pass on the route, the cut-offs, how long it will take you and how to train for it. It is written by our coaches, who have raced at World Tour level.
Maratona dles Dolomites 2027 at a glance
WhenSunday 4 July 2027, 6:30 am start. The 40th edition.
WhereStarts in La Villa and finishes in Corvara, Alta Badia, in the Italian Dolomites, on roads closed to traffic.
RoutesMaratona 138 km (4,230 m of climbing), Medio 106 km (3,130 m) and Sellaronda 55 km (1,780 m). You can change route during the ride.
Time limitsSellaronda finish closes at 1 pm, Medio and Maratona at 4:45 pm, with route cut-offs at Corvara and Cernadoi.
Entry8,000 places: about half by draw, the rest through charity places, invitations and tour-operator packages. The fee was €180 in 2026.
RulesMinimum age 18; riders aged 18 can only ride the two shorter routes. No private support vehicles.
The routes and the passes
All three routes start in La Villa and finish in Corvara. The first 55 km are the Sella Ronda: Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella and Gardena, four passes in a loop around the Sella massif and back to Corvara. The Medio and Maratona then climb Campolongo again and descend past Arabba to Cernadoi, where the routes split. The Medio climbs straight to Falzarego and Valparola. The Maratona drops to Selva di Cadore for the Passo Giau, then climbs Falzarego and Valparola from Pocol. Both finish with a fast descent to San Cassiano and the Mür dl Giat, 370 m at up to 19%, before the last 6 km to Corvara.
Route
Distance
Climbing
Passes
Finish closes
Maratona
138 km
4,230 m
Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Campolongo, Giau, Falzarego and Valparola
4:45 pm
Medio
106 km
3,130 m
Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Campolongo, Falzarego and Valparola
4:45 pm
Sellaronda
55 km
1,780 m
Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella and Gardena (the Sella Ronda loop)
1:00 pm
Distances and climbing from the organiser. The Sellaronda has no official ranking. Finish times from recent editions.
Course profile: Maratona, 138 km and 4,230 m
ClimbsCut-off point
Approximate profile drawn from the pass altitudes and the main towns along the route, to show the shape of the day. Cut-off times are from recent editions. Check the official 2027 race guide for the exact course.
Climb
Course km
Length
Gain
Average
Summit
Passo Campolongo
6–12
5.8 km
353 m
6.1%
1,875 m
Passo Pordoi
16–25
9.2 km
638 m
6.9%
2,239 m
Passo Sella
32–38
5.5 km
436 m
7.9%
2,244 m, the highest point
Passo Gardena
43–49
5.8 km
250 m
4.3%
2,121 m
Passo Campolongo (again)
55–61
5.8 km
353 m
6.1%
1,875 m
Passo Giau
86–96
9.9 km
922 m
9.3%
2,236 m
Falzarego and Valparola
106–118
11.5 km
665 m
5.8%
2,192 m
Mür dl Giat
About 132
370 m
46 m
12.4% (max 19%)
The last sting, 6 km from the finish
Climb data from Epic Road Rides and Rouvy. Course km are our approximations for the 138 km route. The Medio climbs Falzarego from Andraz instead: 11.8 km at 6.7%.
Start steady. Four passes come in the first 55 km in a field of thousands. Ride your own pace and let faster groups go.
Altitude. Four of the passes top out above 2,100 m, where your power will be a little lower than at home.
Descents. The roads are closed, but the descents are technical and busy. Brake early, hold your line and do not take risks to gain a few seconds.
Weather. Mornings can be cold at the top of the passes, afternoons hot in the valleys, and thunderstorms are common in July. Carry a gilet and arm warmers.
Save it for the Giau. The hardest climb comes after 85 km. Riders who race the Sella Ronda pay for it there.
The Maratona, section by section
The Maratona is a day of two halves: the Sella Ronda, then the Giau. Most of the damage is done in the second half, so ride the first four passes at a steady pace where you could still talk in short sentences, and save your best effort for the Giau and Falzarego.
Course km
Section
What to expect
0–6
La Villa to Corvara
A gentle start in a huge field. Stay calm and warm up.
6–55
The Sella Ronda
Four passes in a loop around the Sella group: Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella and Gardena. Crowded early on, so ride your own pace.
55
Corvara
Sellaronda riders finish here. To continue on the Medio or Maratona you must pass by 11:30 am.
55–76
Campolongo and Arabba
The second ascent of Campolongo, then a long descent past Arabba towards Cernadoi.
76
Cernadoi
The split: Maratona riders turn for the Giau if they pass by 11:50 am; the Medio heads straight for Falzarego.
86–96
Passo Giau
9.9 km at 9.3% with no real let-up. The hardest climb of the day by far.
96–118
Pocol, Falzarego and Valparola
Descend to Pocol, then a steadier 11.5 km climb back above 2,000 m.
118–132
Down to San Cassiano
A fast descent back into Alta Badia. Eat and drink before the last effort.
132–138
Mür dl Giat to Corvara
370 m at up to 19%, lined with fans, then 6 km to the finish.
Course km are approximate. Cut-off times from recent editions; check the 2027 race guide.
How long will the big climbs take you?
On a long mountain day, most riders climb at about 70–80% of their FTP, and altitude takes a little more off. If your FTP is 3.3 W/kg, plan on roughly 2.5 W/kg on the climbs. Find your row below to see what the four biggest climbs will take.
Power on the climbs
Pordoi
Sella
Giau
Falzarego–Valparola
2.0 W/kg (150 W)
1 h 04 min
43 min
1 h 31 min
1 h 09 min
2.5 W/kg (188 W)
52 min
35 min
1 h 13 min
56 min
3.0 W/kg (225 W)
44 min
29 min
1 h 01 min
47 min
3.5 W/kg (263 W)
38 min
25 min
53 min
41 min
4.0 W/kg (300 W)
33 min
22 min
46 min
37 min
Our estimates for a 75 kg rider on a 9 kg bike, holding steady power with no stops, adjusted for thinner air above 2,000 m.
These are climbing times only. Add the descents, the valley roads and your stops, then use the finish-time calculator below to see how your day adds up against the cut-offs.
Maratona dles Dolomites finish-time calculator
Pick your route, enter your average moving speed and how long you expect to stop. The calculator shows your finish time and how much time you have at each cut-off. In the mountains your average speed will be far lower than on flat rides, so use the average from your longest mountain rides.
How long will the Maratona take you?
Moving time
–
Total time
–
Finish at
–
Cut-off point
You arrive
Cut-off
Status
Based on recent editions: 6:30 am start, Corvara by 11:30 am to continue beyond the Sellaronda, Cernadoi by 11:50 am for the Giau, finish by 1 pm (Sellaronda) or 4:45 pm. Riders start in grids, so later grids have less time in hand. Assumes an even average speed, so you will be slower than shown on the climbs and faster on the descents.
16-week Maratona dles Dolomites training plan
Start by Sunday 14 March 2027 and you have 16 weeks. The Maratona is less about distance than about climbing for up to an hour at a time, again and again, so long climbs and repeated efforts matter more than big kilometres.
Weeks 1–6: Aerobic base
Mostly zone 2, building weekly volume by about 10% with an easier week every third or fourth week. One session of tempo or sweet spot climbing each week. The long ride grows to 4 hours with as much climbing as you can find.
Weeks 7–12: Build and climbing durability
Long rides of 5–6 hours with 2,500–3,500 m of climbing. Add repeated 20–40 minute climbs at tempo, plus one session of 8–12 minute efforts at threshold to prepare for the Giau. Fuel every long ride at race rates.
Weeks 13–14: Race-specific
Your biggest weekends, ideally in the mountains. Ride several long climbs back to back at your target power and finish with the hardest one, because the Giau comes late in the day.
Weeks 15–16: Taper
Cut volume by 40–50% but keep a few short efforts at race intensity. If you can, arrive in Alta Badia a few days early to get used to the altitude and ride a pass or two easily.
Four weeks out, on Sunday 6 June 2027, do your last big rehearsal: 5 to 6 hours with at least 3,500 m of climbing, using the food, bottles and kit you will race with.
Why riders hire a coach for the Maratona
The plan above shows the shape of a good build. The hard part is making it work around work and family, peaking for one day in July, and arriving in Alta Badia ready to climb for most of the day. We prepare riders for big European gran fondos every season, and this is where a coach makes the difference:
A plan that fits your life. Your coach adjusts every week around work, travel and how you are recovering, so missed sessions do not snowball.
Built on your data. We analyse your rides in WKO5 to see how your power holds up on the third, fourth and fifth long climb of the day, then train exactly that. It is what gets you up the Giau.
A pacing plan for every pass. Target power for the Sella Ronda, the Giau and Falzarego, adjusted for altitude, so you make the Corvara and Cernadoi cut-offs and still have something left.
Fuelling practised in training. Your coach builds gut training into your long rides so you can eat enough on the climbs.
Coaches who have raced at the top. Our coaches have raced at World Tour level and know how to ride a day of big mountain passes.
Accountability. Regular check-ins keep you consistent through a long build.
Riding the Maratona in 2027? Tell us your route and goal and we will build your plan. Start with online coaching, get a one-off tailored Maratona training plan, or book a consultation to review your training and ride plan with one of our coaches.
Fuelling for the Maratona
With most of the day spent climbing, it is easy to fall behind on food. Aim for 60–90 g of carbohydrate an hour from the start, and train your gut to handle it on your long rides.
Start eating on the first climb, Campolongo, while the pace is still easy.
There are feed stations at the main passes, but carry your own gels or bars so you are not relying on what is on offer.
Eat well before Cernadoi. The Giau starts soon after, and it is hard to eat on a 9% slope.
Drink to thirst and add electrolytes. It can be hot in the valleys and cold at the top of the passes.
Bike, gearing and kit
A road bike with a compact chainset (50/34) and an 11-32 or 11-34 cassette suits most riders. The Giau averages over 9% and the Mür dl Giat reaches 19%, so a bottom gear of 1:1 or lower is worth having. Private support vehicles are not allowed.
A gilet and arm warmers for the early start and the long descents, and a rain jacket if storms are forecast.
Brake pads in good condition: the descents are long and steep.
Two bottles and enough food to get between feed stations.
A spare tube, tyre levers, a multi-tool and CO2 or a mini pump.
How to enter the Maratona dles Dolomites
The draw. Pre-entry for 2027 ran from 14 October to 10 November 2026, with the draw in the second half of November. Places are split equally between Italian and international riders, with some reserved for women's groups.
Charity places. Released on maratona.it on 25 November 2026 and 18 March 2027, at a higher price.
Tour-operator packages. At least four nights' accommodation with a guaranteed start, from Holimites and the other operators listed on maratona.it.
If you are drawn, pay to confirm your place (the deadline was 4 December last year), then complete your registration in spring.
Fee. €180 in 2026: €160 entry, a €10 chip deposit and a €10 one-day licence. It is not refunded or carried over if you cannot start.
Age. Riders must be 18 or over; 18-year-olds can only ride the Sellaronda and Medio.
Sunday 4 July 2027, the 40th edition. The ride starts at 6:30 am in La Villa and finishes in Corvara, in Alta Badia in the Italian Dolomites.
How do I get an entry for the Maratona?
There are three ways in: the draw (pre-entry for 2027 ran from 14 October to 10 November 2026, with the draw in late November), charity places released on 25 November 2026 and 18 March 2027, or a tour-operator package with accommodation and a guaranteed start.
What are the Maratona dles Dolomites cut-off times?
In recent editions you had to reach Corvara by 11:30 am to continue beyond the Sellaronda, and Cernadoi by 11:50 am to ride the Passo Giau. The Sellaronda finish closes at 1 pm and the Medio and Maratona finish at 4:45 pm. Check the 2027 race guide for final times.
Which route should I ride: Sellaronda, Medio or Maratona?
You do not have to decide in advance: you can change route during the ride, as long as you make the cut-offs. If you can climb for an hour at a steady pace and have ridden 4,000 m days before, aim for the Maratona. Otherwise the Medio still gives you seven passes and a huge day out.
How hard is the Passo Giau?
Very. It is 9.9 km at an average of 9.3%, climbing 922 m to 2,236 m, with almost no easier sections. Most riders take 50 minutes to an hour and a half. Ride the first five passes conservatively so you have something left for it.
What gearing do I need for the Maratona dles Dolomites?
A compact chainset (50/34) with an 11-32 or 11-34 cassette suits most riders. The Giau averages over 9% and the Mür dl Giat reaches 19%, so a 1:1 bottom gear or lower is worth having.
Riding the Maratona in 2027? Get a plan built around the passes, the cut-offs and your week.
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