Maratona dles Dolomites: this is what you need to know

Maratona dles Dolomites is perhaps the most popular Granfondo in Europe!

It's that time again at the beginning of July. Traditionally it is then time for the Maratona dles Dolomites. In Badia there will be 10,000 cyclists at the start of one of the best organized and one of the best organized Granfondos. On a completely car-free route!

1 Prepare well!

It seems obvious, but on our trips we regularly notice that people make mistakes when it comes to preparation. The Maratona dles Dolomites has 138 tough kilometers through the Dolomites with more than 4,000 meters of elevation gain. Whether you want to perform with a fast time as a result or 'just' finish the tour, you will have to be well prepared at the start to achieve your goal.

Also read: Cycling in the mountains: Stacking! Or not?

2 Train enough for the Marathon

Preparation for the Maratona starts with good training for the tough trip through the Dolomites. Training is not about cycling 40 km a few times a week. However, you don't have to get on your bike like a madman every day. Nowadays you can prepare yourself for a tour like the Maratona using the JOIN training app. You set your goal in the app and the available time to cycle and JOIN then creates a training schedule. Are you unable to train or are you ill? No problem. JOIN takes these types of variables into account and automatically adjusts the schedule. Do you really want to be well prepared? Then take an exercise test and use the test results to start working on a training schedule at least three months before the Maratona. Also make sure that the altitude meters in the Dolomites are not your first altitude meters. Go cycling in South Limburg, the Eifel or the Ardennes.

3 Test with the sports nutrition you are going to use

Sports nutrition is often underestimated when it comes to properly preparing for a Granfondo. We bring sports drinks from Power bar. All participants can fill their water bottles with our sports drink every day. In terms of sports nutrition, you can get a special one from us Granfondo nutritional package order from Kalkman Good Energy. This way you have exactly enough nutrition for every ride. It is not a good idea to only start cycling with our sports nutrition during your stay in the Dolomites. You don't know how your body reacts to new food.

Therefore, test the nutrition at home during your training rides. Kalkman has a nice one for that sample pack composed. In addition to testing the nutrition, we also advise you to train eating on the bike. Can you still eat well during high exertion or at the end of a tough ride? Or is it only possible to swallow gels at the end? Make sure you train it well in advance. Let your body get used to ingesting 90 gr. carbohydrates per hour. Your body will protest if you only start doing this in the Dolomites.

Also read: You go on a cycling trip and take…

4 What will the weather be like?

We are not weather forecasters. What we do know from experience is that the weather can change quickly in the mountains. Make sure you are prepared for that. Always bring clothing for different weather conditions. Arm and leg warmers, rain jacket, windbreaker/sleeveless body, overshoes and gloves, take it all with you in the suitcase. Of course, not all of this can be taken on the bike. That is why it is so useful that we have access to a support vehicle. Prepare a bag with extra cycling clothing if the weather turns and put it in the support vehicle. This way you will never be surprised by the weather.

5 How are you guided by CYCLOsportive?

At CYCLOsportive, three guides (tour guide, mechanic and masseur) always accompany you on your trip. The tour guide ensures a carefree stay in the Dolomites and can be contacted by the participants about anything and everything. The tour guide will discuss the program with the participants every day in a briefing and will also guide a group on bicycles. The tour guide always has a first aid kit with him. Safety is very important to us, so listen carefully to the instructions of the supervisor. We don't find it very interesting to descend at 100 km/h, for example. The mechanic is present to carry out minor repairs to the bicycle if necessary. The masseur ensures that all participants can be massaged at least once. The mechanic and masseur will also accompany a group on bicycles or will drive the support vehicle that takes part in the rides that we will make prior to the Maratona.

Also read: 10 tips if you go cycling in the mountains

6 What is the average level of the participants?

The participants who come with us come in all shapes and sizes and at all different levels. It is certainly not the case that you have to be half a professional to travel with CYCLOsportive. The participants include people who cycle the Mediofondo (106 km) and people who cycle the Granfondo (138 km). You will have to train for both distances (see point 2). The average level of the participants are cyclists who can cycle on average on a flat route between 27-32 km/h in the Netherlands. During the trip we will always divide the group into two smaller groups so that we can cycle with all participants at their own level. The supervisors ensure that you do not cycle too fast. Make sure you know what power/heart rate you can maintain for a long time without burning yourself out. The Maratona is a long and tough trip, you don't want to drive too much in the red. Practice this in your preparation.

7 Your bike in top condition

You train hard for the Maratona, so don't forget your bike! It must be in top condition just like you. We recommend taking your bike to a racing bike specialist for major maintenance. When descending the Passo Campolongo or Passo Pordoi, you want your brakes to function properly. Check whether your tires are still good. It is ideal to fit a new set of tires before the trip. Also have the switching system checked. There is nothing more annoying than a bicycle that does not shift properly.

Also read: Check your equipment prior to the trip

8 What resistance do I need?

Make sure you can continue to make at least sixty pedal revolutions per minute. Better yet: ride with flexibility. This way you continue to climb efficiently, you don't put too much strain on your knees and your muscles tire less quickly.

• With the resistance you should be able to make at least sixty revolutions per minute
• Select the crankset: a semi-compact (52/36) is a great choice for most
• Make sure you have a cassette with sufficient switching options, for example an 11/32 or 11/34

Also read: Want to learn to climb better? That's how you do that!

9 Is the route car-free?

Many Granfondo's organizations boast that the route is completely car-free. The Maratona organization is the only organization (as far as we know) that actually makes this happen. The roads will be closed to motorized traffic all day from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. As a participant you will not be bothered by cars overtaking you.

10 In which accommodation do we stay with CYCLOsportive?

The trip to the Maratona is one of the most popular trips in our offer. A total of 40 enthusiastic cyclists will join us on a trip to the Dolomites. At CYCLOsportive we love personal attention. That is why we divide the participants over two hotels. There will be twenty participants Hotel Melodia del Bosco accommodation and also twenty participants Hotel Des Alpes. Both hotels are well equipped to receive cyclists and are ideally located in relation to the start/finish. In both hotels a three-person tour guide (tour guide, sports masseur and mechanic) is at your disposal.

Also read: What mountains are you climbing during the Maratona?

Is your question not listed here? Let us know and send an email to gv@cyclosportive.nl