Ballot entries for the 2020 edition of the Maratona dles Dolomites open today. The Maratona will see 9000 cyclists from across Europe and beyond arrive in Alta Badia for the 34th edition of one of Europe's most popular sportives, which takes place on 5th July 2020.
Entry to the Maratona is priced €121 for 2020, with 4400 places up for grabs in the lottery. The remaining 4000 entries are allocated to tour operators and charity partners. The draw, which traditionally includes half Italian cyclists and half from other countries, will take place in the second half of November.
The Maratona continues to grow in popularity, thanks in large part to the stunning scenery of the Dolomite mountains in which it is set - and the unique challenge posed by those same mountains.
As always the event will start in La Villa, Alta Badia and finish in Corvara, with the event village open from 5:30am. Start grids will close at 6:15am, with the first wave of riders setting off at 6:30am.
A Maratona Village is set up around the event with a fan zone, pasta and music, big screens, a shuttle service to nearby towns and of course concession stands from leading cycling brands including Pinarello, Campagnolo, Mavic and Selle Italia.
Choose your distance
The three routes for 2020 remain unchanged: the Maratona (138km and 4230m elevation difference), the middle-distance Medio (106km and 3130m elevation difference), and the shortest option, the Sellaronda (55km and 1780m elevation difference).
Riders are free to select the route best suited to their ability, and you can change your mind on the day - for example, if your legs aren't feeling up to the full 138km you can drop down to either of the two shorter courses en route. Riders aged over 64 are restricted to riding the Medio and Sellaronda courses.
Whichever route you choose, you'll be treated to some stunning mountain views. The full Maratona takes in seven major climbs:
- Passo Campolongo (length: 5.8km, average gradient: 6.1%)
- Passo Pordoi (length: 9.2km, average gradient: 6.9%)
- Passo Sella (length: 5.5km, average gradient: 7.9%)
- Passo Gardena (length: 5.8km, average gradient: 4.3%)
- Passo Giau (length: 9.9km, average gradient: 9.3%)
- Passo Valparola (length: 11.8km, average gradient: 6.7%)
- Mür dl giat (the cat wall) (length: 300m, average gradient: 13.1%)
Each year a theme is chosen for the Maratona, and for this edition it is 'art'. Sportive publisher Joe rode the 2015 edition of the Maratona, and certainly discovered the art of suffering - the ride was among the toughest challenges he has faced on a bike. You can read his report here.
How to enter
If you'd like to take part, the Maratona ballot will be open from 15th October to 5th November. Results will be announced from 2 December 2019. If you'd like to guarantee your place - or you miss out on the ballot - a small number of charity entries will go on sale in two batches on 25 November 2019 and 25 March 2020.
Ballot entries are open now at www.maratona.it.
Check out the following Maratona related content on Sportive.com:
- Oli Beckinsale's 2019 Maratona ride report
- Paul Hunt's 2018 Maratona ride report (Sellaronda route)
- Jim Cotton's 2017 Maratona ride report
- Joe Saumarez Smith's 2015 Maratona ride report
- Sportive.com's Maratona dles Dolomites information page
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