The 49th edition of the Giro delle Dolomiti will take place from 13 to 17 July 2026 - one week earlier than in previous years. The cycling tour offers five new stages starting and finishing in Bolzano. Highlights include the Sellaronda as well as tours to the Niger and Karer Passes, the Ritten, the Pala Group and the Salten. Registration is already open.
The Giro delle Dolomiti is one of the traditional events in the cycling calendar and will enter its 49th edition in 2026. The multi-day event organised by the ASD Giro delle Dolomiti association will take place from 13 to 17 July 2026, one week earlier than in previous years. The event, which has been organised since the 1970s, will retain its tried-and-tested concept: There is a timed mountain time trial on each stage, while the majority of the route is completed at a leisurely pace. This allows participants to enjoy the impressive scenery of the Dolomites. The logistical centre of the event remains the Bolzano Exhibition Centre, from where most of the stages start and finish.
The Giro delle Dolomiti is one of the traditional events in the cycling calendar and will enter its 49th edition in 2026. The multi-day event organised by the ASD Giro delle Dolomiti association will take place from 13 to 17 July 2026, one week earlier than in previous years. The event, which has been organised since the 1970s, will retain its tried-and-tested concept: There is a timed mountain time trial on each stage, while the majority of the route is completed at a leisurely pace. This allows participants to enjoy the impressive scenery of the Dolomites. The logistical centre of the event remains the Bolzano Exhibition Centre, from where most of the stages start and finish.
Giro delle Dolomiti with new stages
The first stage takes participants from Bolzano via Blumau and Tiers to the Niger and Carezza Passes. The 78.3 kilometre route with an altitude difference of 1646 metres runs under the Catinaccio and Latemar mountains, past Lake Carezza. The timed section is between St. Zyprian and the Niger Pass. The second stage is an absolute classic: the Sellaronda. At 107 kilometres and 3102 metres in altitude, it is the longest and most demanding stage of the tour. The start and finish are in Waidbruck, the route leads anti-clockwise around the Sella massif over four passes: Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi, Passo Campolongo and Passo Gardena. The mountain time trial is held between Colfosco and the Gardena Pass.
Giro delle Dolomiti short stage
The third stage on Wednesday is the shortest of the Giro delle Dolomiti 2026 at 20.5 kilometres and 948 metres in altitude and leads from Bolzano up the Ritten to Klobenstein. The mountain time trial takes place on the section between Rentsch and Weber im Moos. After this stage, the participants can decide whether they want to return to Bolzano or continue their tour individually. On Thursday, the Giro delle Dolomiti leaves South Tyrol and heads into the neighbouring provinces of Trentino and Belluno. The fourth stage starts in Predazzo in the Fiemme Valley and leads through the Pala Group, the largest mountain massif in the Dolomites. On the 85.5 kilometre route with an altitude difference of 2481 metres, the riders cross the Passo Rolle, the Passo Valles and the Passo San Pellegrino. The timed section is between Bellamonte and Passo Valles.
Closing on the Salten
The fifth and final stage leads to the Salten, the high plateau of Jenesien. Unlike in previous years, this time the ascent is tackled from the other side. After the start in Bolzano, the route leads to Terlano and from there via Meltina to the plateau with its characteristic meadows and larch forests. The mountain time trial is held between Terlan and Verschneid. The stage is 51.3 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 1336 metres. After the finish, the big closing ceremony with award ceremony takes place at the Bolzano Exhibition Centre.
Registration for the Giro delle Dolomiti 2026 is already open. Those who register by 31 December 2025 will pay 550 euros for all five stages. After that, the entry fee will gradually increase. Individual stages can be booked for 130 euros each. The start package includes accident insurance, catering on the route, one lunch per stage, breakdown service, medical care, escort service and a massage service at the Bolzano exhibition centre. Further information and registration are available on the official website www.girodolomiti.com.
Conclusion
The Giro delle Dolomiti 2026 comprises five stages with different challenge profiles. The first stage to the Niger and Karer Pass stretches over 78.3 kilometres with an altitude difference of 1646 metres. The Sellaronda, the second stage, is the longest and most demanding tour with 107 kilometres and 3102 metres of altitude. The Ritten stage on the third day is the shortest at 20.5 kilometres and 948 metres in altitude. The fourth stage through the Pala Group measures 85.5 kilometres with 2481 metres of altitude, while the final stage on the Salten comprises 51.3 kilometres and 1336 metres of altitude. In total, the participants will cover 342.6 kilometres and 9513 metres in altitude over the five days.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
