Maratona dles Dolomites 2026: Doro Wierer, Vincenzo Nibali, Daniel Oss and Fabio Aru to compete

More than 32,400 entries for the Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel were received from 85 countries. The organisers selected 8,000 runners from these entries to take part in the race in Alta Badia on 5 July 2026. The field of participants is divided equally between Italy and other countries. Women account for 13.5 per cent of the participants. For the 2026 edition, the Maratona has reserved 200 starting places for all-female groups.

The longest route passes through Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Grödner Joch, Giau, Falzarego and Valparola. All the mountain passes are closed to motorised traffic. The medium-distance route omits two passes, whilst the Sellaronda route focuses on the four main passes around the Sella Group. All three routes pass through the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

High-profile participants in the Maratona dles Dolomites

From the world of cycling, Vincenzo Nibali, Paolo Bettini, Gianni Bugno, Elia Viviani, Alessandro Petacchi, Filippo Pozzato, Daniel Oss, Fabio Aru, Daniele Bennati and Alan Marangoni will be taking part. Medal winners from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, such as Dorothea Wierer, Federico Pellegrino, Giovanni Franzoni, Pietro Sighel, Davide Ghiotto and Arianna Sighel, will also be competing.

Representing other sports are Fabrizio Ravanelli, Manfred Mölgg, Mattia Casse, Alessandro Fabian, Yuri Chechi, Miro Tabanelli and Hervé Barmasse. Representing the business world are Matteo Arcese of Arcese Trasporti, Fausto Pinarello and Ivan Glasenberg of Pinarello, Laura Colnaghi Calissoni of Carvico, Uberto Fornara of RCS, Massimo Beduschi of GroupM, Max Ciociola from Musixmatch, Francesco Carione from *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, Alberto Cremonese from Castelli, Angelo Gotti from KASK and Pierluigi Cocchini from Rinascente.

TV broadcast of the Maratona dles Dolomites

RAI 2 will broadcast the Maratona live for six hours, from 6.15 am to 12.00 pm. A team of 40 journalists and technicians is working under the direction of Alessandro Fabretti. Davide Cassani provides technical commentary, whilst Ettore Giovanelli conducts the finish-line interviews. The broadcast showcases Ladin culture, traditions and villages along the route.

Remembrance and Solidarity

The 2026 Maratona dles Dolomites pays tribute to Alex Zanardi, who took part in the event on several occasions and worked with his organisations, Bimbingamba and Obiettivo3. A group of athletes from Obiettivo3 will be taking part in 2026. The event also pays tribute to Nazareno Balani, the long-serving television director who covered the Giro d’Italia and the Maratona for decades.

Support programme for the Maratona dles Dolomites

The Maratona Village will be open in Abtei from 2 to 4 July. Forty-five exhibitors will be showcasing products and services for cyclists. The Sunrise Coffee Ride heads to the Grödner Joch at sunrise, with cappuccino and croissants on offer. Rides with local champions and the Pinarello Ride will also take place. The Maratona for Kids takes place on Saturday, whilst on Sunday there will be a dedicated children’s area in the finish area. On Friday at 5.00 pm, the After Ride DJ Set kicks off in Corvara – an aperitif with music organised in collaboration with Musixmatch.

Maratona dles Dolomites clothing

The official Castelli jersey features a white logo and a graphic design in fragmented colours. The fabric is made from ventilated Strada Micromesh stretch fabric. The raw-cut sleeves are designed to improve aerodynamics and comfort. An integrated pocket holds the race number. Castelli has extended its partnership with the Maratona for a further five years.

The Carvico vest is being released for the sixteenth year running. The organisers have chosen vitamin orange for 2026. The vest is made from Carvico’s Norway and Revolutional Eco fabrics, which are made from at least 70 per cent recycled nylon. Every participant will receive a ‘made to fit’ vest.

The finishers’ medals are crafted from maple wood by artisans from the Gadertal valley. Each medal is hand-carved and coloured with mineral pigments. The colours blend together to create different shades. No two medals are alike.

Digital Services and Security

The new Maratona app was developed in collaboration with Datasport. It provides real-time information on supporting events, the weather, safety and important announcements. Live tracking shows the athletes’ positions, whilst route maps, results and news round off the features.

Partner iLMeteo provides real-time weather forecasts before and during the race. Lorenzo Tedici, a meteorologist from iLMeteo.it, is on site in Alta Badia and provides updates on temperature, wind and precipitation. KASK is presenting the “BE SAFE. BE COOL.” project to promote cycling safety. Banners along the downhill sections draw attention to the initiative.

Cuisine and Culture

Head chef Manuel Mangutsch from Mumant restaurant developed the 2026 Maratona dish in collaboration with nutritionist Elena Casiraghi. The ravioli contain buckwheat, local ricotta, mountain honey, wild garlic and pine nuts. A cookery class on how to prepare the dish will take place during Maratona week.

Pupils from schools in Alta Badia have drawn their own interpretations of peace. The artwork will be exhibited at various locations in Alta Badia during Maratona week and can be viewed on the official website. The project combines the theme of ‘Pax’ with the creativity of the younger generation.