Maratona dles Dolomites 2027: Cycling marathon celebrates its 40th edition

The Maratona dles Dolomites is gearing up for a major anniversary. What began in 1987 as a group cycle ride amongst friends has developed into an international event in the South Tyrolean Dolomites. Since 2000, each event has had its own theme. The 40th edition is entitled ‘Müjiga’ and aims to focus on music as an expression of joy and personal rhythm whilst cycling.

Logo for the 40th Maratona dles Dolomites

Manuel Bottazzo designed the logo for the anniversary edition. The design features a pulsating wave, symbolising music and emotion. This striking symbol represents the energy of the event and is intended to accompany participants throughout the day. The wave captures the interplay of highs and lows that is characteristic of both music and mountain cycling.

Registration for the Maratona dles Dolomites

There are 8,000 starting places available for 2027, but only 4,000 of these will be entered into the prize draw. Half of these will go to participants from Italy, and the other half to international riders. This means there are just under 2,000 starting places in the prize draw for international participants. A special allocation of these places will be awarded to women’s groups in order to achieve a higher proportion of female participants. 4,000 starting places will be allocated by the organisers (charity places, invited participants) or offered by tour operators.

There are three ways to secure a place at the start line: Pre-registration with a prize draw runs from 14 October to 10 November 2026 via maratona.it. The prize draw will take place in the second half of November 2026. From 12 October 2026, the official tour operator Holimites will be offering packages including at least four nights’ accommodation and a guaranteed starting place via holimites.com. Other international tour operators are listed on the website www.maratona.it/de/tour-operator-de. Charity starting places are available on two dates: 25 November 2026 and 18 March 2027. These places are offered exclusively online via maratona.it and combine participation with support for a good cause.

Routes of the Maratona dles Dolomites

The routes have remained unchanged in recent years – only the Mür dl Giat (Ladin for ‘Cat’s Wall’) in the centre of La Villa was added in 2014. There are three distances to choose from. The Maratona route is 138 kilometres long and covers 4,230 metres of elevation gain. The medium route covers 106 kilometres and 3,130 metres of elevation gain. The Sellaronda offers a 55-kilometre route with 1,780 metres of elevation gain. All routes take riders over the Dolomite passes of Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella and Gardena. The long route also includes the Giau, Falzarego and Valparola passes. On the day of the event, the passes will remain closed to motorised traffic. To mark the anniversary, music and surprises along the routes will help to create a festive atmosphere.

International presence

On 9 November 2026, the Maratona will be presented in Copenhagen. The event will take place as part of ‘Italian Sport in the World Day’, an initiative organised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The presentation will take place at the Italian Ambassador’s residence and will focus on Italian and Danish cycling culture. This will be followed by Rouleur Live in London from 12 to 14 November 2026. The Maratona will have a stand there alongside the Alta Badia tourist destination. The event will serve as a meeting place for cycling enthusiasts, the media and international partners.

More days of cycling in Alta Badia

Anyone who does not secure a starting place can take part in three further cycling days. The Sellaronda Bike Day will take place on 5 June 2027 and 11 September 2027. This will be followed by the Dolomites Bike Day on 19 June 2027. Neither event is competitive; they are open to all cyclists and do not require registration. On the Sellaronda Bike Day, the Gardena, Sella, Pordoi and Campolongo passes will be closed to motorised traffic. On the Dolomites Bike Day, the Campolongo, Falzarego and Valparola passes will be car-free.

Maratona dles Dolomites 2026

Marathon with a quota for women