Alta Badia: Cycling Without Limits

TEXT: NANE STEINHOFF, ALTA BADIA

Alta Badia offers cycling tours that leave their mark on the hearts of all cyclists and convey unique, authentic emotions. Located in the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, the destination is the ideal starting point for unforgettable cycling tours over the Dolomite passes that have made history in this sport. Cycling events such as the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel, the Sellaronda Bike Day and the Dolomites Bike Day round off the offering.

The unique combination of the natural beauty of the Dolomites and the passion for cycling makes Alta Badia the ideal place for cyclists. Whether by racing bike, mountain bike or e-bike, the holiday destination offers a large selection of routes for all cycling enthusiasts. The bicycle is the ideal means of transport to explore a place that has a lot to offer in terms of landscape, culture, cuisine and sustainability. Alta Badia was awarded the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) certificate in 2022.

Maratona dles Dolomites Photo: Alta Badia – Alex Moling

In recent years, Alta Badia has become a reference point for the most demanding cyclists. The strategic location, the possibility of organizing cycle tours of all types and levels of difficulty and the dream of riding routes that have made cycling history make Alta Badia both a destination and a starting point. From here you can reach the famous Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Fedaia, Valparola, Falzarego and Giau passes. A dream for every cyclist.

Photo: Alta Badia – Alex Moling

Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel

The 37th edition of the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel, which takes place on Sunday July 7th, received 31,500 registrations from 86 countries. The event attracts cyclists from all over the world every year and can be described as the queen of cycling events in Europe. The theme that accompanies and characterizes this issue is mutation, metamorphosis: everything is constantly changing, everything is flowing. The cycling marathon logo is also constantly evolving. This task was once again entrusted to Manuel Bottazzo, who describes the Mutatio 2024 logo as follows: “We started from an artistic research and based ourselves on literature and art. From this research we primarily derived the colour violet, the colour of metamorphosis, transformation and the union of opposites. Thanks to this colour we developed the first concept we wanted to express, namely a label that is intangible, ethereal, incomplete…changeable. The result is an open form that knows no boundaries, almost at the limit of legibility, because it lives and changes. Visibly incomplete as the mutation continues endlessly.”

The main attraction of the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel are, as always, the Dolomite passes: Campolongo, Sella, Pordoi, Gardena, Giau, Falzarego and Valparola. The three routes closed to traffic remain unchanged: the actual Maratona route is 138 km long and overcomes 4230 meters of altitude, the middle route is 106 km long and overcomes 3130 meters of altitude and the Sella circuit is 55 km long and overcomes 1780 meters of altitude.

For those who are not among the lucky participants, there will be the opportunity to purchase an additional 200 starting places online on March 20, 2024, with the proceeds going to charity.

Photo: Alta Badia – Alex Moling

Sellaronda Bike Day and Dolomites Bike Day

For those unable to take part in the coveted Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel, the month of June is full of events that have now become part of the cycling calendar. It starts on Saturday June 8th with the Sellaronda Bike Day, which is repeated in September, and continues on Saturday June 22nd with the Dolomites Bike Day. The decision to open the Dolomite passes only to cyclists for a few days a year shows how much sustainability is important to Alta Badia. These are non-competitive cycling events that are open to everyone without registration. The routes follow the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel and other legendary routes.

The traditional Sellaronda Bike Day takes place on June 8th, during which the passes around the Sella group are closed to traffic. The event will be repeated again in September. From 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., keen cyclists can take part in the non-competitive event, which runs counterclockwise, is 53 km long and has an elevation gain of 1,637 m. The event’s official merchandise, available in stores in the hosting valleys, was designed by designer Manuel Bottazzo and produced by Sportful.

Sellaronda BIke Day Photo: Alta Badia – Freddy Planinschek

The protagonists of the Dolomites Bike Day on June 22nd are the Dolomite passes Campolongo, Falzarego and Valparola, scenes of epic heroic deeds that have written cycling history. The route runs along the ring that starts in Alta Badia and leads over the Passo Campolongo to Arabba and the Livinallongo Valley. We continue to the Falzarego Pass and then to the Valparola Pass before reaching the villages of La Villa and Corvara to complete the route. The route, which is closed to traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., is 51 km long and has a total elevation gain of 1,370 m. The route must be travelled in an anti-clockwise direction.

Bike guided tours

In the summer of 2024, Alta Badia will again be offering the Bike Guided Tours with five weekly dates in June and July. The program includes a full calendar of guided tours to discover the most fascinating routes in the Dolomites: from Monday to Friday, an excursion to the most iconic places and passes of the Dolomites is offered every day, together with experienced local guides. These include the classic Sellaronda Tour, the Passo Fedaia, the Passo Giau or the Würzjoch. The excursions cost €40.00 and can be booked at the Alta Badia tourist offices or online.

Bike beats trails. Photo: Alta Badia – Alex Moling

E-bike sharing 2,000 metres above sea level

Easily cycle from one viewpoint to the next at 2,000 meters and easily reach the three parks of the Movimënt area – e-bike sharing makes it possible! With electrically powered mountain bikes, even mountain routes can be tackled with little effort. This means that even those who are less athletic can take part in this sport in the great outdoors and enjoy the wonderful views of the Dolomites. The rental stations are located at the mountain stations at Piz Sorega, Piz La Villa and Col Alto. But numerous sports shops in the region also offer e-bike rentals. To ensure that no one has to switch to a car, the transport of e-bikes on the mountain railways is free.