After years of listening to how good this journey is, I lastly acquired the prospect to cycle the Maratona dles Dolomiti in Corvara, Italy. It’s a climbers’ gran fondo, with 7 large climbs and 4000+ meters of elevation for the 138 lengthy route. I opted for the 106km medio route – with 6 climbs and 3000+ m of elevation, and recorded my day from begin to end. When you’ve ever questioned what it’s wish to journey, this video gives you an thought.

Click on Play to observe my video file of the day, together with my PEZ Instagram Stay posts from all through the journey.

Technically, it’s a gran fondo, however everybody on the pre-ride press convention referred to as it a “race”.  This made sense as a result of we’re in any case, in Italy, the place the gran fondo was born, and up till a number of years in the past they had been really “raced” by a hardcore peloton of riders starting from wannabe’s to ex-pros, and oh yeah – there was loads of “kitting up” happening (… savvy?).

At present the vibe has chilled out  – a bit – (there’s nonetheless loads of rider who present up totally educated and really race one another), and with 8,000 riders chosen from some 24,000 who apply for an entry spot, this is without doubt one of the hottest rides anyplace.

However with over 4000 meters of climbing over 138km for the lengthy route, this one is just not for the softies.  Riders listed here are critical since you want loads of miles within the legs to get by.  Individuals come from all around the world to do it, and it’s one helluva day – the beginning gun fires at 6:30am sharp, and it’s broadcast stay on the Italian RAI television channel.  The roads are totally closed till 4:00ish, and with all that climbing comes some wonderful descending.  Man that’s enjoyable!

My journey for the occasion was this lovely Dogma, geared up with Princeton Wheelworks carbon disc wheels, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 – a really good journey, courtesy of the of us at Pinarello.

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