20th Maratona dles Dolomites ***modem burner***
07-05-06, 03:39 AM
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20th Maratona dles Dolomites ***modem burner***
Just back from my second ride of the Maratona dles Dolomites.
In case you don't know of the Maratona, it's a Gran Fondo, around Alta Badia, in Südtirol, in the North East of Italy. An amazingly beautiful place.
Over 8,000 riders from all over the world take part, and the Maratona is even broadcast live on Rai3.
You can choose from 3 distances: 55km; 106km; or 138km. All three go over the Passo Campalongo, Pordoi, Sella, and Gardena. The main challenge on the 138 KM ride is the Passo Giau, which is a leg breaker. An hour long suffer fest at +/-10km with an average grade of 9.3%.
We drove down on Friday, from outside of Nurenberg, where I was visiting a friend and his family. Once we crossed the Italian border we were within sniffing distance of our destination.
I could tell we were close when I started spotting cyclists on the road
After an hour of snaking up a mountain road (the same used by the peleton on the aborted-Kronneplatz stage in the Giro this year) we arrived.
We picked up our numbers and checked out the expo village.
Here's the 3 courses.
The Italian army helped with the traffic
Here's the Expo
For you Pinarello lovers, here's their stand
In case you don't know of the Maratona, it's a Gran Fondo, around Alta Badia, in Südtirol, in the North East of Italy. An amazingly beautiful place.
Over 8,000 riders from all over the world take part, and the Maratona is even broadcast live on Rai3.
You can choose from 3 distances: 55km; 106km; or 138km. All three go over the Passo Campalongo, Pordoi, Sella, and Gardena. The main challenge on the 138 KM ride is the Passo Giau, which is a leg breaker. An hour long suffer fest at +/-10km with an average grade of 9.3%.
We drove down on Friday, from outside of Nurenberg, where I was visiting a friend and his family. Once we crossed the Italian border we were within sniffing distance of our destination.
I could tell we were close when I started spotting cyclists on the road
After an hour of snaking up a mountain road (the same used by the peleton on the aborted-Kronneplatz stage in the Giro this year) we arrived.
We picked up our numbers and checked out the expo village.
Here's the 3 courses.
The Italian army helped with the traffic
Here's the Expo
For you Pinarello lovers, here's their stand
Last edited by botto; 07-05-06 at 04:02 AM.
07-05-06, 03:40 AM
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***part 2***
We checked into our hotel, and took the bikes out for a spin.
Here's a shot from the Campalongo, which is the first climb of the day.
Here's a shot of a stretch of road leading to the finish (two days before the ride)
Here's what I was riding
On Sunday, the fun began. Up at 4:45 to get dressed, have breakfast, and ride down to the start. You had to be there by 5:55. My group managed to get started around 6:30. Arm + Knee warmers as well as a vest were a good idea, it was around 6° C in the morning.
Once we got started it was rush hour for the first hour to hour and a half. Not a surprise considering over 8,000 cyclists were there.
Here's it starting to open up.
Here's a view looking down
So, after 6:28 over 9 climbs with a total of over 4,000 meters of elevation I was done. The winner's time (there were 30 'elite' riders competing) was around 4:20. Raimundas Rumsas was 2nd.
A beer and a sausage, and then we had to ride 7 kms back up hill to our hotel.
Thanks for reading/looking
We checked into our hotel, and took the bikes out for a spin.
Here's a shot from the Campalongo, which is the first climb of the day.
Here's a shot of a stretch of road leading to the finish (two days before the ride)
Here's what I was riding
On Sunday, the fun began. Up at 4:45 to get dressed, have breakfast, and ride down to the start. You had to be there by 5:55. My group managed to get started around 6:30. Arm + Knee warmers as well as a vest were a good idea, it was around 6° C in the morning.
Once we got started it was rush hour for the first hour to hour and a half. Not a surprise considering over 8,000 cyclists were there.
Here's it starting to open up.
Here's a view looking down
So, after 6:28 over 9 climbs with a total of over 4,000 meters of elevation I was done. The winner's time (there were 30 'elite' riders competing) was around 4:20. Raimundas Rumsas was 2nd.
A beer and a sausage, and then we had to ride 7 kms back up hill to our hotel.
Thanks for reading/looking
07-05-06, 06:10 AM
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And I think I am lucky riding here in Vermont...WOW!!
07-05-06, 06:28 AM
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Baby it's cold outside...
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Awesome looking ride and fantastic pictures Botto!
You are one hella lucky guy to beable to ride that
You are one hella lucky guy to beable to ride that
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07-05-06, 06:30 AM
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Great pictures! Thanks for sharing. 
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07-05-06, 07:29 AM
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AWESOME Photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the images!
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07-05-06, 08:12 AM
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I am starting to like the moutain background with the clear blue sky for bike pics over the white paneled garage door. I guess I could paint that image on my garage door for a similar effect.
Those pics are awesome!!!!. I only hope someday to do that kind of ride.
Kenal0
Those pics are awesome!!!!. I only hope someday to do that kind of ride.
Kenal0
07-05-06, 08:24 AM
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Great Pics. I lived near Nurnberg for 3 years, in a little town called Illesheim. Alas, I had not been born again at that time and didn't ride. I still kick myself for missing out.
07-05-06, 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by ViperZ
You are one hella lucky guy to beable to ride that
registration starts here in early october
07-05-06, 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Gomez308
Great Pics. I lived near Nurnberg for 3 years, in a little town called Illesheim. Alas, I had not been born again at that time and didn't ride. I still kick myself for missing out.
Some very good riding in the area, and the weather is great at this time of year.
07-05-06, 10:08 AM
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Its Freakin HammerTime!!!
Unreal photos and as for this....."So, after 6:28 over 9 climbs with a total of over 4,000 meters of elevation I was done"
LOL, I climbed 4 miles of 1700 feet yesterday and I was REALLY done.
Wow, I really suck.
Thanks for sharing, those mountains are stunning.
LOL, I climbed 4 miles of 1700 feet yesterday and I was REALLY done.
Wow, I really suck.
Thanks for sharing, those mountains are stunning.
07-05-06, 10:15 AM
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Tête de Limace
Beautiful... words cannot describe the amount of jealousy I'm feeling right now. Actually, that's not true, the word 'bitter' comes to mind
07-05-06, 10:28 AM
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oh great.... a hot, muggy monday morning at the office and i have to see a thread like this....
<tapping heels of shoes together three times>
i wish i was there, i wish i was there, i wish i was there....
<tapping heels of shoes together three times>
i wish i was there, i wish i was there, i wish i was there....
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07-05-06, 01:06 PM
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awesome pics, thanks for sharing
i really like the looks of that pinarello
i really like the looks of that pinarello
Last edited by Monument Man; 07-05-06 at 01:20 PM.
07-05-06, 02:43 PM
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funny. when i passed a friend on the pordoi, he said 'botto, you're not in kansas anymore'
Originally Posted by Ostuni
oh great.... a hot, muggy monday morning at the office and i have to see a thread like this....
<tapping heels of shoes together three times>
i wish i was there, i wish i was there, i wish i was there....
<tapping heels of shoes together three times>
i wish i was there, i wish i was there, i wish i was there....
07-05-06, 03:26 PM
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Further evidence my zipcode sucks. I'll be there next year--without a bike of any sort. Great pics.
07-05-06, 05:58 PM
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Wow.
07-06-06, 01:59 AM
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Originally Posted by CastIron
Further evidence my zipcode sucks. I'll be there next year--without a bike of any sort. Great pics.
07-06-06, 06:05 AM
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Originally Posted by botto
there's no rules saying that canadians can't do it! one of the guys on my 'team' is from edmonton
registration starts here in early october
registration starts here in early october
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07-06-06, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by ViperZ
Thanks for the link.... While you are right, it's just easier logistically for you to ride it
it's worth every penny
07-06-06, 01:28 PM
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Some years ago there was an article titled "Italy's Alpine Monsters" in Bicycle Guide. I read the story of the author touring the Dolomities over and over. Those mountains just have a certain facination about them.
