Sportful Dolomiti Race
A demanding Gran Fondo across some of the toughest climbs in the Dolomites. Designed for riders seeking altitude, challenge, and one of Europe’s most respected cycling events.
Billed as the hardest one-day Granfondo in Europe, entrants in the Sportful Dolomiti Race face over 200 grueling kilometres across five legendary passes to gain over 5000 metres of elevation. First run in 1995 as the Gran Fondo Campagnolo, the event now goes by the name of the Sportful Dolomiti Race and it's geared towards the more serious cyclist.
Starting and finishing in Feltre, both the medio and Gran Fondo courses have been significantly updated for 2024. Gone is the ferocious Passo Manghen, added are the Passo Duran and Passo Staulanza for the Granfondo. Both options still retain the legendary Croce d’ Aune as the final uphill. With its memorial to Tullio Campagnolo at the summit, this pass is holy ground to cyclists but by then all riders who have completed the full distance will be praying for the finish in Feltre’s Piazza Maggiore at the end of a truly epic day on two wheels.
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The Routes
Although this event is most famous for the longer Granfondo route, the Medio Fondo, with its 125 kilometres and 2600 metres of climbing, is no slouch either. After a brief flat section leaving Feltre, both routes tackle the first obstacle, the 990m Forcella Franche.
After a descent back down to Agordo, the two routes split, and the Medio circles back and heads up the Forcella Aurine. The Granfondo continues on up the vicious Passo Duran, with its 12 km at over 8% average. This is followed by the less grueling but no less scenic Passo Staulanza, before a long descent back to Agordo and the medio fondo for the Forcella Aurine and Passo Cereda before another huge descent to the base of the Croce d’Aune. If you have paced it right, by the time you reach the memorial to Tullio Campagnolo at the summit you should be on your last legs, and all that is left is to roll down to the finish.
Tours that Include this Event
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"This trip was perfectly organized for our group. Bob and Caterina are friendly, and were very responsive to all our questions and requests for information and provided us with route options for every day." ... "CyclingHero provided us with recommended favorites to explore the regional cuisine and see the local sites. I would recommend CyclingHero, and I will consider another trip with them."
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