Maratona Dles Dolomites

The entry fee to the Maratona Dles Dolomites was a 50th birthday present to myself. Having never climbed a mountain pass on a road bike, I was convinced by 'friends' that the Maratona would be an ideal place to start. Training consisted largely of commuting and a few rides up and down Digswell and although reasonably fit, I was massively inexperienced when it came to climbing more than a kilometer uphill. On Friday 4th July I climbed my first mountain, Passo Gardena, on the way to coffee and strudel. On Sunday 6th, I took to the start line at 6am with 9000 other riders to tackle seven more - five of which were significantly over 2000m in altitude. 

Somewhat against expectation, I found the uphill not unpleasant, but entirely as expected I found the downhill aspects considerably less enjoyable, at least at first. Passo Campolongo was tackled in traffic, as was Passo Pordoi but the latter, with its significant elevation gain and series of hairpin bends, provided jaw dropping scenery. The following three climbs passed pleasantly enough and while I wasn't setting any KOMs, I wasn't embarrassing myself. The first 60km took in well over 2000m of elevation gain but the ride became altogether more serious after that point.

A staggering long valley road, which could hardly be described as flat, provided some respite before what was the main event, Passo Giau. This Giro staple is a crushing 10km climb with an average of 10% tackled through 30 odd hairpins. It was at this point that I started seriously regretting not having something more than a 30 tooth cog on my cassette. The support on the roadside was wonderful, and at the top I ate what was probably the greatest ham sandwich of my life, but any attempt to savour the moment was tempered by storm clouds gathering, and a desire to tackle the significant descent in conditions as dry as possible. Donning a rain cape just in case, I began the return to the valley, growing in confidence with each hairpin. The presence of a number of ambulances tending to stricken riders made me feel better about my initial caution.

On reaching the foot of the final climb, the Passo Valparola, things started to unravel. Although not overly fatigued and with plenty of fuel at my disposal, the constant seated climbing was taking its toll on legs not used to that kind of effort. The final climb was purgatory and I shipped significant time and places. With the weather closing in, the last significant descent, taken with numb hands and in increasingly heavy rain, was done with almost impetuous haste. I even managed some dare-devil overtaking. After 130km and over 4000 metres of climbing, a gently rising valley road for 5km should take me to the finish, however the small inconvenience of the Mur dl Giat - a frankly unnecessary (albeit short) 20% incline - was taken with a degree of anger. The final kilometres were completed in an almost blinding thunderstorm, and I arrived exhausted and drenched after around 7 1/2 hours in the saddle. 

It was, by some distance, the most beautiful bike ride I have done. Incredibly well organised and taking place in a carnival atmosphere; it was an experience like no other. My limitations as a cyclist were exposed rapidly and frequently but equally, as the ride went on I felt more and more at home in that landscape, and wouldn't write off doing it again for a better time. Just need a bit of a break now.... 

best wishes

Jamie