37th Edition Of Maratona Dles Dolomites - Enel, Is Just Around The Corner.

“We should not be afraid of change, and see it as a threat only when humanity exploits such metamorphoses to continue dominating others. Today's wars and climate change are creating mutations that still do not make us think the way we should. Faced with such mutations, we should change our minds, as great poets know how to do”. Michil Costa, OC President of the Maratona.

The mountaineer Hervé Barmasse and the Maratona dles Dolomites - Enel are presenting the Supermaratona, a new project that combines sporting passion with an evocative journey that is nothing less than an invitation to immerse oneself in the history and culture of the Dolomites through cycling. In the days leading up to the Maratona, Hervé Barmasse, will be the first to tackle all the climbs of the 37 editions of the Maratona, in a 285-kilometre route that will climb 8400 metres of altitude difference and cross 13 Dolomite passes that are an integral and magnificent part of the history of cycling: an unprecedented challenge.

Subsequently, anyone can take on this challenge, designed primarily as a challenge against oneself. Elevation profiles and detailed routes will be available at the link maratona.it/supermaratona. With the Supermaratona, the organizers of the world's most renowned granfondo aim to celebrate the history of cycling and its constant evolution, highlighting the continual transformation of human life.

Charity

A fundamental pillar of the Maratona is solidarity. For the 2024 edition, 400 charity-registrations were sold, the proceeds of which (over 73,000 euros) were donated to three associations. The Association of Groups of Belluno "Insieme si può Onlus/ONG" is committed to a quality education project in Uganda, while the Association "C'è Da Fare ETS", founded by Paolo Kessisoglu, is dedicated to providing psychological and psychiatric support to young adolescents in difficulty. The Widmanns association contributes to the training of African surgeons and intensive medical care at the Nhkhoma Hospital in Malawi.

Obiettivo 3 and live TV boradcast

Obiettivo3 is a project created in 2017 by Alex Zanardi with the aim of recruiting, initiating and supporting people with disabilities in sporting activities. In the first seven years of its activity, it has recruited more than 150 athletes thanks to capillary work throughout the country. On joining the community, each of them found in the coaches and companions fundamental points of reference to

cultivate this passion. The majority of Obiettivo3 athletes have participated in numerous national and international competitions, achieving remarkable results and even qualifying for the Paralympic Games. And in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Obiettivo3 cycling team will be present at the Maratona dles Dolomites - Enel 2024. One of the Obiettivo3 athletes will be followed during the live coverage of the Maratona dles Dolomites - Enel, which will be broadcast on the Italian national channel Rai2 on 7 July from 6.15 a.m. to 12 noon.

The RCS project has also been confirmed, with the Gazzetta dello Sport at the forefront of the event's promotion. The newspaper will organize talk shows in the Maratona Village with leading figures from the world of sport, who will talk about technology, nutrition and change.

New partnerships
The Maratona dles Dolomites - Enel has welcomed two new members to its family of partners. Birra Dolomiti, which brews its beer with crystal-clear mountain water, 100% Italian cereals, barley malt from the Dolomites and a selection of the best European hops, will bring its authenticity and tradition to the event.

The second new partner is Musixmatch, the world's largest data music company. The Bologna-based Italian company combines music, data and artificial intelligence to enhance the music experience, further enriching the experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Cyclists' opinions

After last year's Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel, a satisfaction survey was conducted among the participants, of which we summarize the most significant data. The Maratona is liked, this is a fact. On a scale of values from 1 to 5, safety and the courses are rated 4.5 and 4.89, respectively, while the difficulty of the routes is rated 4.1.

In deciding to participate in a sporting event, it is therefore very important that the organization ensures maximum safety on the route during the race and that the event takes place in a beautiful, suggestive, fascinating environment. The fact that the Maratona takes place in Alta Badia is decisive (4.39), and cyclist-tourists are very satisfied with the destination (4.56). The intention to participate again is very high: 87% of people stated they want to participate in future editions, while only 0.34% do not intend to register for future editions. The companions of the racers are mainly the partner (31%), friends (24%), and family (21%). Regarding knowledge of Alta Badia, 64% of respondents said they already knew it, and 36% had never been there. But 99% said they would gladly return to Alta Badia.

Finally, good old word of mouth is the most effective 'marketing' channel, accounting for 56%, while the website reaches 14%, and social media 8%. From this information, reduced for convenience to bare numbers that are very important for us to understand where and how to improve in the future, we increasingly realize that an event like the Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel has entered the imagination and desires of those who not only cycle but interpret cycling as an important moment in their lives.

Maratona dish

Thanks to the collaboration between Andrea Irsara, the local chef at the Gourmet Hotel Gran Ander in Badia, and Elena Casiraghi, a specialist in sports nutrition and integration, a dish has been created thatexalts territoriality, using carefully selected ingredients to avoid waste and respond effectively to the needs of athletes. The nutritional choices have been studied to meet the specific needs of cyclists and sportsmen, guaranteeing a balanced and functional intake. And here is the dish in a nutshell: Homemade fusilli with ancient grains, beurre blanc with fermented apple essence, trout tartare and Granny Smith Marlene®.

Some numbers
Despite the passing years, and speaking of mutations, the allure of the Maratona seems never to change. This year, requests for participation were nearly four times higher than the available bibs. The total number of requests is 31.500, while the number of participants is set at 8.000. As always, 50% of the participants are Italian, and 50% are international, representing 86 nationalities, while 1.500 will be volunteers.

Courses and closed passes

As always, there are three routes that characterize the Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel, winding through the epic passes of the Dolomites, strictly closed to traffic. Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Giau, Falzarego, Valparola: anyone can test themselves and ride in scenarios of incomparable beauty. And discover once again that nature, including the magnificent flowers that color the meadows and fields around the rocky massifs at the beginning of summer, is what we must safeguard. Today more than ever.

• The Maratona course: 138 km and 4230 m of altitude difference
• The Medium course: 106 km and 3130 m of altitude difference
• The Sellaronda course: 55 km and 1780 m of altitude difference

More information:

• SSD Comitato Maratona dles Dolomites – www.maratona.it – Phone: +39 (0)471 839536 – Email: info@maratona.it<mailto:info@maratona.it>
• Alta Badia Tourist Offices – www.altabadia.org – Phone: +39 0471/836176-847037 – Email: info@altabadia.org