Alta Badia, In Summer The Land Of Cycling
What sets Alta Badia apart is its passion for cycling, and it provides the ideal setting for spectacular experiences on two wheels. The Alta Badia landscape is full of fascinating trails of all levels for on-road cyclists and mountain biking enthusiasts alike.
In the last few years, this location, which is in the heart of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has become a reference point for the most demanding cyclists, as it is located in a strategic starting point for all bike tours on the Dolomite passes and on the roads which have made the history of the Giro d'Italia. Starting from Alta Badia, you can reach iconic passes, such as the Pordoi, the Fedaia, the Giau, or even reach Tre Cime di Lavaredo by bicycle.
From May to July, a wide range of initiatives and activities are organised for people who are enthusiastic about long bike rides in the mountains.
BIKE GUIDED TOURS: GROUP EXCURSIONS SCHEDULED FROM MAY TO JULY
Once again this year, Alta Badia is offering guided bike tours in May, June and July. This time, with some news. This year, the weekly events will be taking place not three, but four times. The program features a rich calendar of guided tours to experience the most fascinating trails in groups. From Monday to Thursday, two excursions are offered daily at two different levels: the "tour" is for experts and "hobby" is for intermediate cyclists. These excursions allow you to reach the most iconic spots and passes of the Dolomites alongside expert local guides. Iconic destinations include the classic Sellaronda trail, the Fedaia Pass, the Giau Pass or Pederü at the foot of the Fanes-Senes-Braies Natural Park. Excursions cost € 32 and can be booked at the tourist offices in Alta Badia.
During the Cyclist’s Week, which takes place before the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel on 5th July, participants will be accompanied by an exceptional guide: that's Filippo Pozzato, former professional cyclist, winner of two legs of the Tour de France and the Milan-Sanremo in 2006.
THE DOLOMITES BIKE DAY AND THE SELLARONDA BIKE DAY: WHEN THE DOLOMITE PASSES TAKE CENTRE STAGE
For those who cannot take part in the highly popular Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel, in June there's the Dolomites Bike Day (Saturday 13th June) and the Sellaronda Bike Day (Saturday 27th June), two non-competitive cycling events accessible to everybody, no registration required. Two trails weave across the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel track and on other legendary trails, which are all closed to motorised traffic.
The stars of the Dolomites Bike Day are the Dolomite passes, Campolongo, Falzarego and Valparola, the backdrop of epic feats which have made cycling history. The trail is a loop which begins in Alta Badia, reaches Arabba from the Campolongo Pass and the valley of Livinallongo, then continues towards the Falzarego Pass, subsequently heading to the Valparola Pass, before reaching the towns of La Villa and Corvara to complete the itinerary. The trail, which is closed to traffic from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, is 51 km long and has a total difference in altitude of 1,290 metres; we recommend doing it anti-clockwise. Despite the roads being closed, we suggest obeying the traffic laws in order to enjoy the event while keeping safe. www.dolomitesbikeday.it
On 27th June, it's time for the now-traditional Sellaronda Bike Day. On this occasion, transit on the passes of the Sella Group is closed to vehicles. Cycling enthusiasts can take part in the 15th edition of the non-competitive event from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. www.sellarondabikeday.com
THE MARATONA DLES DOLOMITES-ENEL: SUNDAY 5TH JULY 2020
The Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel, the queen of Granfondos, was created in 1987. The event brings together 9,000 cyclists and has over 30,000 participation requests from all over the world. The 34th edition will take place on Sunday 5th July and the theme this year is "Ert", which means Art in Ladin. Art intended as beauty which goes beyond what is human, beyond ourselves. Today more than ever before we need to translate the thauma - which for ancient Greeks was marvel mixed with a sense of wonder and anguish when presented with great beauty - into an art piece which pertains to the preservation of our planet, which is struggling more than ever as it faces climate change.
The undisputed stars of the Maratona dles Dolomites - Enel are, as always, the Dolomite Passes: Campolongo, Sella, Pordoi, Gardena, Giau, Falzarego and Valparola. The three trails, which are closed to traffic, are the same as always: the real Marathon is 138 km long and has a 4230 metre difference in altitude; the medium-length trail is 106 km long and has a 3130 difference in altitude and the Sella Ronda trail, which is 55 km long, has a 1780 metre difference in altitude. If you weren't selected and you still want to take part, there's still a chance: you can purchase one of the 194 charity tickets online. These tickets are divided into Gold €300, Platinum €500 and Crystal €1,500 and can be purchased on the official website on 25th March. www.maratona.it<http://www.maratona.it>.
E-BIKE SHARING: E-BIKE EXCURSIONS AT 2,000 METRES
Thanks to E-Bike Sharing, you can pedal with ease from one place to the next, reaching the most scenic spots of the area and the three parks in the Movimënt Area. Furthermore, it's important to point out that the bicycles are electric, so it's less difficult to cycle thanks to assisted pedalling. Therefore, this outdoor activity is also suitable for those who are less sporty, but still wish to experience the Dolomites on two wheels. You can collect or return bicycles at the upper stations of Col Alto, Piz La Ila and Piz Sorega - they all have new e-models available for rent. You can even book state-of-the-art e-bikes from one of the sports shops and rental shops in the area.
ALTA BADIA IS ALL ROAD: EXPERIENCE THE NEW BIKE BEATS MOVIMËNT AND THE SELLARONDA ON YOUR MOUNTAINBIKE
Alta Badia is a wonderful destination even for mountain bike enthusiasts, with its wide dirt roads nestled in rich and diverse vegetation. For cyclists who enjoy endurance, free-riding and touring, there are many options along incredibly beautiful trails of varying degrees of difficulty.
For the most adventurous cyclists who are all about the adrenaline rush, there's the Bike Beats Movimënt, downhill trails dedicated to cyclists. These are Country Flow circuits, which means non-congested trails, with parabolic bends and jumps of varying difficulty. This year, we are further expanding our offer and the trails will be accessible to mountain bikes or e-bikes, not only at Piz Sorega and Pralongiá (with arrival in Corvara this year), but also the La Fraina area, where a new trail, scheduled to open for the first time this summer, is being built under the skilift. The blue/easy trail will be 2,000 m long and will have a 193 metre difference in altitude. Thanks to the opening of the La Fraina and Bamby chairlifts, it'll be possible to connect the Piz Sorega and Piz La Ila to the ski lifts. Bikes and prams can be loaded on the chairlifts. This aims to incentivise sustainable mobility through skilifts so people can easily access the towns of La Villa and San Cassiano with ease and without using cars.
Alta Badia is the ideal starting point to tackle the Sellaronda on your mountainbike. You can take your bike on the ski lift; it allows you to reach a high altitude without making much effort, and then tackle breathtaking descents and single trails dedicated to MTBs. The loop can be done clockwise and anti-clockwise; we advise tackling it with an expert mountain-bike guide.
BIKE FRIENDLY: A HOLIDAY TAILOR-MADE FOR CYCLISTS
In summer, the tourist offer for cyclists in Alta Badia www.altabadia.org/bike is called Bike Friendly and is for both on-road and mountain-biking cyclists. Tourist information bureaus provide road maps with recommended trails, while local guides provide the opportunity to organise individual or group excursions every day.
There are many agreements in place with accommodation facilities, bicycle rental shops, spare parts and technical clothing shops, restaurants and specialised mountain huts to meet the needs of everyone who enjoy practising this sport. The "Bike Expert" and "Bike Friendly" hotels provide everything cyclists need: a space where they can clean and mend their bikes, bicycle storage, a bike tool box, a laundry, a balanced breakfast, and cold dishes or cakes in the afternoon, for an energy boost. All ski lifts allow you to transport your bikes at no additional cost.
ALTA BADIA: CASTELLI AND CICLI PINARELLO TWO EXCEPTIONAL PARTNERS
Manufacturing company Valcismon S.p.A., which has sponsored the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel for the last 6 years, officially became a partner of the Alta Badia tourist resort in October 2019. This agreement between Alta Badia and the Castelli brand represents an incredible opportunity for both parties to develop future projects aimed at creating important added value. These two entities fully share the positive values that cycling stands for, and they focus on product quality and sustainability.
Furthermore, the partnership between Alta Badia and Cicli Pinarello is also growing stronger. Alta Badia stands for excellence in hospitality: it boasts over 300 three, four- and five-star hotels which, combined with Cicli Pinarello, which is synonymous with excellence on two wheels, guarantees a holiday of the highest quality.
