I should be so lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky!
The 2 ways to get in to this massively oversubscribed event is to pounce on a package tour on the day they are released, or go into the ballot with 35,000 others for the 4,000 places available. I entered the ballot and won a place. There are 3 routes, you choose which one to do on the day - a 50Km taking in 4 passes, a 106 Km taking in 6 passes and the full 138Km and 7 passes, including the feared Passo Giau. I had tried this event in 2017 but only got round the 50K loop as my tyre ripped, so I had unfinished business, feeling lucky?!
The registration is at the top of steep hill in a village just past La Villa where the race starts. After a wee bit of a queue, easy enough to do and the goody bag you get is the best of any. There is an official event Castelli top and gilet, water bottle, Maratona branded prosecco, scarf, buff, energy products and other things that you may actually use - must be worth more than the entry fee. Only downside of the ballot entry is you start in the last pen, so 7,000 people in front of you and 2,000 in your pen!
Come Sunday it was the usual stupid o'clock alarm and trying to eat breakfast at 4:30am before heading to be dropped off near the start. The previous few days had been overly warm, even the locals were saying so, but at 5:30am it was pleasantly cool as we gathered in a back street of La Villa, not even in sight of the start line.
The helicopters were overhead (the race is live on Italian RTE TV) and at 6:30 the gun fired and the race started. It took us 25 minutes to get to the start line, the lead racers were over the first climb by then! It was a bit chaotic as a large bunch crawled up to the line and then head off towards Corvara and the Passo Campolongo.
The crowds on this early climb meant progress was severely hampered, had to come to stop a number of times, at least meant couldn't set off too hard! The descent wasn't much better as still a lot of riders. As soon as you hit the bottom of the descent the Passo Pordoi starts - this the theme for the whole route, there is no flat road at all! Again, the traffic hampered progress as you had to weave around slower riders while faster riders passed you! Was feeling fine though, tapping out a steady pace. The descent off the Pordoi was actually quite cold, which was nice.
The Passo Sella was next up and it is a tough wee climb with steep pitches, but my goodness the views when you look up. Common theme for the whole trip, every corner you turn throws up another amazing view. A lovely descent then on to the Passo Gardena, a climb of 2 halves, as there is a nice wee downhill section before the last kick up. On the descent, my mind did flash back to 2017 as this is where disaster struck, so had a big smile when I got down and back into Corvara. You pass the finish line for the 50K route and on to the Passo Campolongo, again! Second time around was quieter and even with tired legs, and managing my effort, was quicker this time and the descent to Arabba was quicker too with less folks around.
This time at the bottom of the descent you turn left and downhill towards the 106 / 138 route split. I knew the Passo Giau would be awful, so kept it easy, resisting the temptation to jump on the odd passing train. In the 15K from Arabba to the Giau had a couple of wee lumps on the route map, turns out they would be classed as decent hard climbs on a normal club run! Must be 50-50 the split of those that do the 106 and 138 routes as the full route heads to Cadore and immediately kicks up at 9-10% and stays there for the next 10K! The Passo Giau is up there with the Mortorilo as just awful, a real slog, no respite. Halfway up the sky to the right turned very black and could hear the thunder starting! This could be interesting, as the night before there was a thunderstorm and torrential rain that turned the roads into rivers. I crawled up, hoping to get over the top before the rain. After an eternity the top of climb number 6 and no sign of the rain. The descent was on wet roads though, so not sure how that happened! Luckily (again) managed to avoid any rain at all, and the temperature peaked at 26, so about as perfect as it could be for me.
Only 1 more climb to go, the longest of the route, Passo Valparola. I was done, run out of legs. On any other day this would be good climb, but not today. I had nothing to give and just turned the pedals as best I could until eventually reached the summit and the nice descent down to the start town La Villa. I had no eye on a time, just to finish so didn't push on, just rolled along.
There is one final sting in the tail, as you leave La Villa for the last 3 miles to Covarra, they send you up the Mur de Giat, a 400m vertical ramp with a max gradient of 23%!! There were people falling over with cramp, walking, but with gritted teeth I made it, just. All that was left was a spin up the last drag to the finish line. DONE, in every sense.
Was great to get welcomed back and a shake of the hand from Michil Costa the owner and organiser of the event, dressed in his splendid tweed waistcoat and plus fours. Then a medal and a hat for everyone who completes any of the 3 routes, bottle of water and they provide a Pasta Party to stock up too.
It is a tremendous event, well run, well supported (not just the multitude of feed stations, but there is mechanical support all along the route too), volunteers marshalling, crowds cheering, all great. It is a brute of a day though, so much climbing in a shortish route, but an absolute cycling paradise. I'd recommend it, i fnot fotr the event then for a cycling or walking holiday as it is a stunning area.
PS Luck ran out, bike never arrived back from Venice, a first after goodness knows how many trips. Wasn't the only one, 3 missing bikes and a buggy on our flight alone. So rather a stressful end to an amazing trip (but have been told it has been found and will be home tomorrow)!
Here's the stats from my Garmin, official time of 7:27 for mid table finish :-)