Maratona dles Dolomites 2025
Nine Marlow Riders descended on Covara in the Alta Badia region of the Dolomites for the 38th edition of "The Maratona". Some were newbies, with others back for a second or fourth time and one individual Russellina (to be explained later) for his 11th outing!
We rolled in over the week from varying locations, Munich, Venice and Venice via Trieste(ask Ken of his night drive into the Dolomites in his Fiat 500) but the stories of previous Maratona adventures started early and we all now have one more story to add to our collection.
Race packs picked up, various mountain passes were tested in the days running up to the big day, tarmac reports of the reverse Sella, up Gardena rather than down and of course up the infamous first switchback climb the Campolonga. Discussions at dinner the night before on which route folks were doing, Sella Ronda (short), Medio (eh, medium) and Maratona (long)
Meet at 5.30am at the wooden bridge declared Russell, club kit Jude asked, a most said yes and two shook their head and said no more. The support crew declared they would be up to cheer folks on as they passed, funnily enough the routes went past their balconies.
The big day dawned and we all dully arrived at the bridge, a sea of red with black and white chevrons... and then Russell and Warren rode across the wooden bridge in Maratona FKW kit! Cycling top, bib shorts, caps etc.! After the expected abuse the writer must admit that they both looked very smart. Thankfully Neil pointed out to one rider that he'd forgotten his bottles, so off Charles went back to his hotel to get his bottles. We didn't wait, and also he was in a separate pen to the rest of us.
We rolled down to the start, down the Mur dl Giat (19% that Medio and Maratona do at the end) and separated into our pens... all of us ladies are in the green pen, joined by some gentlemen, now you know which pen Russell was in.
Drones above, helicopter TV crews, the sun rising hitting the mountains and we were off. All duly completed the first loop of the Sella Ronda, and some decided that was enough, and waved from the hotel terrace as the others went past on to complete the medio and long courses. One newbie crossed the finish line in error but got himself and his bike lifted over the railings back onto the course to complete the medio.
Along the way shouts of hello Marlow from Beaconsfield and High Wycombe members, joined the musicians, horn blowers and public cheering us on.
The Tiger got back and found a few leopards had bailed on their Medio plans, already drinking beers, and then we tracked where the others were. Knowing it would be a while we all departed to shower and change... the heavens briefly opened, biblical rain, thunder and lightning. Ken and Graeme came back and were surprisingly dry, having completed the medio and then we waited.... more rain, more waiting and then the final 3 (Andy, Charles and Chris) came in soaked through but had completed the long course and had conquered the Giau.
We regrouped for dinner with tales of our days shared.
Chapeau to us all, fantastic event and location, a true festival of cycling .... how long until we forget we said never again....
Judi B
