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RACE WEEK · 1 WEEKS OUT

MARATONA DLES DOLOMITES — 1 WEEKS OUT

Don't do anything clever. Eat, sleep, show up. Built around the 138km / 4,230m profile of the Maratona Dolomites in Italy.

138 km·4,230 m climbing·6-10 hours·July

THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW

DON'T DO ANYTHING CLEVER.

Race week is about arriving at the start line fresh, hydrated, and calm. The training is done. Hard sessions now cost you more than they give you. Every hour of good sleep in the final 72 hours does more than any workout could.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

RACE MORNING OPENERS

20 minutes on the bike, morning of the event or day before, with 3x30sec at race pace. Wakes legs up without draining anything. That's it.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 1 WEEKS OUT

Monday

45MIN Z1 + OPENERS (3X1MIN RACE PACE)

Legs awake, fatigue low.

Tuesday

REST OR 30MIN EASY

Focus on hydration + sleep.

Wednesday

60MIN WITH 4X30SEC RACE PACE

Final primer — nothing heroic.

Thursday

REST

Start carb-loading today.

Friday

30MIN EASY SPIN + OPENERS

Race check. Kit lay-out. Route review.

Saturday (race day -1)

20-30MIN VERY EASY

Or rest. Whichever calms nerves.

Race Day

EVENT

Pace it. Fuel it. Enjoy it.

DON'T DO THIS

Race-week mistakes are always additive — an extra hard session, extra volume, an unfamiliar food. Do less. The last week cannot make you fitter. It can absolutely make you slower.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE MARATONA DOLOMITES ACTUALLY DEMANDS

The Maratona dles Dolomites is the classic Italian sportive — 138km over 7 Dolomite passes with 4,230m of climbing. Ballotted entry, 9,000 riders, closed roads from dawn. Arguably the most beautiful sportive on the calendar.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • ✓Seven passes: Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Giau, Falzarego, Valparola
  • ✓Passo Giau is the crux — 9.9km at 9.3%
  • ✓Altitude 1,200-2,240m across the day
  • ✓Early start (pre-dawn) — means the first climb is in darkness for some
  • ✓Technical descents demand road-race confidence

COMMON MISTAKES

  • ✕Racing the first three passes when the hardest (Giau) comes after 4 hours
  • ✕Poor descent technique on Pordoi and Gardena losing 30+ minutes
  • ✕Altitude-naive riders struggling with heart-rate drift on the upper passes

PACING

Start conservative — the first three passes are warm-up. Giau is the race. Control HR on Giau below threshold for the bottom half, hold the line for the top. Falzarego is the victory lap but still 600m of climbing — respect it.

FUELLING

90-110g carbs/hour. Feed zones are excellent (Italian sportives understand food) but own-supply is faster. Water at every tap — Dolomite sun is deceiving.

KIT

Climbing bike. 34x30 minimum. Light windproof gilet — descents are cold even in July. Sunscreen on arms + legs — Dolomite UV is brutal.

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FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 1 WEEKS OUT

Is 1 weeks enough to train for the Maratona dles Dolomites?+

Race week is about showing up fresh. No new fitness gains possible in a week. Focus on sleep, hydration, carb loading 48-72 hours out, and mental prep. Any hard session this week costs you more than it gives.

What's the hardest part of the Maratona dles Dolomites?+

Seven passes: Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Giau, Falzarego, Valparola. racing the first three passes when the hardest (Giau) comes after 4 hours — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. Start conservative — the first three passes are warm-up.

How many hours a week should I train at 1 weeks out from the Maratona dles Dolomites?+

Drop to 6-8 hours with minimal intensity. The taper protects the fitness you've built rather than growing more. Short, sharp openers to keep legs awake. Nothing aerobically challenging.

Do I need a coach to train for the Maratona dles Dolomites?+

You don't need a coach to finish. You do need structure. If you're new to sportives, have a target finish time, have a plateau you can't break, or have a history of peaking wrong, a coached plan pays for itself. Inside Not Done Yet the plan is built backwards from your event date — base, build, peak, taper timed to the week the Maratona dles Dolomites runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the Maratona dles Dolomites?+

Climbing bike. 34x30 minimum. Light windproof gilet — descents are cold even in July. Sunscreen on arms + legs — Dolomite UV is brutal.

OTHER PHASES FOR THE MARATONA DOLOMITES

Earlier phase ← 2 weeks out

TAPER