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TAPER · 2 WEEKS OUT

MARATONA DLES DOLOMITES — 2 WEEKS OUT

Sharpness is banked. Now shed fatigue. 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

SHED FATIGUE.

Two weeks out you're in taper territory. Fitness plateaus or nudges up — you don't lose meaningful fitness in two weeks, but fatigue disappears fast. Short sharp efforts to keep legs awake. Everything else is volume reduction.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

RACE-PACE OPENERS

60min ride with 3x3min at race pace + 3x1min at VO2. Not training — priming. The efforts remind your legs what fast feels like. Nothing more.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 2 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Rest is the session.

Tuesday

OPENERS (60MIN)

Short sharp race-pace primers.

Wednesday

45MIN Z1

Coffee spin.

Thursday

60MIN Z2 WITH 2X5MIN AT THRESHOLD

Final sharpening effort.

Friday

REST

Full rest.

Saturday

90MIN Z2 WITH OPENERS

Short, easy, prep the pre-event day.

Sunday

60MIN Z1 OR REST

Total reset.

DON'T DO THIS

The taper-anxiety mistake: riding harder in taper because your legs feel fresh. Fresh legs aren't a problem — they're the whole point. Hold the line.

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.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

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FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 2 WEEKS OUT

Is 2 weeks enough to train for the Maratona dles Dolomites?+

2 weeks out your training can't meaningfully change your fitness — you're in taper. Focus on recovery, hydration, familiarisation with your kit + fuelling, and event-day logistics. Don't try to add fitness this close to the event.

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 2 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 ← 4 weeks out

PEAK PHASE

Later phase → 1 weeks out

RACE WEEK