BUILD PHASE · 8 WEEKS OUT

MARATONA DLES DOLOMITES — 8 WEEKS OUT

Structured intensity enters. Threshold + VO2 max work. 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

BUILD THE INTENSITY.

Eight weeks out, the build phase kicks in. One threshold session, one VO2 max session, and the long ride all in a week. Volume stays high, but now intensity layers on top. This is where your FTP should start climbing — if it doesn't, distribution is wrong, not effort.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

2X20MIN THRESHOLD

Warm up 15min. 2x20min at 91-105% FTP with 5min recovery between. Cool down. Hit the target power both reps — if you fade the second, you started too hard. This is your bread-and-butter threshold session.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 8 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Recovery is a session — treat it like one.

Tuesday

THRESHOLD INTERVALS (2X20MIN)

Your key quality session of the week.

Wednesday

90MIN Z2 + STRENGTH

Reduced gym volume — maintenance only.

Thursday

VO2 MAX (4X4MIN @ 106-120% FTP)

Push the ceiling. Rep 4 should be the hardest.

Friday

REST OR 45MIN RECOVERY

Legs up.

Saturday

4-6H LONG RIDE WITH 3X15MIN AT EVENT PACE

Specificity starts here.

Sunday

2H Z2

Active recovery.

DON'T DO THIS

Do not stack threshold and VO2 max back-to-back. 48 hours minimum between quality sessions. Stacking kills the adaptation and makes you fragile.

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 8 WEEKS OUT

Is 8 weeks enough to train for the Maratona dles Dolomites?+

Yes, if you already have a reasonable aerobic base. 8 weeks out means peak and taper — we can sharpen and refine, but we can't build new aerobic fitness from scratch. If you're starting from zero now, aim for finishing rather than personal bests.

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 8 weeks out from the Maratona dles Dolomites?+

Reduce to 8-10 hours with rising intensity quality. This is the peak phase — fewer, sharper sessions. Long weekend ride stays but drops slightly (3-4 hours with event-specific work). Weekday sessions are shorter and more intense.

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 ← 12 weeks out

LATE BASE

Later phase → 4 weeks out

PEAK PHASE