A willingness to make sacrifices and suffer: are these really needed in order to survive the mythical passes of the Dolomites? Does such an undertaking require an ego trip that pushes you to the limits of human exertion – even at the cost of your health? This year’s Maratona dles Dolomites bears the tagline ‘Balance’, but the essence of it is harder to find than we anticipated.

You must be familiar with the urge to throw off the shackles and get off the hamster wheel. Brazenly leaving the confines of your comfort zone and rustling up enough courage to turn audacious daydreams into reality. For me, the moment arises quicker than expected: known for its relentless climbs, pictureperfect scenery that escalates in beauty with each hairpin, and its self-styled pro-level experience dished for thousands of amateurs, the Maratona dles Dolomites appeared like a mirage for me. Who wouldn’t dream of a ride that ties all these elements together in one tidy package? I certainly couldn’t resist the call of South Tirol, nor turn my nose up at the invitation from Pirello to test their P Zero Velo tires. Decision made, I find myself at Stuttgart airport once more with luggage in tow.

Ecuiliber, in the little-spoken Northern Italian language of Ladin, translates into ‘balance’. It might be the tagline for the 2018 edition of the Maratona, but it’s something that has truly been evading me. I’ve got high ambitions, but nominal race preparation. I reach Italy after the flight, and instead of sinking into a pit of self-pity, I try to rouse the best out of my bike and me – marginal gains style ahead of the 138 km and 4,230 metres of climbing. That means pasta for me, ice and compression for the inflamed bursa in my right knee, and new tires for the bike. Pirelli also abide by the idea of balance, albeit relating to optimal tire pressure between the front and back wheel. More of a concrete understanding of balance, it’s about the weight distribution of bike and ride spread over two scales. With an Inline seatpost and 120 mm stem, the system weight in my case is measured at 46 % on the front, and 54 % at the rear. For Pirelli, it translates into 6.9 bar at the front and 7.2 bar at the back, with two 25 mm tires. I feel marginally more prepared after a test ride over the Passo Campolongo and Passo Pordoi – at least the tire pressure is in check.

The Maratona dles Dolomites hasn’t lost any of its charm since it was launched in 1987. According to event organizer Michil Costa, out of the 33,000 hopeful entries into the lottery for this gran fondo, only 9,000 receive one of the coveted start numbers. Helicopters take to the skies, circling above the masses of riders, while the race plays out on screens in living rooms and kitchen across Italy. For the 9,000 riders on the closed rooms between Corvara and Valparola, the sheer number of spectators confirms that cycling is king. For today, at least.

Slightly in awe of the scenery and the crowds, I roll over the timing mat at 6.30am. It feels like there’s some sort of light barrier around me, an intangible chasm between reality and what’s going on in the race. The first hour is like a movie. You leave the crowds of the starting town behind you and enter an abyss. Alone with 9,000 others, but no one says a word. As you scale the climbs, the tranquillity of the valley is engulfed by the dominance of the passes. Nothing feels real, apart from the burning of my legs, the pain in my knee, and the rasping breaths of riding around me. My self-imposed pressure to perform is at the root of my suffering, and I realise it’s a conscious choice to isolate myself from the scene. Chewed up and spat out by ambition, I resolutely continue to battle against my rebelling body. But isn’t it mad that I would say such a thing? It’s my body, so why am I so adamant to separate my thoughts and my free will from the painful warning signals that my body is emitting? At the top of the Passo Gardena I can no longer ignore the signs.

This is where I found balance. Not after 138 km, but after just 55 km as I crossed the finish line, not quite ready to finish the ride. It hurts, but I am forced to admit that today just isn’t happening. Is it out of respect for the challenges that still lie ahead of me, and the cost it might have on my body?

I’m torn between frustration and happiness, a heavy balancing act that I take home with me. This isn’t the end, despite being littered with setbacks, and I know that a satisfying finale to this story is still a long way off. But, when you look more closely at the occurrences, isn’t an honest defeat in some sense still a victory? Ecuiliber.


This article is from GRAN FONDO issue #009

GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine is published in a digital app format in both English and German. Download the app for iOS or Android to read all articles on your tablet or smartphone. 100% free!


Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of GRAN FONDO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf, Sportograf, Don’t Movie