The 2018 UCI Mtb Marathon World Championships, staged in Auronzo di Cadore, was only for Elite athletes summoned by their respective national teams.
The course measured 102 km (4,200 meters of elevation gain) for the men’s race and 89 km (3,400 meters of elevation gain) for the women’s race.

The 3Epic Mtb Marathon, on the other hand, dedicated to amateurs, includes three routes to give everyone a chance to experience the atmosphere of the World Cup:

– Lavaredo90 (89.9 km with 3,046 meters of elevation gain)
– Misurina70 (76 km with 1,950 meters of elevation gain)
– Cadini60 (65 km and 1,590 meters of elevation gain).

Here we publish the Marathon route dedicated to the men’s race (102 km)

World route description:
For the most part, the world course is the same as the 3Epic, except for a few sections and some climbs that are exclusive to the men’s world championship, such as the climb of Mount Agudo and the tour of the hamlets. Otherwise it is specular.

It starts at the PalaGhiaccio in Auronzo di Cadore in the new outdoor area. It goes along the main road to the dam, to face the turn around the lake and pass again in front of the Ice Palace. Below is a description of the climbs:

Mount Agudo:
The ascent starts in Ponte Malón, at first on a paved road, in the second part very steep, which softens near the Taiaréze crossroads, from where you continue uphill keeping to the left. It continues, still on a comfortable silvopastoral road with significant inclines, to the junction with the service road to the ski slopes. Taking this mule track, the slopes soften until they rejoin the foot of the Alberto Tomba trail. Continue slightly uphill until you face the Lower Malon Wall that leads into the plain of the same name. Flanking the lift, along the dirt road, we first reach the tabiàs of Malón Àuto and Pomauria, then, deviating to the left with a final decisive and challenging climb, we reach the Monte Agudo Refuge, where we overlook the valley with a sweeping panorama.

White Grave:
Starting from Tabià da Rin, along a path that is partly paved (to overcome the steep slopes) and partly unpaved, we climb the Val di Poorse to Pian de le Ciave. Take a right here, crossing the bridge, and continue the challenging ascent to the Grava Bianca pass, which is located in a clearing overlooked by the imposing and jagged Marmarole peaks.

Pian de Sera:
Starting at the end of Val Da Rin, the climb is for the first part on asphalt surface with rather challenging gradients around 15%. Having reached two tight hairpin bends, the road becomes less hard and on an excellent gravel surface leads nimbly to Pian de Sera at an altitude of 1300m, a vantage point offering a beautiful view of the nearby Croda Da Rin.

Misurina:
It starts from Pralongo, going up the Ansiei Valley for a long stretch on a completely unpaved and compact surface. Passing Palus San Marco and the Somadida Forest, entering the scenically beautiful Val Bona, the slopes gradually become more challenging until they reach peaks of 15/20% and lead us to Misurina.

Devil’s Tower – Col de Varda:
The climb is divided into three parts. The first is to Devil’s Tower: you go up the ski slope of the same name, which holds truly extreme slopes in the last two hundred meters. When you reach the summit, in the presence of the Cadini di Misurina, take a beautiful, gently descending path through the woods on the right, called the Third Ring, which leads to the beginning of the Col de Varda climb. Here, along the service road, we face a stepped ascent, where truly challenging stretches are interspersed with less difficult ones. In the last five hundred meters the climb becomes easier, until it leads us to the junction that leads to the Col de Varda Refuge.

Forcella Alta Monte Piana:
The Mt. Piana road climbs in twists and turns, some on asphalt and some on dirt, to the base of the final serpentine. It is the old military road, used during World War I as troop movement and supply. It climbs gently, giving the opportunity to admire a magnificent natural setting until below the rocky ridge, where to overcome the last hundred meters of elevation gain, it climbs sharply in serpentine, severe inclines.

Auronzo Three Peaks of Lavaredo Refuge.:
A tough and strenuous climb, but one of unparalleled beauty. We start from Malga Rin Bianco with the road climbing sharply, between alternating hairpin bends and long straights. The climb is all paved and sunlit, with a wide roadway in excellent condition. Fatigue upon arrival is rewarded by the incredible scenery of mountains surrounding us–a horizon tour worthy of a World Heritage Site.

Pian degli Spiriti – Col de Varda:
The climb starts from the parking lot of Rifugio Fonda Savio. It leads along a firm-bottomed dirt path to Pian degli Spiriti, a pleasant plateau at the foot of the Cadini Mountains. Take the right-hand path inside the forest to the junction at Torre del Diavolo with the Third Ring and then continuing along the challenging climb to Col de Varda.

Provazei:
More than a climb, a deadly 200-meter tear, the springboard to the finish. The slopes are severe (over 20 percent) and will serve, if necessary, to decree the new World Champion.

Route type: loop
Length: 102 km
Height difference in ascent: 3460 m
Downhill elevation gain: 3480 m
Highest point: 2297 m
Lowest point: 840 m
Type of surface: mixed

Municipality of departure: Auronzo di Cadore
Place of departure: Auronzo di Cadore
Municipality of arrival: Auronzo di Cadore
Place of arrival: Auronzo di Cadore

Recommended period: May to September