It is a truly epic feat with enormous sporting prestige that over a thousand bikers accomplished on the mid-July 2018 weekend in Val di Sole! Do you want to try your hand at it too!
Be careful, however, because this route is very difficult, both because of the technical complexity of the descents and because of the big climb you have to face: if you are not very trained maybe tackle it in two or three days and make it a tour, thus splitting the fatigue.

Technical description:
The start is in the village of Malé, where the first climb of the day is attacked. From the 750 m of the Solandro capital you climb through paved and unpaved sections to 1605 m. of the locality Piazza Marendaia, the highest point of the entire route.
The 8 km climb offers a steady ascent and rewarding views of the entire Val di Sole and the Brenta Dolomites. The passage through the old town of Bolentina, a delightful high-altitude alpine village, is also characteristic.

Once at the summit it is immediately time to descend, first along a smooth forest road and then along a much more challenging single track that leads to the Mas dei Bagianari. But the long descent is not over: back on a forest road, you descend to the valley floor and skirt the Rabbies stream to the Molini di Terzolas locality, the lowest point of the entire route.

Having recovered our breath on the descent, we take the second climb of the day, the one that offers the steepest gradients: 5 km with peaks of even 30 percent leading up to 1300 m asl. Then we plunge back downhill, still on a forest road, to return to the valley floor. Crossing the picturesque footbridge over the Walnut River, we re-enter the historic center of Malé and launch into the second half of the race course.

After 4 km of ups and downs in the forest, we pass Dimaro, where the “Emperor Franz Josef Trail” in Val Meledrio begins. The climb ends at 1300 meters at Belvedere di Folgarida, a renowned ski resort.

From here we dive into the technical single track called “Preda del pè,” a steep dirt path in the woods characterized by passages that are as technical as they are fun. After passing through the village of Costa Rotian, we reach Daolasa, home of the famous MTB World Cup routes.

A final selective climb leads back to Bolentina, touching the villages of Deggiano and Montes, an appetizer for the “Direttissima Malè” descent that finally leads to the finish.

Route type: loop
Length: 67 km
Height difference in ascent: 3300 m
Downhill elevation gain: 3300 m
Highest point: 1607 m
Lowest point: 650 m
Type of surface: dirt road

Technical tips:
Certainly, as this is a high altitude route, it is a good idea to have cold or rain gear: unless the forecast is perfect, the weather changes quickly at these altitudes, and often within an hour of leaving with the sun, the sky darkens and the cold comes quickly.
Water, bars, salts-and whatever else is needed to be able to tackle long solo stretches in the middle of the woods-are necessary, especially if you are not an exceptional athlete and perhaps some of the uphill stretches have to be covered by walking with your bike with you, thus lengthening your travel time and the need to drink and eat.
If you own protective gear they can certainly come in handy, and of course on such a route a helmet is absolutely necessary.

Municipality of departure: Malè
Starting location: Malè
Municipality of arrival: Malè
Place of arrival: Malè

Recommended period: starting in June (barring plant fall and/or snowfall at altitude)