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    The Sella Ronda with road bike and mountain bike

    Sophia Willmes
    Sophia Willmes
    Mar 4, 2024 8 min
    The Sella Ronda with road bike and mountain bike

    The Dolomites by bike

    Last Saturday the Dolomites have once belonged to cyclists, and cyclists only: The annual Sella Ronda bike Day was held for in the 17th time on 16.09.2023. On this day the traffic on the four mountain passes is closed around the Sella stock for all motorized vehicles. The ones remaining, are the over 20,000 cyclists who have the whole day to themselves to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Sella Ronda without exhaust fumes and engine noise, while taking one of the most beautiful and peaceful bike tours of all times. Even though the Sella Ronda Bike Day is of course a perfect opportunity for this alpine ride, you certainly don't have to wait until the next summer to conquer the Sella.

    What the Sella Ronda is all about, how you can tour and what you have to keep in mind, you will learn in this blogpost.

    1. The Sella Ronda.

    During winter the four passes around the Sella massif in the Dolomites are a paradise for snow sport enthusiasts, in summer it's the cyclists' turn. While cycling around the mountain group (the highest peak is Piz Boé at 3,152 m), you will master 53 km through three provinces (South Tyrol, Trentino and Veneto), over four mountain passes (the Passo Gardena, Campolongo, Pordoi and the Passo Sella)  with up to 2,000 m in altitude difference and you will be offered spectacular views of the mountain ranges of the Dolomites throughout - which, by the way, have UNESCO World Heritage status. Rightly so.

    Per se, the ride is suitable for anyone and everyone, road cyclists can use the (very good) asphalted roads for challenging climbs and technical descents, for mountain bikers there are enough off-road trails and opportunities for courageous jumps and also on the gravel you will get your money's worth.

    Nevertheless, it is an alpine tour and for the numerous climbs and steep descents you need a basic level of physical fitness and technical skills. For absolute beginners it might not be the right thing, but only a few bike tours, maybe even in the mountains, should prepare you for the Sella Ronda, after all, it is largely considered "moderately difficult".

    You can do the loop clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on your personal condition and your desired level of challenge. On the Sella Ronda bike Day you cycle counterclockwise, which is the topographically more demanding route but also offers less dangerous descents. The clockwise route is less demanding in terms of fitness and effort, but you'll get great scenery and plenty of sightseeing in both directions.

    2. The Sella clockwise.

    🎢
    Overview:Length: 59 kmDifference in altitude with the bike: 330 hmDifference in altitude with the lifts: 3670 hmDuration: 5 - 8 hrs.

    If you are on the road bike the best place to start is Corvara before you head clockwise towards Arraba over Passo Campolongo. This is a good starting point (and direction) because the Campolongo is one of the longest passes, but also the lowest one, making it ideal for a leisurely introduction. You will still have plenty of power left which you will need at the latest on the ascent up to the Pordoijoch. For nine kilometers long you go up a (well to master) 7-8% slope over historic terrain: Hardly any Giro d'Italia doesn't touch on the Sella Ronda and especially the Pordoijoch has been a stage destination many times. The Italian cycling idol and five-time Giro winner Fausto Coppi even has a monument dedicated to him on the top of the pass...

    If you conquer the Ronda in this direction, you will also end up on the steep side of the Sella (up to 11% gradient), another climb that demands strength, but the breathtaking views throughout will quickly make you forget about burning muscles and time will fly by. There are plenty of places to eat along the route, with restaurants at the top of each pass and in Corvara and Arraba. But be careful not to ignore the traffic after eating there. Especially on the Pordoi and Sella passe there are many cars and motorcycles, so be careful.

    With the MTB all those who already have a certain basic condition and riding technique can master the round in clockwise direction. Expect many gnarly descents and the possibility to get back up the individual passes quite relaxingly with the cable cars. Mountain bikers can just as well start in Corvara and tackle the descent to Arraba on the single trails. The descent to the valley station of the Fodom lift is a bit more demanding and up to Canazei you cruise down long, panoramic trails. The spectacular finale definitely is the single trail from the Gardena pass to Colfosco, before you get on a light gravel path back to Corvara.

    3. The Sella counterclockwise.

    🎢
    Overview:Length: 56 kmDifference in altitude with the bike: 1020 hmDifference in altitude with the lifts: 2400 hmDuration: 4 - 7 hrs.

    Both on the mountain bike as well as on the road bike this tour is a bit more demanding and rather something for more experienced cyclists. At least on the road bike, you also almost never encounter flat stretches, which means that you either have to climb or concentrate on winding descents, so there's not really any time to catch your breath. But the great views quickly make us forgive that.

    You should have a healthy respect for some of the rather technical descents, especially the steep serpentines from the Sella Pass into the Val di Fassa should be ridden calmly. The most beautiful sections are those up to the Gardena Pass, where a 360-degree view of the Dolomites awaits you after a final climb, and on the ride from Selva Gardena up to the Sella Pass you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the Marmolata glacier. Afterwards, the Pordoi Pass offers you another exciting climb and if you stop for a cappuccino on the Campolongo Pass, you should pause and admire the picturesque villages of Alta Badia from above.

    When on the road bike, you should also pay attention to the traffic here, since coaches and campers populate the passes. It's on the single trails where you're truly at peace on your MTB. Across meadows and gravel paths you can cruise down the passes in high speed and especially the section between the Col dei Rossi mountain station and Arraba is particularly impressive in terms of scenery.

    Whoever has now got the desire to try the Sella Ronda for themselves - in whatever direction - is not alone. The Sella Ronda bike Day conquers the roads for cyclists of all levels twice a year, but also on the Dolomites Bike Day, which takes place once a year, the streets belong only to bikes and their riders only. The route leads over three passes around Monte Lagazuoi in Alta Badia in a 51 km long loop. Where you get on and off is completely up to you, the wonderful landscapes around the Campolongo are yours to admire along the entire route.

    For the more ambitious road cyclists among you, the Maratona dles Dolomites should be one of the most exciting events in the cycling calendar for you. Every first Sunday in July, this road marathon takes place in Alta Badia, with a 138 km route at 4,190 hm that also touches on the Sella Ronda. The event is so popular that it is considered a matter of pure luck to win a starting permit. And if you really want to challenge yourself, you can leave the Sella Ronda in Canazei and head for Passo Fedaia: the truly torturous one among the Dolomite passes. Hat's off to those who conquer it, and rightly so.

    A good bike will make your Sella Ronda tour even more exciting and save you some extra effort. And on buycycle you will definitely find just the right one for you among the 15,000 road bikes, gravel and mountain bikes available on our marketplace. And if you want to switch from a road bike to a mountain bike for your next tour or vice versa, you can sell your old bike stress-free with us too.

    For questions about the Sella Ronda our team is always here for you and stick around on the blog for more info on all things bikes. Without further notice, we now wish you, as always: Happy browsing, happy cycling! Whether on the Sella Ronda or not.

    And if you want to sell your mountain bike on buycycle, that's possible too! Sell your mountain bike easily online, starting now.

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