Giro delle Dolomiti – Sellaronda Stage 2 (start/finish Ponte Gardena)

The queen stage of the Giro delle Dolomiti

The Giro delle Dolomiti is one of Italy's longest-running and most fascinating amateur cycling granfondos, reaching its 49th edition in 2026. Organized by the ASD Giro delle Dolomiti and based at the Bolzano Exhibition Center, the event spans five stages covering over 400 kilometers of alpine landscapes in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites.

Stage 2, scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, with a 9:00 AM start from Ponte Gardena/Waidbruck, is universally recognized as the queen stage of the entire event. Unlike the other legs, which are based in Bolzano, this stage starts and finishes in the small town of Ponte Gardena, in the Isarco Valley, the gateway to the Val Gardena.

The route: the legendary Sellaronda

With its 107 kilometers and over 3,100 meters of elevation gain, Stage 2 features the famous Sellaronda loop, the circuit around the Sella massif that crosses four of the most iconic Dolomite passes in sequence. After a short initial climb, cyclists gently ride up the Val Gardena towards Ortisei, passing through Santa Cristina and Selva di Val Gardena, before tackling the major ascents.

• Sella Pass (2,240 m)
• Pordoi Pass (2,239 m)
• Campolongo Pass (1,875 m)
• Gardena Pass (2,121 m)

The route then descends towards Arabba and Corvara, offering breathtaking views of the Marmolada and the surrounding peaks, before returning to Ponte Gardena. The timed section for the 2026 edition is the Colfosco – Gardena Pass climb (6.3 km, 439 m elevation gain), where participants can test themselves against the clock.

A cycling event, not a race

The Giro delle Dolomiti is not a classic competition: it is an amateur cycling granfondo where the pleasure of riding through the mountains is combined with short timed sections on traffic-free cycle paths. Each stage welcomes a maximum of 400 cyclists from many countries, with refreshment points along the route (in Selva di Val Gardena and Corvara for Stage 2) and lunch included in Selva.

Ponte Gardena and the Isarco Valley

The municipality of Ponte Gardena/Waidbruck, in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen (Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol), is one of the smallest villages in South Tyrol, nestled at the entrance to the Val Gardena. Dominated by the majestic Trostburg Castle, it provides the ideal setting for the start of a stage that celebrates the wild beauty of the Dolomites. Every July, the event brings thousands of cycling enthusiasts to the area, highlighting the cycling identity of South Tyrol.