Sellaronda Bike Day

A Dolomite loop just for cyclists

The Sellaronda Bike Day is one of the most famous cycling events in the Alps. Twice a year, in June and September, the four passes surrounding the Sella Group — Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi, Passo Gardena, and Passo Campolongo — are completely closed to motorized traffic and returned to cyclists. For a few hours, the roads return to silence, making space for the breath of the mountains and the spectacle of the Dolomite spires.

The route forms a loop of approximately 53 km with 1,650 meters of elevation gain and crosses four Ladin valleys: Val di Fassa, Val Gardena, Alta Badia, and Livinallongo (Arabba). Starting from Canazei, in the Trentino municipality of Val di Fassa, you first tackle the Sella and Pordoi passes: organizers recommend riding the loop in a counter-clockwise direction.

An event open to everyone, not a race

The Sellaronda Bike Day is not a competition but a celebration of cycling designed for all ages and skill levels. Participation is free, with no registration or membership required: just show up with your bike. Road bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes, e-MTBs with trailers, tandems, and vintage bikes are all welcome. A helmet is mandatory, and it is recommended to always keep to the right. A sweep service assists those who fall behind or are in difficulty.

On sunny days, the event attracts over 20,000 cyclists, who tackle the hairpin bends in a shared festive atmosphere, amidst high-altitude meadows, mountain huts, and views of the Sella, Sassolungo, and Marmolada peaks.

Canazei and the Ladin valleys

Canazei, the heart of Val di Fassa in Trentino-Alto Adige (Autonomous Province of Trento), is one of the most popular access points to the loop. The Sellaronda Bike Day symbolically unites the Ladin territories of the Dolomites, shared between Trentino, South Tyrol, and Veneto, in a project of sustainable mobility and environmental appreciation. The initiative, which began in 2006, is now a well-established tradition and one of the most evocative ways to experience the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites without the noise of cars.

The two dates of the year

The Sellaronda Bike Day takes place in two annual editions: one at the beginning of summer, in June, and one at the end of summer, in September, when the colors of the valleys begin to change. The pass roads remain closed to traffic and reserved for cyclists from the morning until the afternoon.