Sellaronda Bike Day.
The Sellaronda Bike Day makes the most famous pass loop in the Dolomites car-free: 53 kilometres over Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella and Gardena with around 1,750 metres of climbing, not a race, but a riding day on closed roads. Anyone who wants to enjoy the four passes rather than survive them still prepares as for a proper mountain day.
Sellaronda Bike Day 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
On a Saturday in June, the Sellaronda Bike Day closes the entire loop around the Sella massif to car traffic, leaving 53 kilometres of Dolomite road to cyclists: the classic Sellaronda ridden anticlockwise, started wherever you like, usually in Corvara.
The loop knows no idle stretches: barely six percent of the course is flat, the rest is pass road up or down. From Corvara it climbs almost immediately into the Campolongo (a good three kilometres, then rising further towards Arabba), followed by the longer ascent to Passo Pordoi: 5.7 kilometres at close to seven percent and around 390 metres of gain. After the descent, the Sella pass waits from kilometre 16.8 (3.8 kilometres, 7.7 percent), and from kilometre 26.5 the loop's longest climb to Passo Gardena: 6.4 kilometres with 420 metres of gain. A final rise from kilometre 42.2 closes the loop back to Corvara.
The Bike Day has no timing: no gun, no ranking, but thousands of riders, free roads and arguably the most famous mountain backdrop in the Alps. Exactly that makes it the perfect goal for a first big Dolomites day.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.9 | 3.1 km | 6.8 % | 13.6 % | +213 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 4.2 | 5.7 km | 6.8 % | 18.2 % | +386 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 15.6 | 1.1 km | 6.7 % | 17.2 % | +71 m | — |
| km 16.8 | 3.8 km | 7.7 % | 16.8 % | +289 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 26.5 | 6.4 km | 6.5 % | 22.2 % | +420 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 42.2 | 3.9 km | 7.1 % | 18.6 % | +276 m | Cat. 3 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Sellaronda Bike Day.
Sit in early
Without timing, the opponent on the Sellaronda is not the clock but overconfidence across four passes. The loop consists of four climbing blocks of 20 to 45 minutes, and the art is riding the fourth like the first. Ride the Campolongo as a warm-up clearly below threshold, even as thousands of wheels around you push the pace. A bike day's group dynamics are the format's biggest pacing trap. On the Pordoi, the longest continuous climb, settle into your rhythm: an intensity at which conversation stays possible.
Ration your effort
Passo Gardena from kilometre 26.5, with 420 metres of gain, is the touchstone: ride the first two passes too keenly and it turns grim. Eat on every descent (four passes empty the stores like a race, bib or not) and plan your stops deliberately: the summits invite lingering, but four long breaks turn four hours into six.
Race the finale
On the descents, this day demands special care: free roads do not mean empty roads; the spectrum of speed and skill around you is huge. Descend controlled, expect overtakers, hold your line.
Training plan for Sellaronda Bike Day: 12-week build
Build endurance
Plan three to five hours of pure riding time for the Sellaronda depending on level. The demand: four climbs of three to six and a half kilometres at six to eight percent, in series, at 1,800 to 2,200 metres of altitude.
Train the climbs
Preparation fits into eight to ten weeks: build one longer weekly ride towards three to four hours with 1,200 to 1,600 metres of climbing. Train the series structure specifically (two to four climbs of 20 to 35 minutes in one session, with descents as recovery) rather than single long mountain blocks.
Ride race-specific
Add weekly threshold work (two to three times 15 minutes) so the passes stay below your critical intensity and you can enjoy them. If you live in the flatlands: the combination of repeated climbs and altitude is well compensated by strength-endurance intervals (low cadence) plus a conservative goal.
Arrive fresh
Equipment: mountain gearing, checked brakes (the descents are long) and clothing for pass summits that can be cold even in June. And one practical Bike Day tip: start early. The loop is twice as beautiful with fewer wheels around.
Courses
Download the Sellaronda Bike Day course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Sellaronda Bike Day dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Sellaronda Bike Day.
How long is Sellaronda Bike Day?
Sellaronda Bike Day is 53 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Sellaronda Bike Day have?
Sellaronda Bike Day has around 1,650 m of elevation gain over 53 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Sellaronda Bike Day?
Sellaronda Bike Day is classified as Mountainous, averaging 34.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 6% of the route is flat, 29% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 18% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Sellaronda Bike Day have?
The hardest climb of Sellaronda Bike Day starts at kilometre 26.5, runs for 6.4 km at an average of 6.5% and gains 420 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 6 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Sellaronda Bike Day a loop course?
Yes, Sellaronda Bike Day is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Sellaronda Bike Day course?
Yes. The Sellaronda Bike Day course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Sellaronda Bike Day?
Preparation for Sellaronda Bike Day should account for 53 km, 1,650 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Sellaronda Bike Day?
The pacing strategy for Sellaronda Bike Day should reflect 53 km, 1,650 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Sellaronda Bike Day take place?
Sellaronda Bike Day takes place on June 5, 2027.
Where does Sellaronda Bike Day take place?
Sellaronda Bike Day takes place in Alta Badia, Italy.
How do I register for Sellaronda Bike Day?
Registration runs through the organiser: sellarondabikeday.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
