The Sellaronda links four iconic Dolomite passes — Pordoi, Sella, Gardena and Campolongo — in a single loop that crosses four valleys and two Italian provinces, at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage-listed range.
Four passes, one loop
From Corvara, the full loop totals around 55 km for 1,780 m of cumulative elevation gain, stringing together the Passo Campolongo (1,875 m), the Passo Pordoi (2,239 m), the Passo Sella (2,244 m) and the Passo Gardena (2,121 m) before returning to the starting point. Each pass offers a different landscape: sheer limestone walls at the Sella, open alpine pastures at the Gardena, views of the Marmolada from the Pordoi.
The route forms the backbone of the Maratona dles Dolomites, one of Europe’s most sought-after cyclosportives, which extends this loop with extra passes (Falzarego, Valparola, Giau) for a course that can reach 138 km.
Getting the ride right
None of the four passes is individually extreme, but stringing them together calls for careful effort pacing over the day. A compact or triple crankset makes the 9-10% sections on the Pordoi and Sella easier. Weather can turn quickly at altitude — worth packing rain protection even on a clear start.
When to go
June to September, as the passes can stay closed by snow until May-June depending on the year. July-August offers the best conditions but also the heaviest tourist and cyclosportive crowds in the area.
Good to know
Corvara, a lively resort in the Alta Badia, offers a wide choice of accommodation and several road bike rental shops, with convenient access to the Dolomites’ other great climbs (Passo Giau, Passo dello Stelvio) to extend a col-hunting trip in the range.
