THE BMW HERO SÜDTIROL DOLOMITES: WHAT NEXT? SUMMER AND MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE DOLOMITES

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The BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites takes place in June every year against a stunning natural backdrop: mountain ranges, beautiful, natural summits, and outdoor sports. A place where you can get the adrenaline pumping throughout the summer!

Mountain biking is the perfect combination of riveting outdoor sports and mountain summits. A discipline which has always relied on the bare earth and dirt, a discipline which goes beyond the sheer adrenaline of a professional race. Indeed, the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites isn’t just a race but rather a celebration of this marriage made all the more special because of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From the very start in 2010, participants have cycled on courses developing across the Sella Group’s four valleys, namely Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba, and Val di Fassa and all the way to the Alpe di Siusi plateau. These beautiful locations, boasting unparalleled hospitality due to over a century of mountain tourism, welcome thousands of tourists looking for outdoor sports and activities every year.

THE BMW HERO SÜDTIROL DOLOMITES
©Andrea Costa
RACING AND HOSPITALITY

The HERO’s 86 km and 60 km routes develop across locations and areas bursting with traditions of all sorts – from food, through folklore passed down from one generation to the next, to a rich tapestry of history which can be recounted in a good three languages: Ladin, Italian, and German. The Dolomites are a true melting pot of cultures, worthy of being visited.

While racing doesn’t allow visitors and participants to fully admire the “Pale Mountains”, tourists will discover the area has something for everyone, specifically for those looking for closer contact with nature. Vast meadows, turquoise mountain lakes, and shaded hiking and walking paths at the foot of sheer cliffs of dolomite which have made mountaineering history.

VAL GARDENA

Val Gardena seems to have been made for mountain biking, boasting a network of paths and tracks of over 600 km featuring single trails and forest paths, delivering a good 22-day excursion. There are different courses which may or may not include lift facilities for both absolute beginners and seasoned pros.

The more expert cyclists can head to the Trail Arena in Selva di Val Gardena and try out the freeride Ciampinoi course and the Dantercepies flow trail with its curves, steep climbs, and even a jump or two! Families can opt for hopping on the Piz Seteur gondola lift and the Gran Paradiso chair lift to reach the Sassolungo bike park and its Family Trail and Easy Jump Line. The Trail Arena is open between 16 June and 9 October 2022.

Mountain bike holidays in Val Gardena: www.valgardena.it

MTB Val Gardena: www.mtb-dolomites.com

Freeride Ciampinoi: www.freerideciampinoi.it

ALTA BADIA

Alta Badia’s off-road mountain bike area is located between 1,300 and 2,000 m altitude, a welcome addition to the already great road cycling offer. The new choices include the “Bike Beats” trails, a network of hoggin flow trails developing across the meadows, hills, and forests of the villages of San Cassiano, La Villa, and Corvara. The brand-new Fle-Trail will delight summer guests – the course starts from the Pralongià and descends to Passo Campolongo, boasting fun jumps and wide, scenic bends. The trails are complemented by the adrenaline-pumping Freeride Bike Gardenaccia trails.

The Bike Beats – Movimënt Alta Badia Trails are open every day between 11 June and 2 October 2022

Mountain bike holidays in Alta Badia: www.altabadia.org

Bike Beats Alta Badia: www.bikepark-altabadia.it

Freeride Bike Gardenaccia: www.gardenaccia.com

ARABBA
©Arabba Fodom Turismo

Thanks to its vast network of paths and trails in the Fodom valley, the area is ideal for MTB excursions. And at the end of a day out and about, the local hotels will be sure to pamper guests with delicious meals and wellness offers. Passo Pordoi boasts a good three trails belonging to the Dolomiti Bike Galaxy. The first one is the Lezuo, with 2.9 km and 263 hm for beginners featuring lovely views.

Second up is The Col, ideal for whoever wants to give downhill trails a shot. The 800 m trail boasts 100 hm, a quick and fun option which continues on the All Faver, a 2-km trail boasting 240 hm which then turns into an Enduro trail. Love mountain biking but need a bit of extra help? Arabba saves the day with its bike shuttle service, beloved by families and beginners alike.

Mountain bike holidays in Arabba: www.arabba.it

VAL DI FASSA

Mountain bike tours, gravity trails, rental services, MTB guides as well as charging stations for e-bikes make Val di Fassa in Trentino perfect for mountain biking. All of its trails follow the Avisio river, which springs from the Marmolada glacier, the majestic mountain which overlooks the entire valley.

©Dolomitisupersummer

The Val di Fassa Classic trail is an absolute highlight. This demanding, 50-km route features the odd, small obstacle to overcome – pay attention to your surroundings and the trail itself, and book one of the many local, experienced mountain bike guides.

Adrenaline junkies and gravity lovers will find a match made in heaven at the Fassa Bike Park. The paths and single tracks develop between Col Rodella and Belvedere, set at an altitude of 2,000 m. These trails boast natural obstacles (roots, rocks, and counterslopes) as well as wooden walkways and embanked bends in the paths. Mountain bikers can avail themselves of expert teachers and guides from the Fassabike MTB School, who will teach them the correct technique in a safe environment.

Mountain bike holidays in Val di Fassa: www.fassa.com

MTB Val di Fassa: www.fassabike.com

ALPE DI SIUSI

The largest European plateau offers something for everyone. On the Alpe di Siusi, mountain bikers will experience trails boasting more than 2,500 hm as well as short trails, day tours, or even paths and courses requiring more than one day. All these trails boast a stunning view over the legends that are the Sciliar, Sassolungo, Sassopiatto, and Catinaccio mountains.

©www.wisthaler.com

The “Tour Panoramico dell’Alpe di Siusi” (Alpe di Siusi scenic tour) is ideal for whoever wants to hop on their mountain bike and enjoy a pleasant ride combined with beautiful views of the Alps – an interesting option as lift facilities can take cyclists to the starting point at the top. For seasoned cyclists looking for a bit more of a challenge, the 7 km to the Monte Cavone, after cycling the Giro della Croce Schnaggenkreuz, are the perfect choice.

The breathtaking itineraries crossing Val Duron, the Siusi-Compaccio trail, and the route between the plateau and Val Gardena are of a medium level. For easier options, choose the path uniting Alpe di Siusi-Val Gardena with the end of the Valle Isarco.

Mountain bike holidays in Alpe di Siusi: www.seiseralm.it

MTB Alpe di Siusi: www.mtb-dolomites.com/seiseralm

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