The Maratona Dles Dolomites is the Elfstedentocht of the Dolomites. Rijen Dik, the spectators are encouraging the 9000 participants from 40 countries and the event is broadcast directly on the Italian channel RAI. For riders who do not speak Italian, the incentives from the side may seem hostile from the side, but rest assured: "dai' means 'go† The verbal help is more than welcome, because the most important Italian Gran Fondo (Cyclosportive) is a tough job. For that reason, the organization has built up the ride in such a way that after 55 kilometers, 4 passes and 1780 height meters is possible to stop and still get a medal for the Sella Ronda. Participants who drive on have twenty kilometers later the choice to do the middle distance (106 km, 6 passes and 3090 altimeters) or the total Maratona Dles Dolomites (138 kilometers, 7 passes and a height difference of 4190 meters). That group that opts for the latter also climbs the steepest mountain of the day, the Passo di Giau (9.9 km by 9.3% average). Heavy snowfall on this impressive peak ensured in 1989 that the Maratona, who was held for the first time with 166 participants two years earlier, was canceled.