Cycling around the Sella Massif

The tour around the Sella massif is one of the most legendary cycling routes in the Dolomites. Once reserved only for top professionals, the route known as the Sellaronda is now accessible to well-trained amateur mountain bikers and road cyclists. This unique route crosses three Italian provinces, connecting four Ladin valleys—Val Badia with Alta Badia, Val Gardena, Arabba, and Val di Fassa—and the Gardena, Sella, Campolongo, and Pordoi passes.

For enthusiasts, one of the most anticipated events is the Sellaronda Bike Day, which in 2026 will celebrate its twentieth edition. On two days — June 6^th and September 12^th — the Dolomite passes will be completely closed to motorised traffic and open to thousands of cyclists of all ages. The roads will also be reserved for bicycles during Dolomites Bike Day on June 20^th when the Campolongo, Falzarego, and Valparola passes will be dedicated exclusively to racing bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes, tandems, vintage bikes, and bikes with trailers for children.

Two exceptional characters, a mountain bike guide and a road cyclist tell us more about this exciting two-wheeled journey. Klaus Irsara is 54 and grew up in Alta Badia where he works as a mountain bike guide. He is also the co-founder of the Dolomite Biking Guide Team, a company specializing in guided tours in the Dolomites, and if that were not enough, he and his sister Monica also run a bike hotel. Judith Pezzei, 31, is originally from San Cassiano in Alta Badia and in addition to working in a tax consultancy firm, she has been a certified cycling guide since 2023, as well as teaching skiing in the winter.

VS How did you get into cycling?

KI I've been practically cycling forever. As a child, I rode BMX, then around sixteen I was given my first mountain bike. Then, when I was in my mid-twenties, I bought my first racing bike, inspired by the Maratona dles Dolomites, one of the most challenging amateur races of all, and that’s where I really discovered my passion for cycling. Later, I trained as an MTB guide and in 2010, together with some friends, I founded the Dolomite Biking Guide Team  and it was in that same year that the Sellaronda MTB tour was started. Looking back, I can say it was a very ambitious and almost pioneering project. At the time, many cable cars still didn't want to carry bikes, and even among bikers, using lifts was unusual. Today, everything has changed: mountain bikes are designed much more for downhill riding, and using cable cars is now part of the experience.

JP As a child, I didn't like cycling at all. I hated my bicycle: it was a city bike with heavy gears, which made climbing mountains almost impossible. When I went out with friends, I was always the last to arrive and often had to get off and push. At a certain point, I decided to approach things differently: my parents gave me a real mountain bike, and I joined a cycling club. That's where I discovered my passion for cycling, and that was when everything changed.

VS Why is it worth doing the Sellaronda on a mountain bike?

KI  The Sellaronda is an extraordinary experience for every cyclist. In a single day, you can circumnavigate the entire Sella massif, crossing four Ladin valleys. On a mountain bike, the connection with Nature is particularly intense: the panorama changes constantly, and spectacular views open up around every bend. Thanks to the ski lifts, you can reach trails up to 2,500 metres above sea level, which is much higher than what you normally experience on a racing bike. It's simply fantastic.

JP Beyond the incredible views, the unique feature of the route is that it crosses four Ladin valleys, each with its own distinct culture, traditions and lifestyle. Each valley offers a different perspective on the iconic Dolomite mountains such as the Marmolada, Sassolungo and Santa Croce. The Sella massif appears completely different on every stretch of the route.

VS What’s in store for cyclists along the route?

JP Those who tackle the Sellaronda on the road will come up against a wide variety of climbs and descents. The real challenge is the constant changes in pace, which test both endurance and concentration. The route exclusively follows the classic paved roads of the Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella and Gardena passes, each of which is unique in terms of technical characteristics and landscape. The round trip is approximately fifty kilometers long with a height gain of 1,700 metres so for a trained cyclist, it should take between three and five hours.

KI The Sellaronda is a genuine all-day excursion and should not be underestimated. It can be ridden clockwise—more technical—or counterclockwise, which is easier. Depending on the variant, the route covers between 55 and 58 kilometers, with altitudes ranging from 1,400 to 2,500 meters. In particular it's the descents that surprise many cyclists since they are both technical and challenging, and demand good bike control. To get the best out of the experience, you really need a certain level of technical preparation, as the focus here is on descending rough rocky trails, rather than pedalling. The mix of natural trails and purpose-built trails is also very interesting.

VS What should you pay attention to when preparing?

JP To tackle the Sellaronda, you need excellent physical preparation and good riding technique. Nutrition is also essential: having enough energy before and during the tour is crucial. As a route it’s suitable for both professionals and amateurs, while it's also recommended for families and children especially during the Sellaronda Bike Day, when the passes are closed to traffic.

KI The right bike is essential. For the Sellaronda, I recommend a full-suspension mountain bike, preferably geared towards downhill riding. It's essential to thoroughly check your bike before setting off: the brakes must be in perfect condition and the pads adequate for long descents. Tyres and pressure should also be checked, as many people ride with too much air in the tyres. Basic equipment should include a helmet, gloves, knee pads, water and energy bars because, it's important to stay focused during the trip, as well as take regular breaks, eat, drink and of course enjoy the view.

VS Is it possible to do the tour with a guide?

KI Yes, and I highly recommend it. It would be even better to do an ordinary route with a guide first, so as to assess your technical level and then choose the best route on offer. This not only increases safety, but it’s also more fun.

JP Absolutely. A guided tour greatly enhances the experience, because a guide not only helps with route selection, but also reveals interesting aspects of Ladin culture, Nature, and the landscape. Of course, the tour can also be done independently on a racing bike, as long as you're familiar with long descents and mountain bends.

VS How do you see Alta Badia developing as a cycling destination?

JP I believe Alta Badia could do more to promote itself as a cycling region, focusing especially on environmental sustainability. I would like cycling and Nature conservation to be even more closely linked, so as to maintain the region's appeal well into the future.

KI I would like cycling in Alta Badia to be more widely considered. Needs have changed significantly: today, there are so many different forms of cycling, and a simple bike path is no longer sufficient to meet this diversity. Furthermore, cycling has become a central component of sustainable mobility which is precisely why it is important to plan and develop this evolution over the long term.