Less than 100 days, precisely 96, remain until the start of the 48th Dolomites Tour. Preparations for the beloved cycling tour through the fantastic South Tyrolean mountains, which will take place from Monday, July 21 to Friday, July 25, are in full swing. Those who have not yet registered for the renowned sporting event must hurry: on April 22, registration costs will increase.

The big day will arrive in just over three months: then, at the Dolomites Tour, hundreds of cyclists on their racing bikes will explore the most beautiful South Tyrolean locations and mountain passes. Although 96 days remain until the start, this doesn't mean the organizers of the five-day cycling tour are twiddling their thumbs. Preparations for the forty-eighth edition of the Dolomites Tour have been proceeding smoothly for months, as explained by the organizing committee president Bettina Ravanelli: "Everything is going according to plan. Fortunately, we have an experienced team that knows exactly what to do. Registrations have started well, with about 250 cyclists already signed up who, as in previous years, come from various countries. Once again, the participant group will have a strong international component. We're delighted to hear a mix of different languages."

Regarding the Dolomites Tour program, a modification has been made to a single stage. The final stage, which will take place on Friday, July 25, will no longer include the Monzoccolo. On the last day of the beloved tour, cyclists will head towards the Alpe di Siusi, Europe's largest alpine pasture. Another novelty is the team classification. Composed of four participants each, male, female, or mixed teams (with at least one woman in the team) will compete for victory in the time trial stages, as already happens in the individual race.

Five stages across the entire province with two major highlights

The program for the other stages has been defined for some time. From Monday, July 21 to Friday, July 25, the tour will cross almost the entire northernmost province of Italy, from Lower Adige to Upper Val Venosta. The logistical center will remain in Bolzano Fair this year as well. From there, in South Bolzano, the first stage will depart, taking participants to the Sanctuary of Madonna di Pietralba. The next day's program will offer the first of the two major event highlights: the famous Sellaronda. Participants will circle the Sella Group (counterclockwise) starting from Ponte Gardena, and in what will be the queen stage of the event, they will cover a distance of 107 kilometers with 3,100 meters of elevation gain.

Wednesday will continue with the Mendola and Palade passes, which will be explored starting from Bolzano. These two passes have always been loved by cyclists. The same applies to the Stelvio Pass, scheduled for Thursday, July 24, which will be the second highlight of the event, with its famous hairpin turns. On Friday, July 25, the final stage of the 48th Dolomites Tour will take participants from Bolzano to Alpe di Siusi, one of the most famous plateaus in the world.

Registrations continue at full speed

Regarding the registration fee, currently participating in the entire Dolomites Tour costs 600 euros. Starting from April 22, the cost will increase by 50 euros. This includes a rich race package, refreshments at individual stages, various services along the route such as mechanical assistance, broom wagon service, and much more, plus the official jersey of the 48th Dolomites Tour. For participating in individual stages, the registration cost is 130 euros per stage. Interested people can register for the event on the official event website (www.girodolomiti.com).