Open to amateur cyclists, the Maratona—with 9,000 riders chosen from 30,000 applicants,[1] from over 70 nations—is one of the biggest Italian Granfondo bicycle races.

The route was unique and snaked through seven Dolomite passes: Gardena, Sella, Fedaia, Duran, Forcella Staulanza, Falzarego and Valparola over 175 kilometres (109 mi).

The Maratona dles Dolomites Committee was formed and substituted the Rodes Alta Badia, with the arduous task of organising and foreseeing the ‘future’ of what was becoming a special event as part of a gran fondo cycle race.

The growing success of the Maratona led the new committee to think of limiting numbers, although the competition retained the same format.

The Maratona was dedicated to ‘colours’ and had a special guest: Jetsum Pema, the sister of the Dalai Lama, representing the Tibetan Children's Village Association.

The children's cycle race changed its name and became the "Maratona for Kids", still organised by Maria Canins.

The race was broadcast live from the start and for the first time there was a YouTube film contest dedicated to the Maratona.

The ecological focus of the Maratona is increasingly central and evident, and edition was entitled ‘Eco?Logical!’.

New features in 2012 included: official jerseys no longer wrapped individually in plastic packages (eliminating a ton of useless waste – around 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) of plastic), the eco-pocket on the side of the jersey, the use of completely recyclable propylene cups and plates at the finish line refreshment point and a 60% reduction in paper inside the race packs, thanks to the help of partners and sponsors.

Numbered slips were also given out to all riders at the finish line who, once they had received a drink, gave the plastic bottle back for collection in a recycling bin.

Michil Costa, the event organiser, described the day after six hours of live TV broadcasting as "…an important page in a book of wonders, the ideal combination of nature, culture and plenty of heart".

8,969 riders left La Villa in a 36-minute long train, the time it took the cyclists to enter the competition to the rhythm of live music and encouragement.

[7] All cyclists on the medium and long route, during the second passage through La Villa, were asked to face a final tough challenge: 200 metres (660 ft) after the turn for Corvara, then had to climb the  "mür dl giat" (the cat's wall), as the inhabitants of La Villa are known as ‘cats’.

The route comprised twists and turns through the seven Dolomite passes: Pordoi, Sella, Campolongo, Falzarego, Gardena, Valparola, Giau, starting from La Villa and finishing to Corvara.

For the second year in a row, the male winner was Tommaso Elettrico from Matera in 4h38’13" followed by Igor Zanetti and Paolo Castelnovo, both after 50".

[1] For more than half an hour, racers paraded on the road from La Villa to Corvara and then they tackled the first difficulty of the race, i.e. the Campolongo.

These emotions were described live on TV, on the RAI 2 channel, that followed the entire race in a six-hour long sequence of images.

Tomorrow is closely linked to today, as evidenced by the initiatives of solidarity in favour of the Colle Santa Lucia and Livinallongo municipalities, through which the Maratona cyclists have raced for years.

For this reason, the Committee of the Maratona dles Dolomites - Enel organized a fund-raising initiative for the two Municipalities using special entries to the race.

Many Italian celebrities cycled this year including: Martina Colombari, Nicola Savino, Paolo Bettini, Davide Cassani, Robert Kubica, Alex Zanardi, Carlos Checa, Filippo Pozzato, Dorothea Wierer, Lisa Vittozzi, Sofia Goggia, Kristian Ghedina, Vittorio Brumotti, Federico Pellegrino, Maria Canins and others.

For the third year in a row, the male winner was the Italian Tommaso Elettrico in 4h36’20" followed by Fabio Cini and Vincenzo Pisani, both after 4'.

[10] However, the organizers launched the MyMdD initiative, which allowed cyclists to ride the Maratona individually through the summer and autumn.

Fabio Cini and Marta Maltha won the long course of 138 kilometres and over 4,000m altitude gain in the Ladin Dolomites.

[11] Inspired by the theme Umanité (humanity), the 36th edition of the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel offered a spectacle on the Dolomite passes, which were closed to traffic for one day.

Loïc Ruffaut and Samantha Arnaudo won the longest stage, 138 kilometres long and over 4.000 metres in altitude.

The sky was cloudy when the 8.050 cyclists started the 37th edition of the Maratona dles Dolomites - Enel, dedicated to Mutatio, the constant metamorphosis that characterises today's world.

Even the weather was changeful, with rain at times, but this did not spoil the festive atmosphere, in fact it made the day even more epic.

Riders wishing to tackle it, do not stop after the Sellaronda's finish line, but directly proceed to ascend Campolongo Pass a second time.

From there the road descends to the village of San Ćiascian and passing through La Ila reaches the finishing line in Corvara.

There it reunites with the Middle course and having crossed Valparola Pass follows the same road through San Ćiascian and La Ila to the finish line in Corvara.