Stoneman Dolomiti – Your Bike Experience in the Dolomites

Mountain biking and the Dolomites – they just belong together. Since mountain biking became popular all over Europe in the 1990s, the Alps in northern Italy have quickly developed into an MTB hotspot. It is therefore no coincidence that one of the most successful mountain bikers in history comes from South Tyrol: Roland Stauder. The now 52-year-old was a professional for more than 20 years, has won races all over the world, even winning the overall mountain bike World Cup in 2003. However, he did not create his greatest work in mountain biking until after his career: the Stoneman. It was Stauder who thought of the route for the Stoneman Dolomiti, marked it with the typical stone figures – called "Stoanerne Mandln" in South Tyrol – and thus brought the Stoneman idea to life.

The first edition of the Stoneman Dolomiti was officially launched in 2009. Since then, the Stoneman Trail in the Dolomites has developed into one of the most popular mountain bike routes – both in Italy and far beyond the Italian borders. More than 11000 enthusiastic mountain bikers have already finished the Stoneman Italy – and the number is growing rapidly. And no wonder, with its incomparable mountain panoramas, the Three Peaks of Lavaredo as the backdrop and its wonderfully developed bike trails and downhill routes, the region offers perfect conditions for a special kind of off-road adventure. The Stoneman event is not a race, but a demanding tour. You're just riding against the clock – and your own self. From any starting date between April to October, you have a maximum of three days to reach all checkpoints and win one of the trophies personally designed by Roland Stauder.

You have to conquer a total of 115 kilometres and 4000 vertical metres of climbing on the Stoneman Dolomiti. There are five potential starting points or checkpoints that you must pass on your way to the Stoneman trophy: Sexten, Innichen, Sillian, Padola and – new to the list – the mountain station of the Rotwandbahn at an altitude of around 1,900 metres, which is a real highlight in terms of both landscape and sport. Where you go on the Stoneman route is up to you! As with every Stoneman variant, you have either one day (Stoneman Dolomiti Gold), two days (Stoneman Dolomiti Silver) or three days (Stoneman Dolomiti Bronze) to complete the route. However, we only recommend the gold version to extremely ambitious athletes. Even the silver tour is extremely demanding. And if you want to secure the bronze Stoneman trophy, you should still be able to handle daily stages with at least 1500 meters of climbing.

But be careful, don't be fooled by the seemingly simple indications of altitude. The climbs are sometimes extremely steep. Then there are the technical requirements: The around ten-kilometre-long Stoneman Trail Humility Passage for example, is a heavily exposed trail where a head for heights and solid riding skills are the absolute basic requirements. There is even a one-kilometre section with a real risk of falling. It is not without reason that the organizers point out on the Stoneman website that you ride the Dolomites-Stoneman at your own risk. However, there is also a signposted bypass to avoid this section.

With Stoneman Kids, even little heroes can experience the great Dolomite adventure. Over 14 kilometres full of fun, nature and trail experiences, young riders – provided they have the right children's MTB – can proudly show that they also share the true Stoneman spirit.

With its unique MTB route through the Dolomites, the Stoneman Dolomiti will demand a lot from you. Not only with regards to physical effort but also in terms of equipment and material. When it comes to biking, we recommend a typical MTB transalp, i.e. a full-suspension mountain bike on which you can easily master the challenging alpine trails. The most suitable for the majority of riders is an all-mountain bike, numerous versions of which you can find at BIKE24 – including a dropper seat post for the downhill routes. When it comes to clothing, you should also plan ahead and think carefully about what to pack in your mountain bike backpack. You will cross the 2500-metre altitude mark several times on your Stoneman adventure, and with the often rapid weather changes in the high mountains, weatherproof apparel like a rain jacket is an absolute must.

Because of the special requirements of the Stoneman Dolomiti there is still more equipment to plan for: we recommend a first-aid kit so that you can take care of yourself in the event of a fall. Due to the particular difficulties and often very long climbs, you should also take enough sports nutrition with you. The rule of thumb is to pack two more bars and one more gel than you actually plan to use – this will save you from the dreaded bonk! You will also find a large product range here at BIKE24. The packing list for your mtb backpack is rounded off by a mobile phone so that you can reach the mountain rescue service in an emergency. Pro tip: It’s essential to save the number beforehand – this saves valuable time in an emergency.

To make your Stoneman experience a very special one, we also recommend that you book your accommodation early on. South Tyrol is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe, with millions of people coming here every year to go hiking in the Dolomites. Hotels are therefore booked out quickly, especially in the high season. A whole infrastructure of Dolomite bike hotels has developed around the Stoneman, all of which specialize in making your Stoneman experience as enjoyable as possible. You can find all information about these accommodations on the Stoneman Dolomiti homepage.

By the way – The Stoneman MTB mountain bike event is not the only available version of the Stoneman Dolomiti. Among others, a road bike version is offered under the name Stoneman Dolomiti Road. And you can even go hiking like a Stoneman on the Stoneman Dolomiti Hike. Whether on knobby tires, narrow road bike tires or with hiking boots – the motto is always the same: #YouRockStoneman.