3 days bike adventure — the Stoneman Dolomiti Challenge
The Stoneman Trail in the Dolomites is a real challenge. Nevertheless, the Stoneman is neither an event nor a race. It is a multi-stage trail, especially designed for mountain bikers, a challenge without racing stress that you can take on at any time. You ride to five checkpoints, which occupy your journey. And you'll get a trophy at the end if you make it. But the unforgettable biking experience on the most beautiful trails of the Sesto Dolomites would be reward enough. The Stoneman is a sustainable, impressive nature experience that you will never forget.
The idea
The idea originated from former professional cyclist Roland Stauder. After he finished his active career, the idea of the Stoneman matured in him. A challenge from the biker for bikers. The aim is to complete a given route within a certain period of time and to prove this yourself at five checkpoints in the form of postmarks. But this challenge has nothing to do with rigid racing feeling. This challenge is tailor-made: Whether you complete the checkpoints on one, two or three days is up to you. This makes the Stoneman Dolomiti a real test for hard-bitten endurance professionals, but is also easy for normal Otto bikers to master in three days. So that you can fully enjoy your time in the Dolomites, we have turned the big Stoneman round into three shorter tours, all of which start and end in San Candido. So you can set up your base camp here and start the next stage well recovered the next day. In the end you have collected about 5,300 altitude meters and 167 kilometers. To get the official trophy for it and also to support this beautiful project, you can buy a "starter package" before the tour (23 Euro), which contains the stamp bracelet next to beautiful goodies. All information can be found here: stoneman.it/de/stoneman-dolomiti
Bike & Stuff
Since you are on the way in partly high alpine terrain, it goes without saying that you prepare yourself a little bit. The most necessary spare parts belong in the backpack, as well as some emergency food, a first aid kit and clothing for a possible weather change. You need cash to rest in the idyllically situated mountain huts. When it comes to biking you are best advised with a normal Tourenfully or Endurobike.
By the way: The name Stoneman comes from the "stoanernen Mandln", the stacked stone figures that grow a little bit with every hiker or biker. When you come over, you can put a little stone on top and leave your trail!
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
Sign Up To Discover Places Like This
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
This tour presents itself as "Stoneman Dolomiti Warmup". Which does not mean that she will not challenge you. After all, you are in the Dolomites and about 1,500 meters in altitude want to be mastered first. However, they are distributed over a relatively moderate, albeit long, ascent from Toblach up to the Marchkinkel. Here you mostly follow an old military road, which is easy to drive and slowly winds towards the summit.The area here is nice and quiet, you probably will not meet anyone for a long time. Conversely, this means: You can expect almost no rest stops. The only opportunity presents itself about halfway up: To get to the Silvesteralm, you need only a minimal detour to drive. Alternatively, we recommend that you bring along enough provisions and enjoy the fresh water of the drinking water just before the summit. Up here, a breathtaking view awaits you - just to enjoy.As long as the ascent was, so intense and beautiful, and above all so long is the following descent. The starts a bit gruff, but on the whole is easy to master and also technically less experienced drivers before no unsolvable problems.
The second tour starts again with a relaxed warm-up program, this time along the beautiful Drauradweg. But in fact it is rather the calm before the storm: The ascent from Sillian to the Sillianer hut costs a few grains. At around four kilometers, 1,330 meters of altitude are waiting for you. If you stay up in the saddle, you've already earned a trophy! So take it easy and treat yourself to a quiet break on the Leckfeldalm.The following humble passage is easy to enjoy. Although the trails are quite demanding in between (some S2 passages and even a short S3 passage), here it is just so beautiful and impressive that you will not be bothered to push a few meters your bike. Then you can at least enjoy the breathtaking view in peace and with your mouth open.The further you come downhill and approach the starting point San Candido, the more relaxed the ride, until you spend the last few kilometers on a beautiful bike path as a pleasurable "Cooldown" program.
Two longer climbs await you on the third Stoneman stage. From the starting point, you start quite loosely in the direction of Moos, shortly it goes on the rise to Knieberg saddle but quite well to the point. The old military route will surely challenge you. There are two great highlights waiting for you: the obligatory, wonderful view and an amazing singletrack.And we're not just saying it like this: the trail from Kniebergsattel via Monta Spina down to Candide is more than ten kilometers long and you just kill 1,100 vertical meters. And as if that was not enough, no matter where you look, you will be captivated by the magnificent panorama of the Dolomites. So: eyes on the trail and do not be distracted too much.Candide is a good point for a break. Because here is about the turning point of the tour, also waiting for even the second climb of the day on you: the drive up to the Kreuzbergpass and up to Rotwandwiesenhütte. So it does not hurt to rest and strengthen yourself here a bit. All you need is the small Italian village.Tip:
If you want to save ten kilometers from Innichen to Moos, you can use the bus service between both locations.
Like this Collection?
Collection Stats
- Tours3
- Distance104 mi
- Duration17:43 h
- Elevation17,425 ft
