A brand new gravel race in the Dolomites, with UCI stamp and support from the Veneto region. At 20 June 2026 goes the GT3 Lavaredo (Grand Tour 3 Cime Lavaredo) will start from Auronzo di Cadore, as part of the UCI Gravel World Series. The event was set up as a concrete ‘legacy’ project of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. We pulled apart the profiles and the course.
From ski slopes to gravel roads
The organisers are not mincing their words. This year's Winter Olympics put the Dolomites in the global spotlight, and GT3 Lavaredo is intended to hold that attention after the Games. “‘Legacy’ is not a slogan,” they write. “It means improved infrastructure, consolidated organisational strength and the ability to attract an international audience even after the Games.”
The idea is to ‘de-seasonalise’ tourism in the province of Belluno, away from pure winter sports towards year-round cycling. Those behind the event include the Veneto region, the Provincia di Belluno, the municipality of Auronzo di Cadore and the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI). The same organisation, incidentally, ran the UCI Gravel World Cup 2023 In Pieve di Soligo.
Five climbs, nearly 2,000 metres high
The course of the GT3 Lavaredo is challenging to say the least. The Granfondo is the main one: 133 km with such 3,200 altimeters, start and finish in Auronzo di Cadore (831m). Five categorised climbs, with the highest point being the Klammbach is at 1,929 metres, around kilometre 40. The last serious obstacle is the Passo Tre Croci (1,795m) at kilometre 100, followed by a long descent towards the finish.
| Granfondo | Mediofondo | Audax ARI Brevet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | 133 km | 105 km | 133 km |
| Altimeters | ~3.200m | ~2.500m | ~3.200m |
| Highest point | 1.929m | 1.929m | 1.929m |
| Cycling | Gravel, MTB | Gravel, MTB | Gravel, MTB, E-Bike |
The route passes through the Somadida forest, along Lago di Misurina and over historic WWI trails on Monte Piana. The profile shows five categorised climbs with a total of 3,200 altimeters.
Option for World Cup qualification
GT3 Lavaredo counts as a qualifier for the UCI Gravel World Cup 2026 that this year in Nannup, Australia (10-11 October). The top 25% per age category qualify. The UCI Gravel World Series counts 45 events in 32 countries this year. If you want to ride an alpine qualifier in Europe in June, this is your chance. The course has 3,200 altitude metres and long descents. June at altitude in the Dolomites means changeable weather, so prepare well. You could also say there are easier options to qualify.
Who will put it on the calendar?
Do you have any experience of gravelling around Cortina or Auronzo, or know of a good base there? We would love to hear from you. We only have experience with Alpine gravel in Bolzano and that did come highly recommended.
