Want to test yourself in 2015? Places available on Maratona dles Dolomites (+ video)

Fancy testing yourself by riding one of the world’s great sportives amid some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery next year? Public entries for the Maratona dles Dolomites sold out within days. But Action Medical Research has charity places available for £500 if you want to treat yourself – or a ‘cyclist who has everything’ who you know – to a special Christmas present while helping fund its work.

There are 50 places available for the 29th edition of the event, which takes place on Sunday 5 July 2015, and all of the entrance fee goes directly to the charity.

Three routes options are available – the 55km Sellaronda with an altitude gain of 1,780m, the 106km Middle Course with 3,130 of climbing, and the 138km with an altitude gain of 4,230m.

The latter includes the imposing Passo Giau, one of the Giro d’Italia’s iconic climbs, and the sixth of the seven mountain passes traversed during the Maratona dles Dolomites.

With 9,000 entrants, the event is on a smaller scale than L’Etape du Tour and may appeal to those who have become a bit jaded with the French event and want to set themselves a new challenge.

The £500 fee does not include flights or accommodation – you can find travel information and advice regarding where to stay on the Maratona dles Dolomites website. There’s also an FAQ here.

The videos below, including one featuring ex-pro Daniel Lloyd riding the event and another with his training tips, give you an idea of what to expect, while for more insight, here's what our own VecchioJo had to say about taking part in last year's edition.

Oh and in case you're wondering about the event's name - that's not Italian, it's Ladin, the language native to the Dolomites.