6-Week Spring Maratona dles Dolomites Sportive training plan (Zwift compatible)

If you’re an intermediate cyclist coming out of winter and ready to lift your training up a level, this 6-week spring plan is designed to rebuild momentum, improve fitness, and establish a strong foundation for the specific demands of the Maratona dles Dolomites. It’s the ideal transition from winter consistency into focused preparation for one of cycling’s most iconic and demanding mountain sportives, characterised by repeated climbs, long days in the saddle, and sustained efforts at altitude.

Who’s it for?
This training plan is aimed at intermediate cyclists with a solid winter base who are ready to begin a more purposeful build toward the Maratona. Whether you’ve trained consistently through the colder months or are sharpening things up as the days lengthen, the plan provides structure and direction at exactly the right point in the season. It helps bridge the gap between general winter fitness and the strength, stamina, and confidence required to manage prolonged climbing and cumulative fatigue across multiple mountain passes.

Is it for you?
This plan assumes you’re comfortable riding both indoors (such as Zwift) and outdoors, and happy combining structured quality sessions with longer endurance rides as conditions improve. It’s ideal if you want to transition smoothly into spring training without burning out, while developing the key qualities needed for the Maratona dles Dolomites: sustained climbing strength, efficient pacing over long ascents, the ability to hold tempo for extended periods, and maintaining composure deep into a long and demanding day.

You’ll be building the foundations needed for legendary Dolomite climbs such as the Passo Campolongo, Passo Pordoi, Passo Sella, Passo Gardena, Passo Giau, and Valparola, where steep gradients, repeated ascents, altitude, and accumulated fatigue place a premium on aerobic strength, muscular endurance, and disciplined pacing.

What’s involved?
The plan builds progressively over 6 weeks, balancing structure with flexibility to allow consistent improvement without excessive fatigue. Each week works across the key training zones, using indoor sessions for precision and control alongside outdoor rides to develop endurance, climbing strength, and real-world durability. There’s a strong emphasis on aerobic conditioning, sustained tempo and sweet-spot work, strength endurance, and fatigue resistance, all crucial for handling repeated climbs and long days in the mountains.

The goal isn’t to peak during these six weeks. Instead, you’ll come out of this spring block fitter, stronger, and more resilient, perfectly positioned to move into the final, more Maratona-specific phase of preparation feeling confident, motivated, and ready to train with real intent for the Dolomites ahead.