Registration for one of Europe’s toughest sportives, the Maratona dles Dolomites, is now open.

The Maratona, a gran fondo which features on the bucket lists of many cyclists, will roll out of Italy’s Alta Badia region on Sunday July 5 next year.

This year’s event saw 30,000 people apply for just 9,000 places and similar numbers are expected this time out, with registration for the 2015 ballot open until Wednesday November 5.

As ever, three routes through the Dolomites have been planned including the brutal full route, which packs in 4,230m of climbing on the 138km course.

Eight Dolomites passes are packed into the route, including a double ascent of the Passo Campolongo and the iconic Passo Giau – a 9.9km climbs with an average gradient of 9.3 per cent.

The medio fondo, meanwhile, is 106km with six passes amounting to 3,130m of ascent.

Finally, the Sellaronda short course takes in four Dolomites passes, with the scenic 55km route still taking in more than 1,780m climbing.

Pre-registration costs €2 (£1.58), and it is a further €89
(£70) to enter the sportive if you are successful in the ballot, plus a €10 chip deposit.

The ballot for places will be drawn in late November, while two batches of 193 tickets will be released later for charity places.

Organisers have additionally announced the ‘Maratona for Kids, by Sportful’, which will take place on Saturday July 4, as well as a new partnership with Castelli for the official Maratona kit.

To enter the ballot for the 2015 Maratona dles Dolomites then follow this link.