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Ultra Trail Lago Maggiore 2026

« A Nature Trail »
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Photo credits: Farida
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🛶 Lakes & ponds🏞 Nature⛰ Mountain🌲 Forest🏔 At altitude
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The event in a few words

If you’re a romantic, you probably know Lake Como in Italy 🏞️. But in September, we’re taking you somewhere else: to Lake Maggiore, a blue jewel nestled between Piedmont and Lombardy. It’s the largest lake in the region, and you quickly understand why it’s also called the Verbano: verbena grows everywhere here 🌱. But forget the herbal tea: your infusion will be a good dose of climbing, rocks, and XXL panoramas 🍵. Ready? Andiamo! 🇮🇹

This lake is steeped in history 😮. Did you know that in 1935, the Stresa Front was signed here—an agreement between Mussolini, Churchill, and Laval to counter the rising power of Nazi Germany? 🤓 And in the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte even stayed here! 📍To make history yourself, you first have to find a trail beneath your feet. With distances of 60, 38, 24, or 13 km, it’s up to you to choose your menu 😋. And what a menu! If you tick the 60 km, expect 4,300 m D+ to haul yourself up to Monte Zeda at 2,156 m 😵‍💫. On your way through Val Grande National Park, you’ll come across Monte Spalavera and Monte Fajè. Fair warning: it’s going to climb hard and roll out along ridgelines 🤪. Don’t feel like torching your legs over 60K? The 38 km and its 2,200 m D+ are there for you 🤗. On the program: Pizzo Pernice, Monte Todum, Cossogno, and still Monte Fajè ⛰️. The view? Just as grandiose, between fir trees, summits, and the lake’s blue shimmering down below 🌄. Want something a notch softer? Try the 24 km with its 1,350 m D+, a nice loop passing through Cossogno, Rovegro and Cavandone—enough to feel your quads heat up, but without sacrificing your knees 🦵. And for fans of the express format, there’s the 13 km with its 400 m D+, just to say you ran, but mostly that you got the visual slap as a bonus: Val Grande National Park, the village of Mergozzo, Pallanza, and that constant postcard of the lake as a backdrop 🏞️. You got it: there’s something for every taste and every craving 🙌.

After firing up your quads, it’s time for a warrior’s rest: around Lago Maggiore, you can stroll the alleys of Stresa, head up to the Borromean Islands to visit palaces and tropical gardens, or hop on a boat to Isola Bella and Isola Madre: a little taste of Dolce Vita guaranteed 🌞. Craving nature? Go hiking in Val Grande, explore hidden waterfalls, or climb a few more summits if you’ve still got calves left ⛰️. And post-race? We’re talking gastronomy, of course: risotto with lake fish 🐟, creamy polenta, red-wine braised beef 🥩, not forgetting panna cotta and a glass of Barolo or Nebbiolo to wash it all down 🍷.

So, ready to make your calves dance like a wild tarantella? 💃

Alcohol should be consumed in moderation ⚠️.

4 reasons to join this race

For the scenery ⛰️
You’ll rack up the kilometers with incredible panoramas over one of Italy’s largest lakes. Between its calm waters, the Borromean Islands offshore, and ridgelines like Monte Zeda or Monte Spalavera. Every viewpoint will remind you why you got up in the morning to train all summer! 🤩
A wild, unspoiled playground 🌱
Here, you’ll lace up right in the heart of Val Grande National Park, the largest wilderness area in Italy 🇮🇹. It’ll be just you, your legs, the mountain, and the silence 🤫. A real breath of fresh air and a technical terrain just the way we like it to set your quads on fire.
For the ITRA points 🏅
The 60 km course earns you 3 ITRA points, the 38 km earns 2, and the 24 km will let you grab 1 ITRA point. Enough to add a great line to your record… and bring you closer to your UTMB dreams! ⛰️
For the choice of formats 🙌
No need to be an extreme ultra-trail runner to have fun 🤗. With its 4 distances (60, 38, 24, or 13 km), everyone can come test the terrain of Verbano and enjoy this unique atmosphere 🌱. Whether you’re aiming for the summit of Monte Zeda or a gentler loop around Mergozzo, you’ll head home with your head full of memories.

A distance for every taste

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

You can pick up your bib at the UTLM village:

  • Friday 25 September 2026 from 10am to 7pm

  • Saturday 26 September 2026 from 5am to 3pm

The races will start:

  • For the 60 km: Viale Lido Cannero (VB), at 7am

  • For the 38 km: Miazzina Sports Center (VB), at 9am

  • For the 24 km: P.zza V. Emanuele II, 2 Cossogno (VB), at 10am

  • For the 13 km: Via Pallanza, 2 Mergozzo (VB), at 5pm

  • WILD 60K: minimum 20 years old (must be at least 20 during the year 2026 / born in 2006 or earlier).

  • BRAVE 38K: minimum 20 years old (born in 2006 or earlier).

  • SCENIC 24K: minimum 18 years old (must be at least 18 on race day / born in 2008 or earlier).

  • SUNSET 13K: minimum 18 years old (born in 2008 or earlier).

Yes, here are the maximum times:

  • WILD 60K (60.4 km / 4,300 m D+): 17 h 00

  • BRAVE 38K (38.1 km / 2,200 m D+): 11 h 00

  • SCENIC 24K (24.3 km / 1,330 m D+): 9 h 00

  • SUNSET 13K (12.9 km / 380 m D+): 3 h 00

Yes! Here they are:

  • WILD 60K: 5 aid stations on the course (+ the finish).

  • BRAVE 38K: 3 aid stations on the course (+ the finish).

  • SCENIC 24K: 2 aid stations on the course (+ the finish).

  • SUNSET 13K: 1 aid station on the course (+ the finish).

Yes, here it is:

For the 60 km:

  • Backpack or belt with enough space for all mandatory gear

  • GPS watch/device with GPX track

  • GPS tracker provided by the organization

  • Mobile phone with emergency numbers saved, always switched on

  • Trail shoes suitable for alpine terrain (gravel, rocks, slabs)

  • Cup or container for drinks/food (no cup provided)

  • Water bottle or hydration bladder (min. 1 L)

  • Headlamp + spare battery or 2 headlamps

  • Emergency blanket (min. 2.0 m x 1.40 m)

  • Whistle

  • Elastic strapping band (min. 100 cm x 6 cm)

  • Food reserve

  • Waterproof/breathable jacket (GORETEX-type) with hood for bad weather

  • Long pants or ¾-length tights + long socks covering the whole leg

  • Long-sleeved T-shirt

  • Cap, beanie, or bandana covering the whole head

  • Waterproof gloves

For the 38 km:

  • Backpack or belt with enough space for all mandatory gear

  • GPS watch/device with GPX track

  • Mobile phone with emergency numbers saved, always switched on

  • Trail shoes suitable for alpine terrain (gravel, rocks, slabs)

  • Cup or container for drinks/food

  • Water bottle or hydration bladder (min. 1 L)

  • Headlamp + spare battery or 2 headlamps

  • Emergency blanket

  • Whistle

  • Elastic strapping band

  • Food reserve

  • Waterproof/breathable jacket with hood

  • Long pants or ¾-length tights + long socks

  • Long-sleeved T-shirt

  • Cap, beanie, or bandana

  • Waterproof gloves

For the 24 km

  • Backpack or belt with enough space

  • Mobile phone always switched on with emergency numbers

  • Suitable trail shoes

  • Cup or container

  • Water bottle or hydration bladder (min. 1 L)

  • Headlamp + spare battery or 2 headlamps

  • Emergency blanket

  • Whistle

  • Elastic strapping band

  • Waterproof/breathable jacket with hood

For the 13 km

  • Mobile phone always switched on

  • Suitable trail or running shoes

  • Cup or container

  • Water bottle or hydration bladder (min. 1 L)

  • Emergency blanket

  • Whistle

  • Elastic strapping band

Recommended gear (all distances):

  • ID

  • GPS watch/device with GPX track (24 km and 13 km)

  • Food reserve (24 km and 13 km)

  • Waterproof jacket (13 km)

  • Long pants or ¾-length tights + long socks (13 km)

  • Long-sleeved T-shirt (13 km)

  • Cap, beanie, or bandana (13 km)

  • Waterproof gloves (13 km)

  • Sunglasses + sunscreen

  • Extra warm clothing

  • Waterproof overpants

  • Warm long-sleeved base layer

  • Poles

  • Money for purchases at mountain huts

  • Basic first-aid kit (self-medication for blisters, scrapes…)

For the 60 km:

  • Shuttle departure : 6am (UTLM Village)

For the 38 km:

  • Shuttle departure : 8am (UTLM Village)

For the 24 km:

  • Shuttle departure : 9:30am (UTLM Village)

For the 13 km:

  • Shuttle departure : 3:30pm (UTLM Village)

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