DECATHLON Yagodina Cave Ultra

Q: What is the DECATHLON Yagodina Cave Ultra? A: The DECATHLON Yagodina Cave Ultra is a 95km ITRA-certified mountain ultra held annually in late May in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria, starting and finishing in Shiroka Laka, Smolyan Province. The course gains 4,780m D+ with a 24-hour time limit. It is an ITRA 4-point race at Mountain Level 6 (Finisher Level 390) and a UTMB Index event. The race is part of the DECATHLON Thracian Ultra event family, which also includes a 50km Thracian Ultra, 21km Gela Run, and 12km Discovery Race.

Q: How hard is the DECATHLON Yagodina Cave Ultra? A: Extremely demanding for its distance. The 95km course carries 50.3 m/km elevation density -- in the same category as UTGS 48km -- with 11.0% average uphill gradient, -11.4% average downhill gradient, and only 13.1% flat terrain. The race opens at km 0.03 with a 583m climb at 19.8% average gradient and reaches 1,980m at Perelik (km 11) before descending 839m at -14.1% average gradient -- all before the first quarter of the race. The 24-hour time limit and overnight duration add cold and navigation demands to the technical gradient profile.

Q: Is the DECATHLON Yagodina Cave Ultra an ITRA qualifier? A: Yes. The 95km carries 4 ITRA points at Mountain Level 6, Finisher Level 390. It is also a UTMB Index event. With 4 ITRA points, it qualifies runners for UTMB events requiring points in the Ultra category and higher. ITRA points are awarded to finishers at the 95km distance.

Q: How much does the DECATHLON Yagodina Cave Ultra cost -- and does it sell out? A: Entry is 65 EUR (0.68 EUR/km). The race does not sell out -- the 95km had approximately 77 registered runners for 2026 from a 300-person cap. Registration opens through ultramarathons.bg (Bulgarian Ultramarathons organisation). The race is held annually in late May; monitor the official site at thracian-ultra.com for next edition registration dates.