ITALIE · Veneto
How Hard Is Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB 120km — 42% Uphill, 18.9% Flat, a Km-85 Crux at 87% Max Gradient, and a 1,031m Descent in the Final 12km?
Informations clés
Distance
120 km
Date
Droit d’inscription
267 EUR
€ / km
€2.23
Nouvelle date en attente
Cette course a déjà eu lieu. La date de la prochaine édition est en attente.
Dolomite icon with UTMB shine: night starts, big passes, and world-class trail festival energy.
The Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB is the flagship 120km race of the annual Dolomites trail festival based in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The course circumnavigates the Sesto Dolomites Natural Park -- a UNESCO World Heritage landscape -- on a 120km loop with 5,800m D+ (48.3 m/km). Terrain splits 42% uphill, 18.9% flat, and 39.1% downhill, with a distance-weighted average uphill gradient of 11.5% (MID tier). Two individual descents each exceed 1,000m of drop. The dominant ascent (721m at 10.83% average) begins at km 85 when runners have absorbed over two-thirds of the course. The biggest descent (1,031m, -10.98% average) fills the final 12km. The race starts at 23:00 from Cortina d'Ampezzo town square on June 26, 2026 -- an electric atmosphere of packed balconies and music in the dark. Mid-pack runners typically reach the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks of Lavaredo) at sunrise, one of the defining images of UTMB World Series racing. Race reports describe the start as runners hanging from every balcony cheering and the town square throbbing with music, and the sunrise at Tre Cime as giving goosebumps. float.one calls it the darling of the Dolomites; teesche.com titles their report as beautiful as it is difficult. With 1,800 places awarded by lottery and a qualification requirement (minimum 60km ultra with 3,000m D+ in the past two years), demand consistently outpaces supply. The 2026 edition is sold out. IS FAR: YES (2.5-4h from Venice VCE or Innsbruck INN; no direct train to Cortina). Entry fee EUR 267.05 includes 22% Italian VAT and 9% NJUKO platform fee. Multi-distance event runs June 24-28, 2026 (120K, 80K, 50K, 20K, 10K). Founded 2007.
Élévation et Terrain
Mètres totaux
5,800m
D+/KM
48.3m/km
Pour référence, le Tor des Géants 330 km a 73 D+/km.
Pente montante moyenne
11.5%
Pente descendante moyenne
-12.4%
Distribution du gradient de montée
| 2–5% | 12.4 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 13.9 km | |
| 10–15% | 11.3 km | |
| 15–20% | 6.4 km | |
| 20%+ | 6.5 km |
Profil de parcours
AnalysedDétail du terrain
| 42% | Montée |
|---|---|
| 18.9% | Plat |
| 39.1% | Descente |
Terrain
Ascensions
Principales montées
| Rank | Length | Elevation gain | Start km | Average gradient | Max gradient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6.7 km · 721 m gain starts km 85 · avg 10.8% · max 87.4% | ||||
| 2 | 7.4 km · 557 m gain starts km 0 · avg 7.5% · max 52.7% | ||||
| 3 | 7.6 km · 543 m gain starts km 42 · avg 7.2% · max 63.2% |
Principales descentes
| Rank | Length | Elevation drop | Start km | Average gradient | Max gradient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.4 km · 1031 m drop starts km 109 · avg -11% · max -66.5% | ||||
| 2 | 10.3 km · 1027 m drop starts km 52 · avg -10% · max -39% | ||||
| 3 | 5.2 km · 497 m drop starts km 73 · avg -10% · max -36.3% |
How Hard Is Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB 120km — 42% Uphill, 18.9% Flat, a Km-85 Crux at 87% Max Gradient, and a 1,031m Descent in the Final 12km?
What Does the Lavaredo Ultra Trail Course Look Like — Sesto Dolomites Circumnavigation, Cristallo, Tofane, Cinque Torri, and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Moment?▼
Q: What does the Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120km course cover — where does it go and what are the key landmarks? | A: The course circumnavigates the Sesto Dolomites Natural Park, starting and finishing in Cortina d'Ampezzo (1,210m). The route passes through or beneath the major Dolomite massifs: Cristallo, Tofane, Cinque Torri, and most iconically the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. For mid-pack runners, the passage below the Tre Cime typically occurs near sunrise, making it one of the most photographed moments in UTMB World Series racing. The course uses dirt roads, mountain trails, and off-road tracks throughout, with orange-band signage described as very strong. Aid stations are distributed across the route and at mountain stations offer local Dolomite produce including cheese and sausage.
What Are the Entry Requirements for Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB — Qualification Standards, the Lottery Format, 1,800 Places, and Why It Sells Out Every Year?▼
Q: What are the entry requirements for Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB 120km, and how does the lottery work? | A: To enter the 120km, runners must have completed at least one ultra-trail of 60km with 3,000m D+ or more within the two years prior to the race. The race uses a lottery format with 1,800 places available — it regularly oversubscribes and was sold out for 2026 when research was conducted. Entry costs €267.05, which includes 22% Italian VAT and the 9% NJUKO registration platform fee; the underlying race entry before fees is lower. As a UTMB World Series event, finishers earn UTMB Index points. Cancelled entries are not refunded on administrative fees.
What Makes the Lavaredo Ultra Trail Start and Race Festival Distinctive — the Cortina Town Square at 23:00, the June Multi-Distance Event, and Aid Stations With Dolomite Mountain Food?▼
Q: What is the Lavaredo Ultra Trail start experience like, and what is the race festival format? | A: The start is at 23:00 from Cortina d'Ampezzo town square, and it is consistently described by runners as one of the great moments in trail racing. Balconies and streets are packed with spectators, the square fills with music, and the send-off of 1,800 runners into the Dolomites darkness at midnight is electric. The wider event runs June 24-28, 2026 and includes multiple distances: 120K, 80K, 50K, 20K, and a 10K night race. The multi-day festival format means the surrounding week is a significant trail running gathering in its own right.
How Do You Get to Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB — Venice and Innsbruck Airport Options, the Cortina Logistics Challenge, and Accommodation in Peak Summer Dolomites?▼
Q: How do you get to the Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB in Cortina d'Ampezzo, and what are the accommodation challenges? | A: Cortina d'Ampezzo has no direct train connection — the nearest station is Calalzo di Cadore, requiring an onward bus. The most practical airports are Venice Marco Polo (VCE) and Treviso (TSF), each approximately 2.5-4 hours from Cortina by car or bus, and Innsbruck (INN) in Austria as a northern alternative. Flixbus runs seasonal direct services from Venice to Cortina, and shuttle transfer services operate during race week. This is a FAR race by DTR criteria. Accommodation in Cortina is strong in volume but expensive and books out early — the race festival runs across five days in peak summer season in a premium resort town. Booking several months in advance is essential.
Fichiers de course
Logistique
Aéroport le plus proche
Venice (VCE) / Treviso (TSF) / Innsbruck (INN)
Notes
Start: FAR - ~2.5–4 hrs by car/bus to Cortina / Public transport: buses from Venice and train+bus combos / Accommodation: strong but expensive; book early (peak summer)
FAR
It’ll possibly take 3+ hours from the closest large airport to arrive. Plan your adventure accordingly, take an extra day for those after-race beers or Curranz.
