Italy · Lombardy
Distance
122 km
Date
Entry fee
€170
€ / km
€1.40
New date pending
This race has already occurred. A new date for next year’s edition is pending.
The Ortles Haute Route is a 121.8 km alpine trail race making its inaugural appearance in September 2026 in Stelvio National Park, Lombardy, Italy. Starting and finishing in Bormio, the course covers 9,000m of elevation gain — 74m per kilometre — placing it among the top 20% most elevation-dense distances in DTR's database of nearly 390 courses. Entry costs €170, or €1.40 per kilometre.
The route crosses three passes above 3,000 metres: Passo Zebrù (3,005m), Rifugio Casati (3,269m), and Passo del Madriccio (3,123m), entirely within Stelvio National Park. The top single climb is 15.2 km long with 1,714m of gain — one of the fifteen largest single ascents in DTR's database. Average uphill gradient is 15.3%, steeper than 374 of 390 distances in the database, and just 12% of the course is flat terrain. Milan airports are 2.75–4.5 hours away by road.
The race was conceived by Marco De Gasperi, six-time mountain running world champion. 2026 is the inaugural edition — no previous finisher data or course records exist. It suits experienced mountain ultra runners comfortable with sustained high-alpine climbing, minimal flat terrain, and fully exposed ridge routes above 3,000m.
Total Meters
9,000m
D+/KM
73.9m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
15.3%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-14.6%
| 2–5% | 8.4 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 10.5 km | |
| 10–15% | 10.5 km | |
| 15–20% | 8.0 km | |
| 20%+ | 14.9 km |
| 42.9% | Uphill |
|---|---|
| 11.9% | Flat |
| 45.1% | Downhill |
| 1 | 15.2 km · 1,714 m gain starts km 73 · avg 11.3% · max 52.1% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 4.6 km · 872 m gain starts km 17 · avg 19.0% · max 52.0% |
| 3 | 5.3 km · 871 m gain starts km 53 · avg 16.3% · max 51.5% |
| 1 | 8.9 km · 1,272 m drop starts km 44 · avg -14.3% · max -42.3% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 9.2 km · 1,189 m drop starts km 64 · avg -12.9% · max -49.4% |
| 3 | 8.5 km · 966 m drop starts km 31 · avg -11.0% · max -64.4% |
Extremely demanding. The 121.83km course gains 9,000m, approximately 74m per kilometre, placing it in the top 20% most elevation-dense distances in DTR's database. Steeper than approximately 374 of 390 distances in the database. The top single climb is 15.15km long with 1,714m of gain, it is one of the 15 largest single ascents in DTR's records. The route crosses three passes above 3,000m entirely within Stelvio National Park. Just 12% of the course is flat terrain.
Entry for the inaugural 2026 edition is €170, approximately €1.40 per kilometre. Two pricing tiers apply: runners with a FIDAL or World Athletics license pay €10 less than those without. A potential additional commission fee may be applied at checkout. Registration opened February 21, 2026.
The 2026 edition runs September 11–12, with the main distance starting and finishing in Bormio, Lombardy, Italy. The entire course is within Stelvio National Park. Additional distances of 30km and a non-competitive 10km Open Trail are also available.
Bormio is approximately 164 minutes (2.75–4.5 hours depending on route and mountain pass conditions) from Milan's airports by road. Milan Malpensa (MXP), Linate (LIN), and Bergamo (BGY) are all options. Public transport exists, by train to Tirano then bus to Bormio, but late-night connections are limited. A car is recommended. Book accommodation in Bormio early; the town fills quickly in peak summer season.
No, 2026 is the inaugural edition. The race was conceived and organized by Marco De Gasperi, six-time mountain running world champion, who designed the course as a high route connecting Valtellina and Alto Adige through the Ortles-Cevedale massif in Stelvio National Park. No previous course records, DNF rates, or finisher data exist.
Nearest airport
Milan Malpensa (MXP) / Milan Linate (LIN) / Milan Bergamo (BGY) / Zurich (ZRH)
Notes
Start: ~3–4.5 hrs by road to Bormio (depending on airport/traffic; passes can affect time) / Public transport: train to Tirano + bus to Bormio; limited late-night options, car recommended / Accommodation: strong in Bormio but books out early in peak season—reserve early.
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.
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