Dolomiti Extreme Trail 75.7km (Euforia): Top 9% Most Vertical Ultra in Europe

Exceptionally steep by any measure. DET 75.7km ranks 36th out of 390 European ultras for D+ per kilometre (65m/km, top 9% most vertical), 44th for average uphill gradient steepness (top 11%), and 346th on the inverted descent-gentleness scale (top 11% steepest average descents). Official D+ is 4,950m over 75.7km — precisely matching the GPX measurement — with 5,255m of descent. For comparison, a typical 75km European mountain ultra averages 20–25m/km of D+; DET 75.7km is roughly 2.5–3x steeper.

The Calada is a notorious descent section near the end of the 75.7km course. The official race page describes it as delivering approximately 1,000m of elevation loss and specifically warns runners to approach it with caution. It comes after the Forcella Cibiana time gate (km 60) and leads toward the Mugon refreshment point at km 67.5. GPX analysis confirms the course's biggest single descent drops 847m at a -13.1% average gradient, though the Calada's specific segment may differ from the computed top-descent measurement.

The 75.7km (Euforia) distance starts at midnight (00:00) on Saturday 13 June 2026 from Forno di Zoldo. This night start means runners cover the initial climbing sections and first major Dolomites terrain in darkness. Three intermediate time barriers are set: 10:00am at Fusine (km 34), 1:00pm at Zoppè di Cadore (km 45), and 6:00pm at Cibiana pass (km 60). The 21-hour overall limit closes the finish at 9:00pm on Sunday. Pack and headtorch planning is essential for the opening hours.

Forno di Zoldo is located in the Dolomites province of Belluno, Veneto. The nearest airports are Venice Marco Polo (VCE) and Treviso (TSF), both approximately 2–3 hours by car via mountain roads. Public transport to Forno di Zoldo is very limited — a car is strongly recommended. Accommodation in the mountain villages of the Val di Zoldo area has limited inventory and books out early for race weekend; planning ahead by several months is advisable. The race starts and finishes in the same village, simplifying logistics compared to point-to-point events.

Registration for the 75.7km (Euforia) runs €145 from 2 January to 30 April 2026, rising to €155 for May 2026. Group discounts apply: 5% off for groups of 6–10 participants, and 10% off for groups of 11 or more (members do not need to enter the same distance). The race does not have a history of selling out, which makes it more accessible than many comparable alpine ultras. Currency is EUR, and the approximate per-kilometre cost at the standard rate is €1.92/km.