Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB 80km: Lake Bled Start, Mt. Stol 2,174m, and 30km of Alpine Ridge in Slovenia

Among 390 European ultras tracked by DiscoverTrailRaces, the JAT 80K ranks 112th for average uphill gradient steepness -- top 28.7% steepest sustained climbing in the database. The biggest single descent drops 613m at -11.34% average gradient (ranked 225th for descent drama). D+/km ranks 185th at 47.8m/km, near the midpoint for vertical density. Official D+ is 3,826m over 80km, confirmed by both race website and GPX analysis. The race features a defining ascent from Zirovnica to Mt. Stol (2,174m), gaining approximately 1,700m of elevation in one extended mountain section, followed by approximately 30 kilometres of high-alpine ridge running along Stol, Golica, and Klek before descending to the Upper Sava Valley and Kranjska Gora. Maximum race time is 21 hours from an 08:00 Saturday start.

Finishing the Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB 80km awards 3 UTMB Running Stones. The race is a UTMB World Series event in the 100K category, and finishers receive direct access to UTMB World Series Finals in the 100K category. Running Stones accumulate across UTMB World Series events and are required for entry into target races within the World Series, including UTMB Mont-Blanc. Verify current requirements and stone thresholds directly with UTMB before planning a qualification season, as rules can change between seasons.

The 80km route is a point-to-point from Lake Bled to Kranjska Gora through the Julian Alps UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Starting at Lake Bled -- one of Europe's most photographed landmarks -- the course passes through Vintgar Gorge before climbing approximately 1,700m to Mt. Stol (2,174m), the race's highest point. From Stol, the route traverses approximately 30 kilometres of high-alpine ridge via Golica and Klek with panoramic Julian Alps views. The course then descends into the Upper Sava Valley, makes a final climb to Srednji vrh, and finishes in Kranjska Gora. Because start and finish are different locations, a 15 EUR shuttle bus from Kranjska Gora back to Bled start is available.

Ljubljana Airport (LJU) is the closest airport, approximately one hour from Lake Bled (race start). Trieste Airport (TRS) in Italy is approximately 1.5 hours, and Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is approximately two hours. Bus connections to Bled from Ljubljana are good. The 80K starts at 08:00 on Saturday September 19, 2026 from Lake Bled and finishes in Kranjska Gora. Accommodation is strong in both Bled and Kranjska Gora, but September is peak tourist season in Bled. Book accommodation early; availability tightens significantly in the weeks before race day.

No -- as of available records, the 2026 JAT 80K is not sold out. Maximum capacity is 750 runners. Entry prices operate in tiers: 135 EUR early bird (December 2025), rising through 151 EUR, 165 EUR, and 179 EUR before race day. On-the-day registration is 199 EUR if not sold out. An additional Njuko registration system fee of approximately 8% applies. The race is managed through the UTMB registration platform at register-utmb.world. 2026 is the 5th edition; the race first ran in 2022.