Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB 80km: Dolomites Point-to-Point From Val Marzon to Cortina, 4,600m D+ Past the Tre Cime di Lavaredo

The Lavaredo 80K covers 80km (79.19km by GPX analysis) with 4,600m D+ and 4,508m D-. D+/km of 57.5 m/km ranks 122nd of 390 European ultras for vertical density (top 31%). The course ranks 109th of 390 for mountainousness (rank 1 = most mountainous; top 28%), with only 5.17% flat terrain across the full route. The biggest single ascent is 1,027m (rank 66/390 — top 17%); the biggest single descent drops 1,254m at a -9.95% average gradient (rank 104/390 — top 27%). The maximum time limit is 22 hours. The race is a UTMB World Series major event with lottery-based registration (1,000 spots). Race date: June 28, 2026.

The Lavaredo 80K is the only distance in the La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB festival that does not start in Cortina d'Ampezzo. It starts in Val Marzon, Auronzo di Cadore, and runs point-to-point through the Dolomites before finishing in the centre of Cortina d'Ampezzo. The course includes a passage directly beneath the north faces of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen) — one of the most photographed mountain formations on Earth — and traverses the high alpine terrain of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. The festival also stages the EUTR 120km and Lavaredo 50K distances, both starting from Cortina. For the 2026 course map, elevation profile, and GPX, visit lavaredo.utmb.world/races/lavaredo80k.

The Lavaredo 80K runs through high alpine terrain in the Dolomites, Veneto, Italy. The course is steep, rocky, and technically demanding: only 5.17% of the course distance is flat, with the remaining 94.83% running at gradient through exposed ridgelines, rocky switchbacks, technical singletrack, and alpine passes. Key terrain features include the passage beneath the north faces of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, high-altitude traverses above 2,000m, and a major descent of 1,254m at -9.95% average gradient. The race takes place in the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. The race starts at a night or pre-dawn start time on June 28 (verify exact start time at lavaredo.utmb.world). With 4,600m D+ and a 22-hour cutoff, runners should be well-prepared for sustained technical mountain terrain and altitude. Mandatory gear applies; check lavaredo.utmb.world for the equipment list.

The Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB 80km uses a lottery-based registration system with 1,000 spots available for this distance. The entry fee is approximately 190.75 EUR (€2.38/km). Athletes who were not drawn in the 2024 and 2025 lotteries received guaranteed registration access for 2026. The race is a UTMB World Series major event, meaning finishers earn UTMB Running Stones toward qualifying for UTMB World Series flagship events. Sold-out status varies by year and draw outcome — check current availability at lavaredo.utmb.world/registration. The Lavaredo festival also stages the 120km EUTR and 50K distances with separate lottery pools. First edition of this distance: 2007. 2026 = approximately 19th edition.

Lavaredo Ultra Trail is one of the most demanding 100km+ races in the UTMB World Series by gradient profile. The course splits 42% uphill, 39.1% downhill, and just 18.9% flat — essentially no neutral recovery terrain across 120km at high altitude in the Dolomites. The distance-weighted average uphill gradient is 11.5%, with 24.18km ascending at 10% or steeper. Two individual descents exceed 1,000m of drop. The race is structured to hurt most at the end: the biggest climb (721m at up to 87% gradient) starts at km 85, and the biggest descent (1,031m at up to -66%) fills the final 12km. Add the 23:00 night start, altitude range from 1,210m to approximately 2,500m, and 120km of continuous Dolomite terrain, and the cumulative difficulty is substantial.