Italy · Aosta Valley
TORX Tor Des Geants
Distance
450 km
Date
September 11, 2026
Entry fee
1,100 EUR
€ / km
€2.44
Europe’s ultimate mountain odyssey: 330K around the Aosta Valley with sleep deprivation and hallucinations baked in.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
32000m
D+/KM
71.11m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
16.4%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-16.9%
Uphill gradient distribution
Route Profile
Analysed 2026-05-02Terrain breakdown
Terrain
Climbs
Top climbs
21.0 km · 1750 m gain
starts km 281 · avg 8.3% · max 49.4%
7.7 km · 1336 m gain
starts km 189 · avg 17.4% · max 61.8%
10.9 km · 1303 m gain
starts km 84 · avg 12.0% · max 51.8%
Top descents
7.6 km · 1617 m drop
starts km 147 · avg -21.4% · max -154.1%
13.9 km · 1603 m drop
starts km 175 · avg -11.5% · max -84.9%
7.8 km · 1559 m drop
starts km 214 · avg -20.0% · max -67.5%
Why TOR450 Is One of the 9 Least Flat Courses in the DTR Database -- PctFlat Rank 9/~390 and What That Means Over 450km
Q: How hard is the TORX TOR450 Tor des Glaciers compared to other ultras? A: By every gradient metric in the DTR database, TOR450 sits at or near the extreme upper end. The course covers 450km with 32,000m D+ at 71.1 m/km (D+/km rank 24/~390 -- top 6% most elevation-dense). PctFlat rank 9/~390 means only 8 catalogued courses have less flat terrain -- fewer than 1 in 10 steps is on level ground across 8+ days. The DW average uphill gradient ranks 38/~390 (top 10% steepest); the DW average downhill ranks 360/~390 inverted (top 8% steepest descents). The top single ascent ranks 15/~390 -- one of the 15 largest individual climbs in the database. 2025 finish rate: ~44.5% (89 finishers / ~200 starters) -- lower than TOR330's ~60% finish rate. Entry requires having already finished TOR330 in under 130 hours -- the field is composed entirely of verified extreme-mountain-ultra finishers. This is the apex of the TORX series and one of the longest and most remote ultras in Europe.
Course Profile -- Alte Vie 3 and 4, Ancient Glaciers, Remote Mountain Lodges, and Why This Race Has No Course Markings
Q: What is the entry process for TOR450 Tor des Glaciers? A: TOR450 is limited to 200 runners and requires a qualifying finish: you must have completed TOR330 (Tor des Géants) in under 130 hours (120 hours for the 2012 edition). Registration opens in early March via experience.torxtrail.com (typically March 1-15 or until spots fill). A non-refundable €10 pre-registration fee applies; if oversubscribed, a lottery is held and results published by February 28. 2026 registration is now closed. Check experience.torxtrail.com for the 2027 timeline (expected to open early 2027). Entry fee for the full race: NEEDS VERIFICATION from torxtrail.com/regulations/ -- do not book travel until confirmed.
The Entry Prerequisite: Why You Must Have Finished TOR330 in Under 130 Hours Before You Can Even Enter the Lottery
Q: What are the life bases at TOR450 and how does support work? A: TOR450 has three intermediate life bases, all at remote mountain lodges: Rifugio Sella, Rifugio Coda, and Hotel Lo Stambecco. Unlike TOR330's life bases in valley towns, these are high-altitude mountain refuges -- runners are in genuine alpine wilderness between support points. There is no outside support (crew or pacers) permitted except at the designated life bases. The race description explicitly states runners proceed 'completely alone' with only the mountain lodges as reference points and support. No course markings exist: GPS navigation from the official track (download by section T1-T4) is required at all times. Backup routes B1-B5 exist but are authorized only by the TORX organization when the primary route is impassable. Self-managed sleep over the 190-hour (7.9-day) maximum: runners decide when and where to rest. Aid station details and drop-bag policy: VERIFY from the official 2026 roadbook at torxtrail.com/tor450-tor-des-glaciers/.
89 Finishers From 200 Starters in 2025 -- TOR450's 44.5% Finish Rate and What the Extra 120km Does to the Field
Q: Who has won TOR450 Tor des Glaciers and what are the course records? A: 2025 men's winner (and course record): Sébastien Raichon (France) in 124h53m45s -- his third (or more) consecutive win; Raichon has built the closest equivalent to a dynasty in TOR450 history. 2025 women's winner (and course record): Florence Golay-Geymond (France). 2025 men's podium: Raichon (1st), Brian Mullins (2nd), Jarek Gonczarenko / Lorenzo Franco Santin (3rd). 2025 women's podium: Golay-Geymond (1st), Sandrine Beranger (2nd), Céline Rouquié (3rd). Previous men's course record: Luca Papi 134h10'01" (2019 inaugural edition). 2025 was the 7th edition (2019, and annually since). For current results and historical rankings: itra.run and torxtrail.com/en/content/tor-des-glaciers/tor-des-glaciers-classifiche-ranking.
Race files
Logistics
Nearest airport
Geneva (GVA) / Turin (TRN) / Milan Malpensa (MXP)
Notes
Start: ~1.5–3 hrs by car to Courmayeur / Public transport: bus to Courmayeur from Aosta/Turin and shuttle options / Accommodation: strong but pricey; book 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.
