The 33-year-old Slovak, defending champion of #AUT 170 km, has been training for months on the Pontedilegno-Tonale trails: “These are the most beautiful mountains I’ve ever seen and everything works well here: I’m trying to move here for good”
From not knowing the race to winning it and deciding to relocate to the region where it takes place. This is the story of Kristína Kmeťová, a 33-year-old Slovak athlete who in less than six months claimed the major ultra-distance victories in the Pontedilegno-Tonale area: the Adamello Ultra Trail in September 2025 and La Grande Corsa Bianca between January and February 2026.
Two triumphs that brought her significant international recognition, as well as a deep connection to the territory. Kmeťová has genuinely fallen in love with the mountains of Alta Val Camonica and Alta Val di Sole, returning to them in spring to train and properly prepare for the season.
“I’ve never seen mountains this beautiful,” said the 33-year-old from Bratislava. “And honestly, I can see myself here long-term. Living here is pretty easy: you have all the services you need, shops, public transport. And with this variety of trails, I can achieve all my training objectives.”
The connection between Kristína Kmeťová and Pontedilegno-Tonale happened somewhat by chance. Her dream was to become a musician, but not being accepted to the university she applied for made her shift the focus toward wellness and mountains through yoga, trekking, and climbing.
The real turning point for the Slovak, now boasting a UTMB index of 694, came during the pandemic. “I started running in those months and haven’t stopped since. Last year I was in Italy for another race and heard about Adamello Ultra Trail. I initially thought of adding it to my bucket list, but then I decided to just enter – and ended up winning!”
If the connection happened by chance, choosing to stay on the Pontedilegno-Tonale trails to train was a deliberate decision. “I have everything I’m looking for here. I am self-trained and I like to schedule my sessions around two elements: key trainings and volume. For the key workouts I choose Passo del Tonale, which offers great variety in trails and gradients. For the volume sessions, I’d rather go at higher altitude with a mix of hiking and running to improve aerobic capacity and Central Nervous System adaptation.”
These training sessions are only part of a bigger picture, including both personal life and running career. “After Adamello Ultra Trail 2026, my goals are TOR330 in 2027 and Hardrock 100, plus more Vertical races. On the personal side, my plan is to stay in this area at least until the end of October, though I’d love to find a place to relocate here permanently.”
FINAL REGISTRATION WINDOW NOW OPEN FOR ADAMELLO ULTRA TRAIL 2026
Registration for #AUT 2026 has entered its second and final phase, running through September 13 – the date kicking off the Adamello Vertical Kilometer and Adamello Vertical Junior.
For the main event on September 25-27, the four classic routes are still available: 170, 100, 60, and 35 km. The two longest distances award a combined 15 TOR 2027 spots without a lottery draw, thanks to collaboration with the TORX eXperience circuit. Race routes are available via the event’s Wikiloc profile.
