Past winners headline record-breaking edition in PontediLegno-Tonale (September 20-22). Three-time 100km champion Walter Manser and defending 100-mile winner Daniele Nava lead international field.
The Adamello Ultra Trail marks a decade of adventure this September 20-22, as it celebrates its tenth anniversary in Northern Italy’s picturesque PontediLegno-Tonale area. What began as a passion project among friends has blossomed into a record-breaking event, drawing 873 participants from 30 countries. This year’s race will see a mix of newcomers testing their mettle on the historic WWI trails and returning champions vying for victory along the challenging routes of Alta Valle Camonica and Alta Val di Sole.
The race winds through the stunning landscapes of the Adamello Natural Park and Stelvio National Park, challenging runners with a dramatic elevation change from 650m in Edolo to 2,680m at Passo dei Contrabbandieri. The 170 km ultra-distance sees defending champion Daniele Nava of Italy returning to defend his title. Nava, who claimed victory last year with an impressive time of 28 hours, 7 minutes, and 30 seconds, faces stiff competition from France’s Pierre Augrit. Augrit, despite two previous DNFs while in the lead, is determined to go the distance this year. In the women’s division, all eyes are on Italy’s Alessandra Olivi, who dominated the 100-mile race in 2022. Olivi, representing Team MICO, will need to fend off strong challengers, including the formidable Melissa Paganelli.
The 100 km event sees the return of Walter Manser, the Swiss runner who has won the distance since 2021. Manser came close to breaking his own course record last year, finishing in 11:45:07, just shy of his 11:39:32 best. With the record still standing, Manser faces strong competition from past champions including local athlete Dino Melzani, who won the former 80 km race in 2018, while Italy’s Francesca Crippa, the 2022 winner, leads the way in the women’s field.
The new 60 km race adds an intriguing dimension to the event, with Luca Carrara emerging as a notable contender. The Bergamo native, who won the 80 km in 2019, enters after a successful season with multiple top-5 finishes and four wins. The Adamello Half Trail features Mirko Marchi, the 2022 35 km champion, among its competitors. In the women’s field, the race could see a close contest between two-time winner Raffaella Rossi (2021, 2022) and current champion Barbara Bani, who holds the course record of 3:56:09.
The Adamello Ultra Trail routes traverse the scenic border between Lombardy and Trentino, encompassing seven municipalities in the province of Brescia and one in Trento. As expected, Brescia boasts the largest contingent with 150 local participants. The event’s international appeal is evident, with Germany fielding the largest foreign delegation of 21 runners, closely followed by Switzerland. Poland (14 runners), France (12), and Austria (11) complete the top five international representations, underscoring the race’s growing global popularity.
THE FULL SCHEDULE
Building on the momentum of last Sunday’s Adamello Series, the main event kicks into gear on Thursday, September 19. The race hub in Vezza d’Oglio (Brescia) opens its doors at 2:00 PM, with a crucial technical briefing set for 8:00 PM to update participants on route conditions and weather forecasts.
The starting gun fires on Friday, September 20, with the 100 km race leading off at 7 AM, followed by the inaugural 60 km at 8 AM, and the grueling 170 km ultra-distance at 9 AM. The 35 km Short Trail rounds out the program, starting from the nearby village of Monno on Saturday, September 21, at 2 PM.
Vezza d’Oglio serves as the finish line for all races and the hub for post-race festivities. Award ceremonies for the 35 km, 60 km, and 100 km races are slated for Saturday evening, beginning at 6 PM. The 170 km ultra-distance champions will be honored on Sunday at 2 PM. All times are CET.
