7 Cidades Ultimate Trail.
The 7CUT40 is the longest course of the 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail on São Miguel: a loop from the north coast southwards, over the volcanic rim, past lagoons and high points and through the 7 Cidades tunnel. Prepare for two long climbs in the middle of the race and for just as much descending as ascending.
7 Cidades Ultimate Trail 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The appeal lies in the route itself. It links the north coast with the south, runs over the rim of the volcano, passes the Verde, Azul, Empadadas and Canário lagoons, and takes in the high points of Mafra, Cruz, Carvão and Éguas. The 7 Cidades tunnel is part of the course too.
The first kilometres stay modest, then the course shows its character at km 4.8: just over a kilometre averaging around 15 percent. The ramp at km 10 is steeper still, almost 800 metres at 17 percent. Both are short, hard pieces that ask for more hiking than running this early in the race.
Then comes the core of the race. From km 11.3 the trail climbs for just over four kilometres, and from km 17.9 for almost four more, nearly 700 metres of ascent between them. The loop is not finished with you yet: shorter climbs wait around km 23.5 and km 27, and a last one arrives at km 37 before the way back down to the finish.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 4.8 | 1.1 km | 15.2 % | 27.1 % | +167 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 10 | 0.8 km | 17.1 % | 32.7 % | +132 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 11.3 | 4.2 km | 9.2 % | 30.1 % | +386 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 16.8 | 0.9 km | 7.6 % | 18.5 % | +71 m | — |
| km 17.9 | 3.9 km | 7.7 % | 24.8 % | +297 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 23.5 | 0.6 km | 15.8 % | 33.5 % | +95 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 26.9 | 1 km | 8.6 % | 22.5 % | +82 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 37 | 1.3 km | 6.7 % | 25.3 % | +84 m | Cat. 4 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail.
Start under control
Only around nine percent of the course is flat, and uphill and downhill balance out. So divide your energy by vertical metres rather than by kilometres. The modest first five kilometres invite you to push, and that is exactly where you leave it alone.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 11 and km 22. Take the two long climbs at an effort you can hold for well over an hour, and switch to hiking early on the steep pieces. If you can still run at the top, you gain more over the following kilometres than a few forced minutes on the climb ever bring.
Spend what is left
The trap sits before that. The ramps at km 5 and km 10 are steep enough to drive you to your limit with more than 30 kilometres left. Run them and you pay from km 23 onwards, when the shorter climbs meet tired legs. Stay measured on the descents as well, because the last climb at km 37 and the drop after it still need your quads.
Training plan for 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners spend roughly 5:30 to 8 hours on the 7CUT40. That is a long aerobic effort which the steep ramps keep tearing into the hard zone, since hardly any section stays flat. Your foundation is therefore endurance on hilly ground, not speed on the level.
Train race pace
The two long climbs in the middle of the race define the key session. Build long runs so that two climbing blocks of 30 to 45 minutes each only arrive after a good two hours of effort. Practise switching between running and brisk hiking until you can do it without heart-rate spikes, and add short hill intervals for the ramps of 15 percent and more.
Rehearse the course
The second focus is downhill. Around 1,870 metres of descent load the quads harder than the same distance uphill, and on this loop they are spread across the whole day. Run downhills deliberately at the end of long sessions too, and keep your legs strong with lunges and step-ups.
Arrive fresh
The 22 May date puts your longest climbing sessions in spring. Use them to test food and drink over five hours and more, especially on steep climbs, where the stomach tolerates least. That way you know on race day exactly what still works at km 30 and what does not.
Courses
Download the 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail.
How long is 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail?
7 Cidades Ultimate Trail is 41.5 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail have?
7 Cidades Ultimate Trail has around 1,870 m of elevation gain over 41.5 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail?
7 Cidades Ultimate Trail is classified as Mountainous, averaging 44.8 vertical metres per kilometre. 9% of the route is flat, 23% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 23% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail have?
The hardest climb of 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail starts at kilometre 11.3, runs for 4.2 km at an average of 9.2% and gains 386 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail a loop course?
Yes, 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail course?
Yes. The 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail?
Preparation for 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail should account for 41.5 km, 1,870 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail?
The pacing strategy for 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail should reflect 41.5 km, 1,870 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail take place?
7 Cidades Ultimate Trail takes place on May 22, 2027.
Where does 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail take place?
7 Cidades Ultimate Trail takes place in Sete Cidades, Portugal.
Which distances does 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail offer?
7 Cidades Ultimate Trail offers 3 distances — 7CUT40: 41.5 km; 7CUT20: 25 km; 7CUT10: 9.2 km.
How do I register for 7 Cidades Ultimate Trail?
Registration runs through the organiser: 7cut.cattt.pt. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
