La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB.
The Lavaredo 50K loops through the Dolomites around Cortina d'Ampezzo as a genuinely high-alpine trail: some 2,500 metres of climbing over 50 kilometres, with ramps beyond 25 percent. The profile is steep and technical; preparing means building uphill strength and confident, fast downhill running in equal measure. Also known as Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB and LUT.
Lavaredo Ultra Trail 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The Lavaredo 50K is the 50-kilometre race of the La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB in Cortina d'Ampezzo, one of the Alps' most renowned trail running events, held since 2007 in the UNESCO World Heritage landscape of the Dolomites. The loop around Cortina packs in 2,600 metres of climbing, more than 50 per kilometre, and the profile offers almost no respite: only eight percent of the course is flat, while more than half is either steep ascent or steep descent.
The race gets serious early. From kilometre 2 the first major climb rises for 5.1 kilometres at an average of just over ten percent, gaining 529 metres. After a brief reprieve, a short, extremely steep passage at kilometre 12.6 leads into the second big climb from kilometre 15.1: 4.2 kilometres at around twelve percent for another 504 metres of gain.
The second half changes character. Instead of long climbs, short brutal ramps follow one another, averaging 15 to 19 percent at kilometres 25 and 26.3 and roughly 20 percent at kilometre 32.9. Between and after them, long steep descents hammer the legs until the loop returns to Cortina. A twelve-hour time limit leaves room for hiking sections, but nothing about this course comes for free.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2 | 5.1 km | 10.3 % | 26.2 % | +529 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 10.9 | 1.6 km | 6.4 % | 18.9 % | +102 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 12.6 | 1.6 km | 12.9 % | 63.3 % | +209 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 15.1 | 4.2 km | 12.1 % | 25.3 % | +504 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 21.7 | 1.4 km | 9.2 % | 15.9 % | +125 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 25.1 | 1 km | 19.4 % | 29.3 % | +194 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 26.3 | 1.7 km | 15.4 % | 31.8 % | +254 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 32.9 | 0.9 km | 20 % | 38.8 % | +175 m | Cat. 3 |
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 Lavaredo Ultra Trail.
Start under control
On this profile it is aerobic strength endurance that counts, not running speed: over 27 percent of the course is steep uphill, nearly 29 percent steep downhill, only eight percent flat. The climbing is packed into the first half: a 5.1-kilometre ascent with 529 metres of gain from kilometre two, followed by more steep ramps and the 4.2-kilometre climb from kilometre 15 with a good 500 metres of gain.
Hold your rhythm
The high point sits around kilometre 28. The main trap is early effort: run the first two big climbs instead of hiking the steep sections briskly and you burn your quads for what truly decides the day, the long, steep descent from kilometre 33 to the finish.
Spend what is left
Hike the climbs at a pace you could still talk at, eat and drink constantly, and save leg strength for the technical descent, where fatigue costs the most time and safety.
Training plan for Lavaredo Ultra Trail: 12-week build
Build the base
For 50 kilometres with 2,600 metres of climbing in high mountain terrain, most age-group runners should plan on seven to eleven hours; the cutoff is twelve. This is less a running race than a long mountain day: on gradients of ten percent and more even the front of the field hikes, and the descents, roughly 2,450 metres of downhill in total, often punish the muscles more than the climbs do.
Train race pace
Three sections deserve specific preparation: the long climb from kilometre 2, which sets the pacing tone for the whole day, the second major ascent from kilometre 15.1 at around twelve percent, and the short 15 to 20 percent ramps of the second half, which arrive on already tired legs.
Rehearse the course
Build your training around three pillars. First, long mountain sessions of four to six hours with as much climbing and descending as possible, mixing running with brisk hiking, because efficient uphill hiking is a discipline of its own on this course. Second, dedicated downhill running on technical trails, increased gradually, so quads and joints can absorb the long descents.
Arrive fresh
Third, training weeks with high vertical volume, ideally including back-to-back long days, to develop fatigue resistance. Rehearse race-day fuelling and gear as well: over seven or more hours in the mountains, your routine for eating, drinking and managing equipment weighs heavily on the outcome.
Courses
Download the Lavaredo Ultra Trail course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB 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 La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB.
How long is Lavaredo Ultra Trail?
Lavaredo Ultra Trail is 50 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 Lavaredo Ultra Trail have?
Lavaredo Ultra Trail has around 2,600 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Lavaredo Ultra Trail?
Lavaredo Ultra Trail is classified as Mountainous, averaging 51.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 8% of the route is flat, 19% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 28% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Lavaredo Ultra Trail have?
The hardest climb of Lavaredo Ultra Trail starts at kilometre 2, runs for 5.1 km at an average of 10.3% and gains 529 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Lavaredo Ultra Trail a loop course?
Yes, Lavaredo Ultra Trail is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Lavaredo Ultra Trail course?
Yes. The Lavaredo Ultra 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 Lavaredo Ultra Trail?
Preparation for Lavaredo Ultra Trail should account for 50 km, 2,600 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 Lavaredo Ultra Trail?
The pacing strategy for Lavaredo Ultra Trail should reflect 50 km, 2,600 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 La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB take place?
La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB takes place on June 25, 2027.
Where does La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB take place?
La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB takes place in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
How do I register for Lavaredo Ultra Trail?
Registration runs through the organiser: lavaredo.utmb.world. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
