Malcesine Baldo Trail.
On the ultra distance of the Malcesine Baldo Trail you climb from Malcesine to just over 2,000 metres on Monte Baldo by kilometre 12, with most of the day still ahead. Close to 3,900 metres of ascent and the same again in descent make durable legs the real subject of your preparation, above all for the long way home after the last climb.
Malcesine Baldo Trail 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop starts at around 70 metres and at first knows only one direction. Two ramps take you to about 650 metres by kilometre 5. After a short breather comes the core of the day: almost 1,500 metres of ascent in six and a half kilometres, up to the highest point of the course. By then more than half the total climbing is done, with less than a quarter of the distance behind you.
After that Monte Baldo keeps hold of you for a long time. Until about kilometre 51 you stay above 1,000 metres, trading descents of several hundred metres for shorter climbs back up, and only about one kilometre in twenty is flat. Two climbs shape the second half. From kilometre 36 the course gains a little over 300 metres. At kilometre 43 a similar amount arrives, compressed into just over a kilometre and steeper than anything since the big ascent.
The finale is one long descent. From just over 1,700 metres the course drops back to Malcesine across the last 15 kilometres, interrupted only by one small rise. The final nine kilometres alone lose some 1,300 metres, and you end where you began, nearly two vertical kilometres below the roof of the loop.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.2 | 1.7 km | 8.4 % | 26.7 % | +145 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 2.2 | 2.6 km | 19.7 % | 43.9 % | +512 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 5.8 | 6.5 km | 22.6 % | 44.9 % | +1,475 m | HC |
| km 17.7 | 1.1 km | 10.7 % | 19.5 % | +120 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 19.6 | 1.4 km | 11 % | 23 % | +148 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 29.4 | 0.8 km | 15.8 % | 26.3 % | +126 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 36.6 | 2.3 km | 13.5 % | 29.8 % | +311 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 43.1 | 1.3 km | 21.7 % | 40.1 % | +288 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 Malcesine Baldo Trail.
Start under control
Split this race by the mountain, not by kilometres. The first twelve are pure patience: on the long ramp from kilometre 6 the gradient averages over 20 percent, and a brisk hike is faster and cheaper there than any attempt to run. Minutes forced here are repaid twice over later.
Hold your rhythm
The day is decided between kilometres 36 and 45. Well over two thirds of the climbing is behind you, and this is exactly when the two ascents arrive that you no longer take on fresh legs. Climb them evenly and you gain places. Stall on the steep section from kilometre 43 and a lot of time goes very quickly.
Spend what is left
The biggest trap points downhill. Almost a third of the course falls steeply, and the descent from the high point feels like a reward after the long ascent. Let it run and your quads pay for it exactly where the last 15 kilometres to Malcesine demand everything from them once more.
Training plan for Malcesine Baldo Trail: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly nine to 15 hours depending on your form. That is a long aerobic day but not an even one: steep climbs at hiking pace alternate with steep descents that spare your heart and load your muscles all the harder. This mix is the yardstick for your preparation, not the kilometre count.
Train race pace
Two phases need specific work. The big ascent to the high point takes many runners around two hours in one go and comes so early that it must not stop you. From kilometre 36 you then climb hard twice on tired legs and follow that with more than 1,600 metres of descent, the part of the race that hits the quads hardest.
Rehearse the course
So build long mountain days rather than high weekly mileage. Work up to sessions with 1,000 metres or more of continuous brisk climbing, and put the hardest climb deliberately at the end of long runs. Two long sessions on consecutive days show you what the second half of the race feels like. Downhill running is a discipline of its own: practise it regularly and also when tired, backed by strength work for quads and calves.
Arrive fresh
The highest point sits almost 2,000 metres above the start, and in April it is noticeably colder up there than down in town. Test clothing, food and drink on your longest mountain days, because over this many hours fuelling is part of the race itself. Since preparing for a late-April race falls in winter, plan early where you can actually collect that much vertical.
Courses
Download the Malcesine Baldo Trail course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Malcesine Baldo Trail dynamically
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Everything about Malcesine Baldo Trail.
How long is Malcesine Baldo Trail?
Malcesine Baldo Trail is 60 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 Malcesine Baldo Trail have?
Malcesine Baldo Trail has around 3,856 m of elevation gain over 60 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Malcesine Baldo Trail?
Malcesine Baldo Trail is classified as Mountainous, averaging 65.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 6% of the route is flat, 15% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 30% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Malcesine Baldo Trail have?
The hardest climb of Malcesine Baldo Trail starts at kilometre 5.8, runs for 6.5 km at an average of 22.6% and gains 1,475 metres. Cycling-convention rating: HC. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Malcesine Baldo Trail a loop course?
Yes, Malcesine Baldo Trail is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Malcesine Baldo Trail course?
Yes. The Malcesine Baldo 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 Malcesine Baldo Trail?
Preparation for Malcesine Baldo Trail should account for 60 km, 3,856 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 Malcesine Baldo Trail?
The pacing strategy for Malcesine Baldo Trail should reflect 60 km, 3,856 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 Malcesine Baldo Trail 2027 take place?
Malcesine Baldo Trail 2027 takes place on April 24, 2027.
Where does Malcesine Baldo Trail 2027 take place?
Malcesine Baldo Trail 2027 takes place in Malcesine, Italy.
Which distances does Malcesine Baldo Trail offer?
Malcesine Baldo Trail offers 4 distances — 60 km: 60 km; 41 km: 41 km; 26,4 km: 26.4 km; 16 km: 16 km.
How do I register for Malcesine Baldo Trail?
Registration runs through the organiser: malcesinebaldotrail.run. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
