Maratona Alpina.
The Maratona Alpina is not a road marathon with hills; it is a point-to-point mountain march along the ridge between the Val Leogra and the Pasubio: 42 km from Schio (about 200 m) up to 2,040 m and across to Pian delle Fugazze, with roughly 3,150 metres of climbing. GES – Gruppo Escursionisti Scledensi has run it since 1975; 2026 is the 50th edition, still a marcia non competitiva capped at 500 entrants.
No date has been announced for the next edition yet. The course, elevation and route profile are from the most recent edition.
Maratona Alpina: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The start is at the Faber Box in Schio, Via Tito Livio. The opening kilometres are on tarmac before the route turns onto footpaths in the dark: from kilometre 2.3 comes the longest climb of the day, 6.4 km averaging 14.4% for 920 metres of gain, past Sant'Antonio Orso up to Monte Summano. Via Monte Novegno and Colletto Grande (first checkpoint and aid station) the course reaches the old Forte di Monte Rione (second checkpoint) over two further ramps of 337 m and 372 m, both at 11–15%.
The route then drops around 700 metres to the Colletto di Posina, takes a short, very steep pitch up Monte Alba (163 m at 19.7% average) and reaches Passo Xomo, the third checkpoint. From there the second big block begins: 4.6 km at 17.1% for 788 metres of gain over Bocchetta Campiglia and the Strada delle 52 Gallerie, a 6.5 km military mule road from 1917 of which 2,335 m run through 52 tunnels cut into the rock, up to the high point at Cimon del Soglio Rosso (2,000 m) and the Rifugio Achille Papa (fourth checkpoint).
The finale is a sustained descent of roughly 850 metres along the Strada degli Eroi, through the Galleria d'Havet and down the Val di Fieno to Pian delle Fugazze, where the Casa Alpina is the finish and fifth checkpoint. The surface is almost entirely waymarked CAI paths, mule tracks and gravel roads. About 63% of the route is steep (37.6% steeply uphill, 25.3% steeply downhill) and barely 6% is flat.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2.3 | 6.4 km | 14.4 % | 43 % | +920 m | HC |
| km 12.3 | 2.3 km | 14.5 % | 38.7 % | +337 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 14.8 | 3.4 km | 10.9 % | 37.4 % | +372 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 19.1 | 0.9 km | 8.5 % | 16.8 % | +74 m | — |
| km 24.9 | 0.8 km | 19.7 % | 41.5 % | +163 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 27.3 | 4.6 km | 17.1 % | 85.5 % | +788 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 32.1 | 0.5 km | 10.7 % | 45.4 % | +54 m | — |
| km 32.8 | 0.6 km | 20.8 % | 38.7 % | +114 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 Maratona Alpina.
Start under control
The clock that matters is the checkpoint schedule: 10:30 at the second checkpoint (Monte Rione), 13:00 at Passo Xomo and 18:00 at the finish. Racing the opening climb to Summano costs you exactly where you think you gained: 920 metres in one go at 14% average, in the dark before sunrise, is a hiking-pace task. Take it on breathing rhythm and poles, not on pace.
Hold your rhythm
The real test comes at kilometre 27: the 788-metre block up to the 52 Gallerie. Anyone who overcooked the first half arrives there reduced to stop-start walking. Plan deliberately conservatively up to Passo Xomo and keep a reserve for the last 1,000 metres of climbing of the day. The closing descent along the Strada degli Eroi is runnable but long, and the quarter of the course that is steeply downhill punishes quadriceps that are already empty.
Spend what is left
Aid: seven stations along the route, but no cups are handed out, so a personal bottle or cup is mandatory, as are a headlamp and a windproof jacket.
Training plan for Maratona Alpina: 12-week build
Build the base
Preparation is dictated by the vertical, not the distance. 3,150 metres of ascent and 2,240 of descent over 42 km is about 78 metres of climbing per kilometre: a mountain-march load, not a marathon one. Build long sessions carrying 1,000–1,500 metres of climbing in one block, explicitly as fast uphill hiking with poles, because that is what the 14–20% ramps consume most of the race day with.
Train race pace
The second priority is descending. The course loses over 2,200 metres, most of it in two long blocks (down to the Colletto di Posina, and the closing drop to Pian delle Fugazze).
Rehearse the course
Train eccentric quadriceps tolerance deliberately, with long technical descents and not just climbs.
Arrive fresh
Alongside that: sure-footedness on CAI paths and mule tracks, running in the dark with a headlamp for the first hour, and at least one full kit rehearsal, personal bottle included, over six hours or more.
Courses
Download the Maratona Alpina course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Maratona Alpina 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 Maratona Alpina.
How long is Maratona Alpina?
Maratona Alpina is 42 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 Maratona Alpina have?
Maratona Alpina has around 3,168 m of elevation gain over 42 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Maratona Alpina?
Maratona Alpina is classified as Mountainous, averaging 77.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 6% of the route is flat, 18% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 38% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Maratona Alpina have?
The hardest climb of Maratona Alpina starts at kilometre 2.3, runs for 6.4 km at an average of 14.4% and gains 920 metres. Cycling-convention rating: HC. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Maratona Alpina a loop course?
No, Maratona Alpina is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Maratona Alpina course?
Yes. The Maratona Alpina 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 Maratona Alpina?
Preparation for Maratona Alpina should account for 42 km, 3,168 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 Maratona Alpina?
The pacing strategy for Maratona Alpina should reflect 42 km, 3,168 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 Maratona Alpina next take place?
No date has been announced for the next edition yet. The most recent one was held on September 12, 2026.
Where does Maratona Alpina take place?
Maratona Alpina takes place in Schio, Italy.
How do I register for Maratona Alpina?
Registration runs through the organiser: gesschio.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
