Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120K (La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB)
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy · June · 120K
- Distance
- 120 km (74.6 mi)
- One big loop
- Climbing
- 5,800 m (19,030 ft)
- Mountain: 48 m per km (255 ft per mi)
- Overall cutoff
- 30 hours
- 24:06 per mi (14:59 per km) average
- Finish rate
- 76%
- of starters in 2023
Why runners love it
- Night start in Cortina; faster runners reach the Tre Cime di Lavaredo around sunrise.
- Eight food stations plus alpine huts; hot meals at the finish.
- Worth 4 UTMB Running Stones, with 5,800 m (19,000 ft) of gain.
- Seven checkpoint cut-offs from the 2024 data and a 30 h limit for 120 km (75 mi).
- Venice to Cortina is about 148 km (92 mi) by road, with a shuttle reported.
Watch out for
- Lottery needs a 100K or 100M UTMB Index; the fee rose to 320 EUR (about 370 USD) for 2027.
- Food gap of 23 km (14 mi) from Misurina to Cimabanche; carry a cup, a bowl and cash for huts.
- Crew only at Cimabanche (66 km / 41 mi) and Col Gallina (95 km / 59 mi), one person each.
- Hard rocky ground and scree; afternoon thunderstorms or heat are possible, with cold on the passes at night.
- An Italian medical certificate must be uploaded by mid-May or the entry is cancelled without refund.
Race
How runners feel about it, how well it is run, and the community around it. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
Toughness for its distance: Very tough
- Runner satisfactionLoved4.3
Often called one of the most beautiful mountain races; most accounts are guides and recaps, with few first-person finishes. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
UTMB-style rules are strict: one runner missed a cut-off by 7 minutes and was out. Huts and gear checks are well run. · Medium confidence
- Community and vibeWarm4.1
A lively start and a crowded finish in Cortina, with 600 plus volunteers in 2021. · Low confidence
Support
Aid stations, crew access, drop bags and pacer rules. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
- Aid stationsStandard2.8
Eight food stations over 120 km (75 mi) with a 23 km (14 mi) gap; huts sell food, but bring your own cup and bowl. · Medium confidence
- Crew accessSome points2.6
Two crew points, at 66 and 95 km (41 and 59 mi), one helper each, on winding mountain roads. · High confidence
- Drop bagsSome stations2.6
Guides report one bag at Cimabanche (66 km / 41 mi); the official page does not describe drop bags. · Medium confidence
- PacersNot allowed1.4
The official page does not say; UTMB World Series events generally bar pacers, so none are assumed. · Low confidence
Course
Course marking, scenery, and how runners rate the trail itself. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Course markingClear4.3
No reports of navigation trouble found, but few accounts mention marking. · Low confidence
- ScenerySpectacular4.9
Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lago di Misurina, Passo Giau and Cinque Torri in the Dolomites. · High confidence
- Trail experienceGreat4.0
Hard ground and rocky descents tire the feet, but the route is a showcase of Dolomite huts and passes. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- FootingTechnical2.1
Scree, slabs and boulders on descents and a rocky finish into Cortina, with some gravel and forest track. · Medium confidence
- RunnabilityMixed2.8
A mix of hiking climbs and runnable tracks; poles help on the steep slopes. · Medium confidence
- ClimbingMountainous1.1
Climbs 255 ft per mi (48 m per km), from the official elevation gain. · High confidence
Conditions
Race-day temperature and how predictable the weather is. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- Race-day temperatureWarm or cold3.3
Afternoons near 25 °C (77 °F) and nights near freezing on the passes; 2023 was hot. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
Afternoon thunderstorms are common and a low-altitude Plan B route exists. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- AltitudeModerate2.6
High point 2,449 m (8,035 ft); the start in Cortina is about 1,217 m (3,993 ft). · High confidence
Cutoffs
How generous the overall and intermediate cutoffs are for the terrain. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Overall cutoffNormal3.2
30 h for 120 km (75 mi) and 5,800 m (19,000 ft) is about 4 km (2.5 mi)/h (2.5 mph); 76% finished in 2023. · Medium confidence
- Intermediate cutoffsReasonable2.7
Seven cut-offs, the first at 27.8 km (17.3 mi) after 5.5 h; one runner was out after missing Col Gallina by 7 min. · Medium confidence
Intermediate cutoffs (2027 race page (distance, gain, aid, crew, fee); cut-off table from 2024 edition data)
| Where | Distance | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Passo Tre Croci | 28 km (17 mi) | Sat 04:30 (5 h 30 elapsed) |
| Misurina | 42 km (26 mi) | Sat 08:00 (9 h) |
| Cimabanche | 67 km (42 mi) | Sat 13:30 (14 h 30) |
| Malga Ra Stua | 76 km (47 mi) | Sat 15:30 (16 h 30) |
| Rifugio Col Gallina | 97 km (60 mi) | Sat 21:30 (22 h 30) |
| Passo Giau | 104 km (65 mi) | Sat 23:59 (25 h) |
| Cortina finish | 121 km (75 mi) | Sun 05:00 (30 h) |
Not part of the score
- First timer friendlyDemanding2.0
An Index is required, the terrain is technical and an Italian medical certificate is mandatory. · Medium confidence
- Getting inHard1.9
Lottery needing a 100K or 100M UTMB Index; runners who miss two draws in a row get priority. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Getting there, places to stay, race-day logistics and value. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Travel easeFair2.8
Venice Marco Polo is about 148 km (92 mi) away and 2 hours or more by road; there is no direct train to Cortina. · High confidence
- Places to stayBook early2.5
A ski resort with summer closures; rooms sell out soon after lottery results. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
One start and finish in Cortina at 23:00; crew roads are winding. · Medium confidence
- ValueFair2.9
320 EUR (about 370 USD) for 120 km (75 mi) with huts and post-race meals; UTMB-level pricing. · Low confidence
Key facts
Checked against the 2027 race page (distance, gain, aid, crew, fee); cut-off table from 2024 edition data edition on the official race site. Rules change, so confirm before you enter. Blank means the race does not publish it.
- Location
- Cortina d'Ampezzo, Belluno, Italy
- Region
- Outside the US
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 25 June 2027
- Start time
- 23:00
- Distance
- 120 km (74.6 mi)
- Course shape
- One big loop
- Surface
- Trail: Dolomite trail with rock, scree, forest tracks and gravel roads; a 7 km (4.3 mi) asphalt climb toward the Tre Cime is described by the tourist board.
- Footing
- High point 2,449 m (8,035 ft) at Forcella Lavaredo per the official profile data; reports mention scree, slabs, boulders on descents and a rocky final descent into Cortina. Trekking poles are permitted. Race page lists gain as 5,800 m (19,000 ft); the tourist board route page shows 5,850 m (19,190 ft).
- Elevation gain
- 5,800 m (19,030 ft)
- Climbing rate
- 48 m per km (255 ft per mi)
- High point
- 2,449 m (8,030 ft)
- Overall cutoff
- 30 hours
- Pace to make the cutoff
- 24:06 per mi (14:59 per km)
- Cutoff notes
- The race page read for 2027 gives only the 30 h limit. These checkpoint times came from data embedded in the official page and date to the 2024 edition, so they are unconfirmed for 2027. The cut-off is the time you must leave the checkpoint; the first needs about 5 km/h (3.1 mph) from the start.
- Aid stations
- 8
- Longest gap between aid
- 23 km (14 mi)
- Drop bags
- Some stations
- Crew access
- Some points
- Support notes
- Eight refreshment stations from the official list: Ospitale 18, Passo Tre Croci 28, Misurina 43, Cimabanche 66, Malga Ra Stua 75, Rifugio Col Gallina 95, Passo Giau 103 and Rifugio Croda da Lago 110 km. Water points at Rifugio Auronzo (48 km) and Malga Travenanzes (89 km). Longest gap between food stations is Misurina to Cimabanche, 23 km (14.3 mi). Crew is allowed only at Cimabanche (66 km) and Col Gallina (95 km), one helper per runner. Third-party guides report one drop bag at Cimabanche; the official page does not say. The official page does not mention pacers. Bring your own cup and bowl.
- Water notes
- Not stated on official pages read.
- Night running
- Most runners run through one night
- Mandatory gear
- Official list (organisers can change it up to 12 h before the start): race pack, waterproof jacket with hood (membrane, at least 10,000 Schmerber), long sleeved top, long trousers or tights, hat or bandana, warm waterproof gloves, at least 1 L (34 oz) water, 15 cl cup, emergency blanket 2.00 x 1.40 m (4.6 ft), whistle, phone with emergency numbers, headlamp with spare batteries or two lamps, suitable footwear, own cutlery and containers, energy bars, at least 20 EUR, elastic bandages.
- Entry
- Lottery + qualifier
- Qualifier needed
- Valid UTMB Index in the 100K or 100M category; Italian competitive medical certificate (athletics) uploaded by mid-May. Athletes not selected in two consecutive lotteries get priority registration.
- Qualifies for
- UTMB Running Stones (4 for the 120K)
- Entry fee
- About $370
- Fee notes
- About EUR 320.
- Field size
- About 1,800 runners
- Sells out
- n/a (lottery)
- Entry notes
- 2027 fee 320.31 EUR (about 370 USD at roughly 1.15 USD per EUR) including 22% VAT and a 9% platform fee; the 2026 table showed 267.05 EUR. Pre-registration for 2027 ran 7 to 14 September 2026. 1,800 bibs is the 2026 count from the registration table.
- Finish rate
- 76% of starters in 2023
- Air temperature
- 0–25 °C (32–77 °F)
- Weather notes
- Per a transfer-company guide, valley afternoons near 25 C (77 F) and passes near freezing at night with afternoon thunderstorms common; 2023 was hot (Runnerslab). A Plan B low route exists for bad weather.
- Nearest airport
- VCE (Venice Marco Polo), 148 km (92 mi) away
- Stay notes
- Venice Marco Polo about 148 km (92 mi) and Treviso about 137 km (85 mi), roughly 2 h by road per a transfer-company guide. Cortina is a ski town and much lodging is closed in summer; it books out after lottery results. A daily shuttle runs from Venice per Runnerslab.
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What runners and reviewers say
- RunnerslabRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Guide and recap: 120K has the most climbing, hard rocky ground, rocky final descent into Cortina and a muddy section. 2023 was hot and runners arrived dehydrated. Pre-registration is a lottery. 1,182 of 1,551 starters finished. Suggests flying to Venice with the daily shuttle, booking lodging early, and checking crew travel times on hairpin roads.
“Most of the race is on pretty hard ground.”
- Greenock Glenpark Harriers (Lorna's story)blog · Mixed
Club account of a member who retired near 106 km (66 mi) after missing a checkpoint cut-off by seven minutes. Cool dark early hours, then rising heat; training had been disrupted by illness and injury. The page date reads June 2027, an apparent typo, so the year is unconfirmed.
“UTMB rules are UTMB rules”
- iRunFarRaced 2017 · article · Positive
Cool, dry 11 p.m. start after a stormy night, forest early then big climbs including Auronzo at 48 km (30 mi). Lively start and a crowd at the finish, plus dropouts for dehydration at Col Gallina.
“the atmosphere became euphoric as the seconds ticked by”
- CarrerasdemontanaRaced 2018 · article · Positive
About 1,500 starters from 64 countries on a high-alpine course past the Tre Cime, Lago di Landro, Forcella Lerosa, Val Travenanzes, Col Gallina, Passo Giau and Cinque Torri. The course layout has been unchanged since 2014.
- Trail Running SpainRaced 2023 · article · Positive
2023 recap: rain showers and thunderstorms in other races that weekend and heat still a factor; Russi won from about 80 km (50 mi). Calls it one of the most beautiful mountain races in the world.
“one of the most beatiful mountain races in the world”
Show 3 more
- Ian Corless (Lavaredo 2021 summary)Raced 2021 · blog · Positive
The race returned after the 2020 cancellation with about 3,500 participants across all distances over four days and 600 plus volunteers. Describes the amphitheatre of rock around the Tre Cime and calls the edition a success.
“It was good to be back!”
- Alps2Alps (UTMB Lavaredo 2026 guide)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Transfer-company guide (promotional): technical limestone, scree and slabs, descent from Forcella Lavaredo hard on shoes, afternoon thunderstorms with a Plan B route, crew vehicle limits at Tre Croci and Misurina, Venice airport about 148 km (92 mi) and 2 to 3 h by road, and Cortina selling out after the lottery.
- Cortina tourist board route pagearticle · Positive
Route description: forest paths, dirt roads, an old railway line, high meadows, Val Padeon, Val Rienza and Val Travenanzes, a 7 km (4.3 mi) asphalt climb toward the Tre Cime, and huts including Auronzo, Col Gallina, Averau and Croda da Lago. Calls it a route for the most expert and daring.
Ran Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120K (La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB)? Your notes on the footing, cutoffs and aid stations help the next runner decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings.
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