Malcesine, Lake Garda, and the mountains bordering Veneto and Trentino are ready to host a brand-new event destined to become an early-season happening for mountain running enthusiasts. On the trails connecting the towns of Malcesine, Brentonico, and Avio, more than 600 athletes are registered for the four scheduled races.

THE RACES:
Kicking off the first edition is the vertical race on Friday afternoon (1,000m D+) starting at 2:30 PM, serving as the sole regional Fidal specialty championship race. The spotlight here is on the talented Alessia Scaini and the experienced Sergio Bonaldi. Saturday morning makes way for the medium/long distances with the two “ultra” races of 50km (3,355m D+) starting at 7:30 AM, featuring a top favorite like Bologna’s Gianluca Galeati. This is followed by the 24km “medium” (1,994m D+) starting one hour later. In the latter, keep an eye on the versatile Austrian athlete Stephanie Kröll and Mattia Tanara from Veneto. The grand finale takes place Sunday morning at 10:00 AM with the 16km “short” (1,185m D+) designed through the streets of Malcesine.

A GREEN EVENT IN NAME AND DEED:
Malcesine Baldo Trail, created and proposed by VRM TEAM Asd (a team of true professionals with 10 years of international experience in the world of road racing), will be supported by Asics for the beauty of the landscapes involved and for the “green style” with which it was designed; from recyclable course marking to unpackaged race kits to eliminate packaging. Not only that: the three-day event on Monte Baldo—the peak of Upper Garda that forms the watershed between Veneto and Trentino—embraces the “I don’t throw away my waste” project, under which athletes can be immediately disqualified if caught littering along the race route.

THE EVENT IN A NUTSHELL:

VERTICAL: an uphill-only race on trails. The start is from the middle station of the Monte Baldo Cable Car. The finish is at the summit arrival station, with a breathtaking view of the Lake. Thanks to the Monte Baldo Cable Car, spectators can move from the start to the finish, and athletes can easily return to town after the race.

Elevation gain: 1,000m D+
Time limit: 2 hours
Maximum altitude: 1,790m
Start: Friday afternoon

ULTRA: start and finish in the town of Malcesine with a high-altitude pass at the Cable Car station. The route is designed on highly scenic mountain trails crossing the Monte Baldo Local Natural Park in the Municipalities of Avio and Brentonico.

Elevation gain: 3,355m D+
Time limit: 12 hours
Maximum altitude: 2,079m
Start: Saturday morning

MEDIUM: start and finish in the town of Malcesine with a high-altitude pass at the Cable Car station. The first part of the race follows the Ultra route, completing the high-altitude kilometers and descending toward the town.

Elevation gain: 1,994m D+
Time limit: 5 hours
Maximum altitude: 1,756m
Start: Saturday morning

SHORT: Start and finish in the town of Malcesine. The route takes place mainly on mid-slope trails and dirt roads, while the final part is along the lakefront.

Elevation gain: 1,185 m D+
Time limit: 3 hours
Max altitude: 534 m
Start: Sunday morning