The first mountain he climbed as a child. The same peak where he later set a record. The skyline he still trains beneath every day. In September 2026, his home mountains – the Ortles mountain range – will becomes the stage for a new kind of alpine test.

Registrations are open, but the most important dates to remember are the race days of September 11–12. The route traces much of the historic high route connecting Valtellina and South Tyrol, staying entirely within the Stelvio National Park. It's technical. It's vast. It's high. And the start and finish of all three distances will all happen in Bormio.

For edition zero, the Ortles Haute Route Trail lines up with three distances on the menu. The headline distance: 120 km with 9,000 metres of elevation gain. Two additional distances — 30 km (1,600 m D+) and a 10 km non-competitive Open Trail — open the experience to a broader field without diluting the alpine character.

Backed by the regions of Lombardy and South Tyrol, local tourism boards and a strong volunteer network, the Ortles Haute Route Trail is designed as more than a race. It's a statement about what late-season mountain running can look like: high-profile, environmentally conscious and deeply rooted in place. The route tops out with three passes above 3,000 metres — Passo Zebrù (3,005 m), Rifugio Casati (3,269 m), Passo del Madriccio (3,123 m). Forests turning gold in late season. Singletrack carved into rock and history. Iconic crossings including Valfurva, Val Martello, Solda and the legendary Passo dello Stelvio (which is now in its 201st year of existence).

The Ortles has long been a symbol of connection across borders. In 2026, it will become a new reference point for the global trail community.

Photo copyright: Maurizio Torri