Chianti Ultra Trail

Race strategy

Run the climb at race pace, build your speed on the downhill, and go all out at the finish.

• The finish is runnable. Save your legs to run it all the way.
• Long race. Control your HR and effort. Early mistakes cost the most.
• Ease into the early runnable section, then run your race pace.
• Start · 0.0km–1.0km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.0km–56.8km · Plus 1 more climb. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.
• Fade · 56.8km–69.5km · 5.9km of runnable trail, high point 900m. Plus 1 more descent. Your energy fades, and that's normal: hold a steady effort and stop counting the miles. Running pays off here: run wherever you can. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 69.5km–74.8km · 5.3km of runnable trail. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.

Course

By gradient, 36% of the distance is uphill, 35% downhill and 29% flat. The longest climb runs 3.3km at an average 9.3% grade (303m of vertical). The longest descent runs 6.8km at an average 7.6% grade (517m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 21.1% over 0.7km. The steepest descent drops at 18.2% over 0.3km. Surface: 42% trail, 27% smooth, 25% technical, and 6% road.

Summits

The highest summit on the course is Poggio d'Àlbola (682m), 51.8km from the start. The course also passes close to Monte San Michele (893m) and Poggio Pedano (857m).

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 9.6km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 34 of 100), with 49% of the load in the first half: 0 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• 62.7–69.5 km · 517 m D−, -7.6% · 5.3 km ahead → your pace