Ultra Trail Chianti Castles

Race strategy

Hold a steady pace and save energy for every section.

• 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–1.7km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.7km–51.3km · 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.
• Work · 51.3km–62.1km · This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.
• Fade · 62.1km–116km · 5.9km of runnable trail, high point 900m. Plus 2 more climbs and 2 descents. Your energy fades, and that's normal: hold a steady effort and stop counting the miles. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. 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 · 116km–121km · 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, 37% of the distance is uphill, 36% downhill and 27% flat. The longest climb runs 6.5km at an average 6.9% grade (450m of vertical). The longest descent runs 7.6km at an average 5.0% grade (382m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 31.1% over 0.2km. The steepest descent drops at 23.2% over 0.2km. Surface: 43% trail, 28% technical, 20% smooth, and 8% road.

Summits

The highest summit on the course is Poggio d'Àlbola (682m), 98.2km 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 11.4km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 49 of 100), with 48% of the load in the first half: 0 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• 64.4–72.0 km · 382 m D−, -5.0% · 49.0 km ahead → your pace
• 108.9–115.8 km · 519 m D−, -7.6% · 5.3 km ahead → your pace