Sassi di Matera 140K

Race strategy

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

• 305m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• The finish is runnable. Save your legs to run it all the way.
• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 33.2km, 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–29.2km · 27.2km of runnable trail, high point 505m. 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 · 29.2km–33.2km · Descent of 305m averaging 8%. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them.
• Home · 33.2km–140km · 107km 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

The course climbs 3482m+. With 24m/km of climbing, the course is predominantly runnable. By gradient, 21% of the distance is uphill, 28% downhill and 50% flat. The longest climb runs 2.1km at an average 11.2% grade (231m of vertical). The longest descent runs 3.9km at an average 7.8% grade (305m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 23.0% over 0.4km. The steepest descent drops at 22.7% over 0.4km. Surface: 40% trail, 26% smooth, and 23% road. Flat-equivalent effort: 168.1 FlatKM.

Summits

The course also passes close to Monterrone (386m) and Cozzo Peditaro (219m).

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 2.1km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 33 of 100), with 60% of the load in the first half: 1 descent deserves a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 33.2km, then run your race pace.
• #1 · 29.2–33.2 km · 305 m D−, -7.8% · 107.3 km ahead → control

Weather

On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 13°C to 18°C, with around 15°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 30%. Heavy rain of 10.0mm or more falls on about 7% of days around this date.

Results

189 finishers completed the 2026 edition. Men's winner: Nicolas Thomas (Belgium) in 12:15:45. Women's winner: Enrica Dematteis (Italy) in 15:49:20.