Vertical Challenge is the 5.0km vertical kilometre at Absolute Biokovo Challenge 2027 (Croatia). The race starts on May 9, 2027.
Short race: go all out.
The course climbs 1150m+. With 230m/km of climbing, the course is exceptionally steep, with long hiking-grade sections. By gradient, 100% of the distance is uphill, 0% downhill and 0% flat. The longest climb runs 4.5km at an average 25.0% grade (1115m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 39.4% over 0.4km. Surface: 56% trail and 41% technical. Flat-equivalent effort: 13.0 FlatKM.
Trekking poles are strongly recommended: about 4.1km of the course is steep enough for them to pay off.
There is too little runnable descent to damage the quads: plan the race around climbing and fuelling.
On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 14°C to 22°C, with around 12°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 30%. Heavy rain of 10.0mm or more falls on about 6% of days around this date.
This page has a pacing and nutrition planner, a gradient matrix, an interactive elevation profile and historical weather for Vertical Challenge.
Other distances of Absolute Biokovo Challenge 2027Extreme Challenge (45.4km)·Sky Challenge (27.2km)·High Challenge (14.0km)
Other editions of Vertical Challenge2026·2025
Official websiteabsolute-biokovo-challenge.com/o-utrci
