About Matterhorn Ultraks Extreme
Matterhorn Ultraks Extreme is the 26.0km trail race at Matterhorn Ultraks 2027 (Zermatt, Switzerland). The race starts on August 20, 2027.
Race strategy
Run hard on the first mountain, but save energy for the second.
- Big early climb with 1190m gain. Control your HR at altitude.
- 481m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
- Final 891m descent. Save your legs to go all out on it.
- Steep 36% wall. Control your pace and stay focused.
- Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the way down from it until 9.3km, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 10.6km.
- Start · 0.0km–1.8km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
- Settle in · 1.8km–5.4km · Climb of 1185m, high point 2798m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Hike the steepest pitches.
- Work · 5.4km–10.6km · Descent of 481m averaging 12%. Plus 1 more climb. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine.
- Home · 10.6km–15.6km · Descent of 891m averaging 18%. Build to the finish: leave whatever you have left out on the course. Long descent: keep it even and let go only near the end. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Hike the steepest pitches.
Course
The course climbs 3066m+. With 118m/km of climbing, the course is exceptionally steep, with long hiking-grade sections. By gradient, 39% of the distance is uphill, 46% downhill and 15% flat. The longest climb runs 5.4km at an average 22.0% grade (1185m of vertical). The longest descent runs 4.9km at an average 18.0% grade (891m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 40.8% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 36.0% over 0.5km.
Poles
Trekking poles are strongly recommended: about 4.0km of the course is steep enough for them to pay off.
Quad damage
Quad damage risk is moderate (index 20 of 100), with 21% of the load in the first half: 1 descent deserves a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.
- Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the way down from it until 9.3km, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 10.6km.
- #1 · 5.4–9.3 km · 481 m D−, -12.2% · 6.2 km ahead → control
- 10.6–15.6 km · 891 m D−, -18.1% · 0.0 km ahead → even, let go at the end
This page has a pacing and nutrition planner, a gradient matrix, an interactive elevation profile and historical weather for Matterhorn Ultraks Extreme.
