Matterhorn Ultraks Sky

Race strategy

Hold a steady pace and save energy for every section.

• Big early climb with 1070m gain. Control your HR at altitude.
• 1296m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• Final 892m descent. Save your legs to go all out on it.
• Steep 37% wall. Control your pace and stay focused.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the descents until 26.8km, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 43.8km.
• Start · 0.0km–2.0km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 2.0km–15.9km · Climb of 651m, climb of 1070m, high point 3105m. Plus 1 more descent. 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 · 15.9km–26.8km · Descent of 1296m averaging 12%. 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. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Hike the steepest pitches.
• Fade · 26.8km–43.8km · Climb of 686m, climb of 616m. Plus 1 more climb 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. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Hike the steepest pitches. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 43.8km–48.6km · Descent of 892m averaging 18%. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. 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 3600m+. With 73m/km of climbing, the course is exceptionally steep, with long hiking-grade sections. By gradient, 50% of the distance is uphill, 46% downhill and 4% flat. The longest climb runs 8.1km at an average 8.0% grade (651m of vertical). The longest descent runs 10.9km at an average 11.9% grade (1296m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 35.8% over 0.2km. The steepest descent drops at 36.7% over 0.5km. Surface: 63% trail, 23% technical, 9% smooth, and 5% road.

Summits

The highest summit on the course is Gornergrat (3135m), 16.0km from the start. The course also passes close to Bielti (1935m).

Poles

Trekking poles are worth taking: about 9.3km of the course favours them.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 42 of 100), with 43% 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 descents until 26.8km, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 43.8km.
• #1 · 15.9–26.8 km · 1296 m D−, -11.9% · 21.8 km ahead → control
• 30.3–34.0 km · 409 m D−, -11.1% · 14.6 km ahead → your pace
• 38.6–42.6 km · 419 m D−, -10.6% · 6.1 km ahead → your pace
• 43.8–48.6 km · 892 m D−, -18.5% · 0.0 km ahead → even, let go at the end