Adamello Ultra Trail
AUT 170km
Vezza d'Oglio
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The Adamello Ultra Trail 170km — known as the AUT 170 — is one of Italy's most demanding mountain ultras, looping out from and back into the small Alpine town of Vezza d'Oglio in the Val Camonica region of Lombardy. Covering 170 km with 7,718 m of cumulative climbing and a high point of 2,224 m, the route circumnavigates the Adamello massif, threading through high valleys, historic mountain passes and remote rifugio terrain before returning to the finish line by Sunday at 14:00. This is a race that rewards patience, solid mountain experience and a respect for the scale of the undertaking: with sections of genuine remoteness between the Val d'Avio/Adamello sector at 115 km and the Saviore/Valcamonica high sector at 145 km, runners must be self-sufficient and mentally prepared for the long back half of the course.
Course & Terrain Overview
The AUT 170 begins and ends in Vezza d'Oglio and is structured around a large loop that progressively pushes west and south before circling back through the Valcamonica highlands. The opening 35 km to Ponte di Legno pass through the Val Grande sector at 18 km — the first significant climb, topping out at 1,685 m — before dropping into the well-known ski resort town of Ponte di Legno, the first crew access point. From there the course climbs to Passo Tonale at 48 km, another crew point and a wide, exposed alpine pass linking the Lombardy and Trentino valleys. The middle section, from Rifugio Bozzi/Case di Viso at 62 km through to the Temù sector at 85 km, involves sustained high-mountain terrain with a mix of single track, mule paths and rocky alpine trail. The Val d'Avio/Adamello sector at 115 km marks the most remote and committing part of the route, deep in the heart of the Adamello range. The final push through Saviore/Valcamonica high sector at 145 km returns the course to more familiar ridgeline terrain before the descent back to Vezza d'Oglio.
Decisive Climbs & Descents
With 7,718 m of total ascent spread across 170 km, the climbing is relentless but never brutal in short sharp spikes — expect sustained, grinding ascents rather than quad-busting walls. The Val Grande climb in the opening 18 km is the first real test and sets the tone early; arriving at 1,685 m on fresh legs, it is tempting to push hard, but conserving energy here pays dividends 100 km later. Passo Tonale at 48 km is another key waypoint: it is high, exposed and can be cold even in summer, and it signals the transition from the northern arc of the loop toward the more remote southern sectors. The Val d'Avio/Adamello sector between 85 km and 115 km is where many runners' races unravel — this 30 km stretch involves significant climbing in terrain far from crew support, at a point in the race where fatigue is compounding. The descents back toward Temù and later toward Vezza d'Oglio demand technical attention; tired legs on steep, rocky mountain paths at night or in the early morning hours are where ankle rolls and falls most commonly occur.
Pacing & Race Strategy
Given the 170 km distance and a hard finish cut-off of Sunday 14:00 in Vezza d'Oglio, runners must calculate their overall time budget before the start and plan splits to match. The four crew access points — Ponte di Legno (35 km), Passo Tonale (48 km), Temù (85 km) and the finish (170 km) — provide natural planning anchors. Arriving at Ponte di Legno and Passo Tonale comfortably ahead of any internal time targets is essential, because the gap between Temù at 85 km and the next crew access at the finish is a full 85 km. That long crewless stretch through the Val d'Avio/Adamello and Saviore/Valcamonica sectors demands that runners leave Temù with enough food, kit and mental reserves to cover a marathon-plus of high mountain terrain without outside support. A conservative first 85 km — running the flats, hiking the climbs efficiently and eating proactively — is almost always the correct strategy. Avoid the temptation to bank time by running the early descents hard; the cumulative toll of 7,718 m of climbing will catch up with any runner who disrespects the distance.
Fuelling & Nutrition
With crew access only at 35 km, 48 km, 85 km and 170 km, runners need to carry sufficient nutrition for long autonomous stretches. The gap from Passo Tonale (48 km) to Temù (85 km) — a 37 km section through the Rifugio Bozzi/Case di Viso area — is long enough to require at least two to three hours of on-board fuel depending on pace. The 85 km to 170 km stretch is the critical fuelling challenge of the race: everything consumed from Temù onwards must either be carried or sourced at the Val d'Avio/Adamello sector checkpoint at 115 km and the Saviore/Valcamonica sector at 145 km. Plan calorie carries carefully and err on the side of carrying more than you think you need. Real food — rice balls, salted potatoes, pasta — tends to go down better than gels alone in the back half of a 170 km race. Hydration planning matters at altitude; the high sectors between Passo Tonale and the Adamello massif can be dry and exposed, so top up water at every reliable source and checkpoint.
Conditions & What to Expect
The Adamello Ultra Trail takes place in the Italian Alpine environment of the Adamello massif, where conditions can change rapidly at altitude. The high point of 2,224 m means temperatures can drop sharply overnight or in adverse weather, and the exposed sections around Passo Tonale and the Val d'Avio/Adamello sector are particularly vulnerable to wind and sudden precipitation. Runners should prepare for genuine mountain night sections: the race distance virtually guarantees at least one, and likely two, nights on course for mid-pack and back-of-pack finishers, meaning a reliable headtorch with spare batteries is non-negotiable. Underfoot conditions vary from groomed alpine path to rocky, rooty forest trail and open scree; a trail shoe with reliable grip and sufficient protection is essential. The terrain around Vezza d'Oglio and the Val Camonica is typically green and lush lower down, transitioning to open alpine above the treeline. Check the weather forecast carefully in the days before the race and ensure mandatory kit — including layers for cold and wind — is functional and accessible, not buried at the bottom of your pack.
Race AUT 170km with Crux
Get the strategy, fuelling and crew plan dialled for this exact course — built from the real route, climbs and cut-offs. Your first race is free.
Plan this race — freeCourse profile
Checkpoints & cut-offs
⚠ Auto-researched from public sources — aid stations and cut-offs may be incomplete. Confirm against the official roadbook before race day.
0 km · 0 m · Friday 09:00
10.5 km · 0 m · —
13.5 km · 0 m · —
15.3 km · 0 m · —
19.3 km · 0 m · —
21.6 km · 0 m · —
23.2 km · 0 m · —
25.8 km · 0 m · —
28.2 km · 0 m · —
32.3 km · 0 m · Friday 18:45
37.6 km · 0 m · —
42.9 km · 0 m · —
47 km · 0 m · Saturday 01:00
53.4 km · 0 m · —
57.6 km · 0 m · —
62.6 km · 0 m · Saturday 06:00
67.4 km · 0 m · —
73.2 km · 0 m · Saturday 10:00
75.6 km · 0 m · —
78.3 km · 0 m · —
80.3 km · 0 m · —
83.1 km · 0 m · —
86 km · 0 m · —
91.4 km · 0 m · —
98.8 km · 0 m · —
102.1 km · 0 m · —
103.3 km · 0 m · —
105.8 km · 0 m · —
108.4 km · 0 m · Saturday 19:00
111.9 km · 0 m · —
121.6 km · 0 m · Sunday 02:00
128.9 km · 0 m · —
132.7 km · 0 m · —
137.5 km · 0 m · —
140.6 km · 0 m · —
145.3 km · 0 m · —
150.4 km · 0 m · —
154.5 km · 0 m · Sunday 12:00
170 km · 0 m · Sun 14:00
More races
More independent
Similar distance (100 miles and beyond)
Racing AUT 170km?
Get a complete race strategy — pacing, fuelling, crew plan and the crux moments — built on this exact course.
Plan your race in Crux →Strava is your training. Crux is your races.
Course data researched from public sources — verify against the official roadbook.