Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB
Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB – Chianti Half Trail
Gaiole in Chianti → Radda In Chianti
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The Chianti Half Trail is the shortest event in the Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB festival, a 20 km point-to-point line from Gaiole in Chianti to Radda in Chianti in the heart of Tuscany's wine country. At first glance it reads like a gentle half-marathon distance, but with 892 m of positive climbing packed into those kilometres and a high point of 555 m, it is a genuinely hilly trail race rather than a rolling road run. With a single intermediate aid and crew station and firm cut-offs, the Half Trail rewards runners who respect the climbing early and hold something back for the closing push into Radda. It is an ideal entry point to the UTMB Chianti weekend and to the terrain of the Chianti hills, but the vertical demands mean it should not be underestimated.
The course and terrain
The route runs point-to-point over 20 km, starting from Gaiole in Chianti at 356 m and finishing in Radda in Chianti at 533 m. Because the finish sits well above the start, the day carries a net elevation gain on top of the rolling that accumulates the full 892 m of climb. The high point of the course reaches 555 m, so this is not a race of one giant mountain but a succession of Tuscan ridge-and-valley climbs typical of the Chianti hills. The single checkpoint at Tenuta Perano sits at 12.8 km and 521 m, meaning the bulk of the elevation is already behind you by the time you reach it. Expect a mix of vineyard tracks, farm roads and singletrack linking the hilltop villages, with plenty of short, sharp gradient changes rather than sustained gradual grades.
Where the race is decided
The decisive stretch is the first 12.8 km from Gaiole up to Tenuta Perano. Over that section the course climbs from 356 m to 521 m net, but with the high point of 555 m in between, the profile suggests a steady accumulation of vertical that front-loads the effort. Runners who attack these early rolling climbs too hard will pay for it in the closing kilometres. From Tenuta Perano at 12.8 km to the finish at Radda (19.5 km, 533 m), the elevation change is modest on paper, but after the earlier climbing the legs are tired and the short punchy rises between the vineyards bite harder than the numbers imply. Running the second half controlled and steady, rather than chasing the clock, is how you finish strong into Radda.
Pacing and fuelling
There is one aid and crew point on course, at Tenuta Perano (12.8 km), which falls just past the two-thirds mark of the distance. That long opening leg means you should start the race carrying enough fluid and calories to cover roughly 13 km unsupported, especially in the Tuscan warmth. Treat Tenuta Perano as your reset: top up bottles, take on food, and prepare for the run-in to Radda. The cut-off at Tenuta Perano is Sunday 12:00 and the finish cut-off at Radda in Chianti is Sunday 13:30. Those windows are generous for most runners, but they still demand steady forward progress on the climbs. Plan your fuelling around a single mid-race refill and avoid over-drinking early; the terrain, not the distance, is what will tire you.
Conditions to expect
The Chianti Ultra Trail weekend runs in the Tuscan hills, where daytime temperatures can climb and much of the course crosses open vineyard and farmland with limited shade. With only one on-course aid station across 20 km, heat management matters: carry enough water, and if the day is warm, drink to the aid station rather than rationing. Underfoot you can expect the classic Chianti surface mix of white gravel strade bianche, vineyard tracks and hillside singletrack. These drain well but can be loose and dusty when dry or slick after rain, so choose a shoe with reliable grip. The rolling profile and exposed terrain make pacing discipline and fluid planning the two things most likely to make or break your day.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 356 m · —
12.8 km · 521 m · Sun 12:00
19.5 km · 533 m · Sun 13:30
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