Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB
Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB – Chianti Marathon Trail
Castellina in Chianti → Radda In Chianti
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The Chianti Marathon Trail is the 46 km option in the Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB festival, a point-to-point route from Castellina in Chianti to Radda in Chianti across the vineyards and hilltop villages of Tuscany. With 1419 m of positive climbing and a high point of 583 m, it is a rolling ultra-marathon-length day rather than a single big-mountain challenge. The race threads together four checkpoints with progressively tightening cut-offs, so steady, well-fuelled running counts for more than raw speed. It is a strong step up from the Half Trail for runners who want a longer day in the Chianti hills without committing to the full ultra distances, and the constant undulation makes it a rewarding but honest test of pacing.
The course and terrain
Starting in Castellina in Chianti at 579 m, the course actually drops early to Arillo Terrabianca at 11.4 km and 407 m before rolling on through the hills to finish in Radda in Chianti at 533 m. Across 46 km the route accumulates 1419 m of climb with a high point of just 583 m, which tells you this is a course of endless short rises and falls rather than any sustained ascent. The four intermediate points, Arillo Terrabianca (11.4 km), Poggio San Polo (23.3 km, 489 m), Tenuta Perano (40 km, 517 m) and the finish at Radda, all sit within a tight band of elevation between roughly 400 and 580 m. Expect the classic Chianti mix of white gravel roads, vineyard and olive-grove tracks and connecting singletrack between the villages.
Where the race is decided
Because the elevation profile stays within a narrow band, no single climb defines the Marathon Trail; instead the vertical is drip-fed across the whole route. The early descent from Castellina (579 m) to Arillo Terrabianca (407 m) is a trap for the over-eager, who bomb the downhill and shred their quads before the real work of the rolling middle section begins. The crux is the long central stretch from Arillo Terrabianca through Poggio San Polo to Tenuta Perano, roughly 11 to 40 km, where the repeated short climbs steadily drain the legs. Runners who keep these rises controlled and hike the steepest pitches will still have running legs for the final 6 km push from Tenuta Perano up to Radda, where the finish at 533 m sits above the preceding aid station.
Pacing and fuelling
The four checkpoints break the course into manageable legs: 11.4 km to Arillo Terrabianca, then roughly 12 km sections to Poggio San Polo (23.3 km) and Tenuta Perano (40 km), and a final 6 km to Radda. That spacing means carrying enough for around 12 km between aids, with the first leg the longest fully committed stretch. Plan to eat consistently from early on rather than waiting until you feel low. The cut-offs tighten as the day goes on: Arillo Terrabianca closes Sunday 11:00, Poggio San Polo 13:00, Tenuta Perano 16:15 and the finish at Radda 17:45. These are comfortable for a steady runner but unforgiving of long aid-station stops or a blown-up second half. Bank a sensible buffer early on the runnable sections, keep aid stops brisk, and use the crew point at the finish only as your target rather than a place to linger.
Conditions to expect
The Chianti hills are largely open country of vineyards, olive groves and farmland, so shade is intermittent and the sun can be strong through the middle of the day. Over 46 km with aids spaced up to 12 km apart, heat and hydration management is central: carry enough fluid to reach the next station comfortably and use each stop to cool down and refill fully. Underfoot, expect the region's signature strade bianche white gravel roads alongside vineyard tracks and hilly singletrack. These surfaces are fast and drain well when dry but turn loose and dusty in the heat or slippery after rain, so shoes with dependable grip help on the many short descents. With no dominant climb to hide behind, disciplined pacing across the relentless rollers is the key to arriving in Radda still running.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 579 m · —
11.4 km · 407 m · Sun 11:00
23.3 km · 489 m · Sun 13:00
40 km · 517 m · Sun 16:15
46 km · 533 m · Sun 17:45
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