MIUT - Madeira Island Ultra Trail
MIUT Advanced (85K)
Sao Vicente → Machico
Race guide
Updated 29 June 2026
The MIUT Advanced (85K) is the mid-distance flagship of the Madeira Island Ultra Trail, taking runners 85 kilometres across the rugged volcanic spine of Madeira from São Vicente on the north coast to Machico on the east. With 4,432 metres of climbing and a high point of 1,847 metres, this is a serious mountain ultra that demands both technical trail ability and the endurance to push through to a Sunday morning finish at Forum Machico. The route traverses some of Madeira's most dramatic highland terrain — exposed ridgelines, dense laurisilva forest, and steep coastal descents — making it one of the most visually spectacular ultras in Europe. Starting at near sea level in São Vicente (16 m) and finishing at 7 m in Machico, the course is deceptively coastal on paper but brutally mountainous in reality. The 4,432 m of total ascent compressed into 85 km gives an average gradient density that keeps legs honest from the first climb to the last descent. There is a single hard deadline: Forum Machico closes at 08:00 on Sunday, meaning runners must manage their effort carefully across the night to beat the cut-off.
Course & Terrain
The MIUT Advanced begins in São Vicente on Madeira's north coast and immediately begins climbing into the island's volcanic interior. The terrain is quintessentially Madeiran: narrow levada paths, rocky ridgelines, rooted forest trails through ancient laurisilva, and grassy plateaus that open to panoramic views before plunging into steep-sided valleys. The high point of 1,847 m places runners well above the cloud inversion for extended stretches, where conditions can be dramatically different from the coast below. Technical footing is a constant — loose volcanic rock, wet roots, and slick moss are the norm rather than the exception, particularly on north-facing slopes that rarely dry out. The 85 km distance with 4,432 m D+ means there is no flat section to coast through and recover. Every kilometre of descent is bought with a corresponding climb elsewhere. Runners should expect a mix of runnable ridge trail, technical scrambling, and forested single-track that demands concentration even at low speed. Good trail shoes with aggressive lugs are essential; poles are worth serious consideration given the volume of climbing and the technical nature of the descents.
Key Climbs & Where the Race Is Won or Lost
With 4,432 metres of total ascent and a summit at 1,847 m, the MIUT Advanced is defined by its repeated elevation changes rather than one single defining climb. The ascent from São Vicente at 16 m into the high central massif is the first major test, setting the tone early. Runners who go out too hard on this initial climb — seduced by the cooler north-coast air and fresh legs — will pay dearly in the latter stages. The high point at 1,847 m represents an exposed, potentially cold and wind-blasted section where navigation and footing both require focus. The race is most often decided in the final third, when accumulated fatigue meets the technical descents into Machico. Descending from altitude to sea level at 7 m after absorbing thousands of metres of climbing is where quad management and mental resilience separate finishers from those who miss the Sunday 08:00 cut-off at Forum Machico. Runners who bank time through smooth, efficient climbing in the middle of the race — rather than racing the descents — tend to arrive at the finish in better shape. The night section, which the majority of the field will experience given the cut-off time, demands reliable lighting and familiarity with navigating by head torch on technical Madeiran trail.
Pacing & Fuelling Strategy
With a Sunday 08:00 cut-off at Forum Machico and a start in São Vicente, most runners will be on course for somewhere between 12 and 20+ hours depending on ability. Elite contenders will finish well inside dawn; mid-packers will complete a significant portion of the route in darkness and must plan their lighting and kit accordingly. The pacing prescription is conservative early: the opening climbs from São Vicente set the physiological tone for everything that follows, and blowing up on the ascent into the highlands before reaching the high point at 1,847 m is a race-ending mistake. Fuelling on a course this length with this much climbing means targeting approximately 60–90 g of carbohydrate per hour once into the heart of the race, with real food prioritised at crew and checkpoint stops where the body can tolerate more complex nutrition. The finish at Forum Machico is a crew point, so a well-stocked drop bag or crew meeting there can provide a critical boost for anyone struggling in the final kilometres. Hydration must account for Madeira's humidity and the potential for rapid temperature swings between the humid coast and the cold, exposed ridgeline at nearly 1,900 m — carry enough fluid capacity for the longer stretches between checkpoints and dress in layers that can be added or shed quickly.
Conditions to Expect
Madeira's weather is notoriously variable and micro-climatic. The north coast around São Vicente tends to be wetter and cloudier, while the south and east — where Machico sits — can be sunnier and warmer. In between, the high central plateau around the 1,847 m summit can be cold, windy, and socked in with cloud regardless of conditions at sea level. Runners should prepare for all seasons within a single race: heat and humidity on the lower trails, wind and cold on the exposed ridgelines, and potentially rain or mist through the laurisilva forest sections. The volcanic rock becomes exceptionally slippery when wet, and the dense forest canopy traps moisture, meaning even a dry day at sea level can leave trails damp and technical. Night temperatures on the high ground can drop significantly, so a windproof layer and gloves are not optional extras — they are race-essential kit. Sun protection and eye coverage matter on the exposed highland sections during daylight hours, especially on the eastward descent toward Machico where runners may face direct morning sun if pushing through to the cut-off window.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 131 m · Sat 07:15
11.8 km · 810 m · —
26.3 km · 621 m · Sat 16:30
37.3 km · 1740 m · Sat 20:30
42.4 km · 1548 m · Sat 23:00
46.9 km · 1496 m · Sat 23:30
58.8 km · 595 m · Sun 02:30
63.9 km · 320 m · Sun 05:00
76.8 km · 5 m · Sun 08:00
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