Puglia by UTMB
Puglia by UTMB – Ginosa Rivolta Trail
Ginosa → Castellaneta Marina
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The Ginosa Rivolta Trail is the 35 km distance at Puglia by UTMB, a point-to-point route from the town of Ginosa down to the Ionian coast at Castellaneta Marina. With only 199 m of climbing across 35 km and a high point of 297 m, this is one of the flattest, most runnable events in the series — a race decided by leg speed and steady rhythm rather than by any climb. It is an ideal choice for a first trail ultra, a fast finisher chasing a strong time, or anyone who prefers to run rather than power-hike. The course loses altitude overall, from 258 m at the start in Ginosa to 6 m at the seaside finish, and the honest challenge is holding a road-like cadence over dirt and trail for several hours in the Puglian sun.
The course: Ginosa down to Castellaneta Marina
The route runs point-to-point over 35 km with a minimal 199 m of total climb. From the start in Ginosa at 258 m, the course passes Passo Giacobbe at 8.7 km (125 m), reaches Nafoura at 22.2 km (17 m), and finishes at Castellaneta Marina at 35 km (6 m) on the coast. The elevation numbers tell the whole story: this is a gently descending, near-flat profile that barely rises anywhere, with a high point of just 297 m. Expect Mediterranean terrain — the low ridges and ravines above Ginosa, farm and forest tracks, and the coastal flats near the Marina — rather than mountain trail. This is emphatically a course to run. The lack of climbing removes the natural recovery that hiking provides on steeper races, so the pace stays high and continuous from gun to finish.
Where the effort lies
With so little vertical, there is no decisive climb — the race is won or lost purely on pacing. The early drop from Ginosa (258 m) toward Passo Giacobbe (125 m) by 8.7 km is where the course gives away most of its altitude, and it is easy to run this opening descent too hard on legs that feel fresh. Control the effort here to protect the second half. The true test is the long, flat middle and finish. From Passo Giacobbe the course settles toward Nafoura (17 m at 22.2 km) and then the coast, running near sea level all the way in. These flat closing kilometres, with no elevation change to break the rhythm, are where fatigue rather than terrain sets your pace — the runners who stayed controlled early are the ones still moving well into Castellaneta Marina.
Pacing, aid spacing and cut-offs
The course is structured around Passo Giacobbe (8.7 km), Nafoura (22.2 km) and the finish. The longest carry is the middle leg — roughly 13.5 km from Passo Giacobbe to Nafoura — so plan your fluid for that gap, with the opening 8.7 km and the closing 12.8 km both comfortable stretches. Nafoura is the key control before the run home. Two cut-offs govern the day: Nafoura by Sun 13:30 and Castellaneta Marina by Sun 15:00. That is a generous window for 35 km of runnable terrain, but the tight, near-flat profile means you should be moving continuously and fuelling early — on a course this fast you burn carbohydrate steadily without the hiking breaks a mountain race provides. Keep any stop at Nafoura short and carry enough to stay on top of hydration between points.
Conditions to expect
This race sits entirely at low altitude on the heel of Italy, descending to the Ionian coast, so heat and sun exposure are the conditions to plan for. There is no high ground for relief, and the long flat sections toward Nafoura and the Marina run through open, low-lying terrain where the sun is unrelenting. Carry more fluid than the aid spacing alone might suggest on a warm day, and start your electrolytes early. Underfoot, expect dry, firm dirt and trail typical of the Puglian countryside, with the coastal approach flattening to sea level at Castellaneta Marina. Humidity can rise as you near the coast. Sun protection, an early and disciplined hydration plan, and a willingness to hold pace on flat ground are the practical keys to a good day here.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 258 m · —
8.7 km · 125 m · —
22.2 km · 17 m · Sun 13:30
35 km · 6 m · Sun 15:00
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