Torrencial Chile by UTMB
Torrencial Chile by UTMB – ONCOL 65K
Punucapa
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The ONCOL 65K is the middle-distance mountain race at Torrencial Chile by UTMB, starting and running through the coastal country around Punucapa in southern Chile. Over 62 km it packs 2028 m of vertical gain, with a high point of only 575 m — so this is not a high-altitude race but a low-lying, punchy one, where the difficulty comes from repeated climbing and technical coastal terrain rather than thin air. What defines the ONCOL 65K is its single dominant climb to the Oncol massif early in the day, followed by a long, rolling return that drops almost all the way back to sea level. Runners who respect the first long ascent and keep something in reserve for the undulating second half tend to finish strong; those who overcook the climb pay for it across the many smaller bumps that follow.
The course: from Punucapa to the Oncol high point and back
The race starts near sea level at just 17 m and works its way steadily upward through the first quarter of the course. By Las Truchas 1 (6.1 km, 287 m) you have already gained most of a first step up, and the trail keeps climbing to the Cafetería Oncol checkpoint at 23.7 km and 489 m — the gateway to the race's high point of 575 m. This opening third is where the bulk of the 2028 m D+ is concentrated, so the shape of the day is decided early. From the Oncol high ground the course reverses its character, descending back toward the valley floor. Las Truchas 2 comes at 37.6 km (319 m) and Potreros at 42.6 km (278 m), before the route drops to Espacio Bayo at 54.4 km (23 m) and the finish at 61.7 km (20 m). The final stretch runs at very low elevation, so the closing kilometres are about holding form on tired legs rather than surviving more big climbing.
Where the race is won or lost
The decisive section is the sustained pull from the start line up to Cafetería Oncol. Gaining from 17 m to roughly 489 m over the first 23.7 km, with the true high point at 575 m, this is the longest continuous effort of the day and the point where the field spreads out. Pacing it conservatively is the single most important tactical decision on the ONCOL 65K: the climb rewards patience because there is still more than half the distance to cover once you crest it. The second decisive zone is the long descent and rolling return from Las Truchas 2 through Potreros to Espacio Bayo. The net loss from around 489 m down to sea level sounds like free time, but coastal descents on tired quads are where cramping and pace collapse happen. Runners who braked hard on the way down early will feel it here. Managing the descent smoothly, then grinding out the low-lying final third to the 61.7 km finish, is what separates a controlled race from a survival march.
Pacing and fueling to the cut-offs
The ONCOL 65K uses two intermediate cut-offs plus a final limit. You must reach Cafetería Oncol (23.7 km) by Sun 08:30 and Potreros (42.6 km) by Sun 13:00, with the finish at 61.7 km closing at Sun 17:00. The Cafetería Oncol cut-off sits right at the top of the big climb, so a slow, cautious ascent still has to bank enough time — plan your climbing pace against that checkpoint rather than drifting. Aid is spaced roughly every 6 to 18 km, with the longest carry being the climb from the start to Cafetería Oncol at 23.7 km. Fuel and hydrate deliberately on that first stage, since it is both the hardest and the least frequently supported. After Potreros the gaps to Espacio Bayo (54.4 km) and the finish are shorter, so you can run lighter late in the day. Because the course stays low and warm, salt and fluid management matter more than calorie density — take what you need on the climb and keep sipping on the rolling return.
Terrain and conditions to expect
With a high point of just 575 m and long stretches near sea level, the ONCOL 65K is a coastal-forest ultra rather than an alpine one. Expect the humidity and mud typical of southern Chile's temperate coastal terrain, particularly on the wooded climb to Oncol and on the low sections around Espacio Bayo. Footing is likely to be soft and technical in places, and grip — not power — often becomes the limiting factor on both the ascent and the descent. Because the race runs low, temperature swings are more about damp and cool coastal air than altitude cold, but conditions can change quickly near the coast. Shoes with reliable traction, a waterproof layer, and a plan for wet feet are sensible. Runners heading into the exposed Oncol high ground should be ready for wind and mist even when the valley start is calm. Overall this is a race where local coastal weather and slick trails shape the day as much as the 2028 m of climbing.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 17 m · —
6.1 km · 287 m · —
23.7 km · 489 m · Sun 08:30
37.6 km · 319 m · —
42.6 km · 278 m · Sun 13:00
54.4 km · 23 m · —
61.7 km · 20 m · Sun 17:00
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