Ushuaia by UTMB
Ushuaia by UTMB (Epic 130K)
Ushuaia
Race guide
Updated 1 July 2026
The Epic 130K is the flagship distance of Ushuaia by UTMB, starting and finishing in the Plaza República del Perú in the heart of Ushuaia — the southernmost city in the world. Over 113 km the route accumulates 4190 m of climbing while topping out at a modest 913 m, which tells you straight away that this isn't a single big mountain objective but a course built from repeated, grinding ascents and descents. Runners have a single cut-off to respect: the finish closes at 05:00, so the whole race is a test of managing effort over a long, technical loop that returns to the same city-centre plaza it started from.
The course: a loop of accumulation, not a single summit
With a high point of only 913 m but 4190 m of total D+ packed into 113 km, the Epic 130K is defined by repetition rather than one decisive mountain pass. Expect the climbing to come in a series of rolling, stacked efforts rather than one long haul to altitude — each one individually manageable, but the cumulative toll on the legs is what actually decides the race. Because the route starts and finishes at the same point, Plaza República del Perú, the course is a closed loop through the terrain around Ushuaia, meaning there's no way to bank easy flat kilometres late on to compensate for a hard middle section — the vertical gain is distributed throughout.,
Where the race is actually won or lost
The data shows no single monster climb, which is exactly the trap: with 4190 m of gain spread across 113 km and a low ceiling of 913 m, it's tempting to treat the early kilometres as easy and push through them at pace. Runners who've raced this format before describe the opening sections as deceptively 'free' — the legs feel good, the climbs feel short, and it's easy to bank a fast split. But that early speed is borrowed, not earned, and the bill comes due in the closing third of the race, well after the good feelings of the start have worn off. The runners who go on to finish strongest are the ones who treat the first half almost socially — patient, controlled, unhurried — because that patience is what funds a strong closing push once fatigue and cumulative vertical start to bite.
Pacing and fuelling the 113 km
Given the shape of this course — lots of moderate climbing rather than one defining ascent — the winning approach isn't about surviving one crux climb, it's about rationing effort across dozens of smaller ones. Go out conservatively through the first half, resisting the urge to chase quick early splits just because the terrain allows it; every accumulated metre of climbing you take on too aggressively early will show up as slowed pace and heavier legs in the final 30–40 km. Break the second half down into manageable blocks — treat it as a series of small, planned pushes rather than one long grind to the finish — and keep fuelling consistent and proactive rather than reactive, since a course built on constant undulation punishes runners who let their intake lapse during the 'easier'-feeling rolling sections.
What to expect on race day
The Epic 130K starts and finishes in Ushuaia itself, at the very southern tip of Argentina, so runners should be prepared for conditions that can shift quickly and for a long day (or more) on feet given the finish cut-off of 05:00. With the high point capped at 913 m, this isn't a high-altitude concern, but the sheer number of climbs and descents means sustained physical load over many hours, and pacing discipline matters more here than raw climbing ability. Respect the generous but firm cut-off, plan your effort in resets rather than fearing the distance as one continuous block, and remember that the course rewards those who arrive at the final kilometres with something left rather than those who front-load their effort.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 0 m · —
16.5 km · 327 m · —
32.6 km · 241 m · —
41.3 km · 127 m · —
54.4 km · 278 m · Sat 15:00
66 km · 249 m · Sat 18:15
72.1 km · 191 m · Sat 19:20
79.6 km · 191 m · Sun 21:30
89.9 km · 277 m · Sun 23:30
98.8 km · 122 m · Sun 01:30
106.7 km · 248 m · Sun 03:30
113.3 km · 1 m · Sun 05:00
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