Ultra Tour Monte Rosa
UTMR 170 km Ultra Tour
Grächen
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The UTMR 170 km Ultra Tour Monte Rosa is a full circumnavigation of the Monte Rosa massif, one of the highest and most technically demanding loops in the Alps. Starting and finishing in Grächen, the route covers 170 km with 11,950 m of climbing, crossing multiple high passes above 3,000 m and passing through four countries and valley systems — from the Swiss Mattertal to Italy's Val d'Ayas, Gressoney, Alagna Valsesia, and Macugnaga before climbing back over the Monte Moro Pass into Switzerland. With a high point of 3,320 m, sustained exposure to altitude, and a closing cut-off in Grächen of Saturday 16:00, this is a race that demands respect for mountains as much as fitness on trails. Three crew-accessible base camps — Zermatt at 37 km, Gressoney at 80 km, and Macugnaga at 126 km — give crews and runners clear anchor points in what is otherwise a genuinely remote mountain circuit. The full distance and cumulative elevation make this a multi-day effort for most finishers, requiring robust night-running capability, altitude management, and meticulous logistics across three distinct mountain cultures and languages.
Course & Terrain
The route begins in Grächen (1,619 m) and immediately heads into high Alpine terrain on the Swiss side of Monte Rosa. The opening 37 km to Zermatt (1,606 m) involve significant climbing and descending through the Mattertal, setting the pattern of the entire race: long, sustained ascents to high passes followed by knee-testing descents into deep valleys. From Zermatt the route climbs into the Italian Aosta Valley system, arriving at Saint-Jacques in Val d'Ayas at 2,544 m — the highest checkpoint on the course — before descending to Gressoney at 1,628 m at the 80 km mark. The Italian middle section from Gressoney to Alagna Valsesia (1,197 m at 100 km) and on to Macugnaga (1,313 m at 126 km) involves the lowest altitudes on the course but some of its most rugged terrain as the trail traverses the southern and eastern flanks of Monte Rosa. The final sector, from Macugnaga through the Saas-Fee/Monte Moro zone (1,811 m at 150 km) back to Grächen, takes runners back into Switzerland via the Monte Moro Pass at the race's high point of 3,320 m — a brutal final major climb in the closing 44 km of the race. Trails range from well-marked Alpine paths to rocky high-mountain terrain requiring care in low visibility or adverse weather.
Decisive Climbs & Descents — Where the Race Is Won and Lost
The Monte Moro Pass sector, encountered between Macugnaga and the 150 km Saas-Fee checkpoint, is the defining moment of the UTMR 170. Climbing to 3,320 m on legs that have already covered 126 km and roughly 9,000 m of ascent, this is where races unravel for runners who have gone too hard in the Italian valleys. The descent from Monte Moro into the Saas valley demands technical concentration at a point in the race when fatigue is at its peak. Manage this climb conservatively and you can run the final 20 km back to Grächen; go into it depleted and the cut-off at Saturday 16:00 becomes a real threat. The climb to Saint-Jacques at 2,544 m (around 60 km) is an earlier test that should not be underestimated — arriving at the highest checkpoint already fatigued compromises the descent into Gressoney and the ability to eat and recover at base 2. The descent into Alagna Valsesia (1,197 m), the lowest point of the entire course, is steep and relentless. Save your quads for it: there is still nearly 70 km and thousands of metres of climbing beyond that point.
Pacing Strategy
With 170 km and 11,950 m of climbing, the UTMR 170 is not a race to start fast. The cut-off structure — with only a named cut-off at Zermatt (Thursday 13:00) and the finish (Saturday 16:00) — suggests a target finish window of roughly 48–60 hours for most competitive finishers. Build your plan around arriving at each of the three crew bases — Zermatt (37 km), Gressoney (80 km), and Macugnaga (126 km) — feeling controlled and within your nutrition and sleep plan rather than chasing pace. Plan for at least one, if not two, short sleep or rest stops across the race. The distance between Macugnaga (126 km) and the Saas-Fee/Monte Moro sector (150 km) is 24 km with the race's highest climb — attempting this segment in the dark, sleep-deprived, and under-fuelled is the most common cause of late-race implosion. Use the Macugnaga base camp to eat a full meal, manage foot care, and if the schedule allows, take a 20–30 minute sleep before tackling Monte Moro. On the descents, ease off the braking muscles early and trust your poles.
Fuelling & Nutrition
Three crew-access points — Zermatt, Gressoney, and Macugnaga — are the backbone of your fuelling plan. Between these bases, aid stations are your only resupply, so carry enough calories and fluid to cover the gaps independently. The segment from Gressoney to Alagna Valsesia (20 km, descending to 1,197 m) and onward to Macugnaga (another 26 km) crosses the Italian sector where checkpoint spacing may be longer; plan your vest accordingly. At altitude above 2,500 m, appetite suppression is a real issue — practice eating at effort during training and prioritise liquid calories and easily digestible foods for the Saint-Jacques and Monte Moro sectors. On the Italian valley stages, use the lower altitude and easier terrain to eat solid food and restore glycogen before the final Alpine crossing. Hydration needs will vary significantly: cold and windy on the high passes, warm and humid in the lower Italian valleys. Electrolyte management across this range of conditions is critical; do not rely on thirst alone.
Conditions to Expect
The UTMR 170 runs in early September, but at a high point of 3,320 m on Monte Moro, alpine conditions are fully possible at any point in the race window. Snow, ice, and whiteout conditions on the high passes are not unusual even in early autumn, and the weather can change within hours as Atlantic and Mediterranean systems collide over the massif. Pack mandatory kit to the letter — a well-insulated mid-layer, waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves, and a hat are non-negotiable above 2,500 m. Night temperatures at altitude will regularly drop below 5°C; in the Italian valleys during the day, temperatures can reach 20–25°C. This 20-degree swing across a single day-night cycle demands layering discipline and the ability to manage your pack contents efficiently at crew points. Wind on the exposed ridgelines approaching and departing Monte Moro can be significant. Check the forecast at each base camp and factor weather windows into your Monte Moro timing — crossing in daylight and stable conditions is strongly preferable to navigating 3,320 m in the dark and deteriorating weather on tired legs.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
⚠ Auto-researched from public sources — aid stations and cut-offs may be incomplete. Confirm against the official roadbook before race day.
0 km · 1619 m · —
17.7 km · 2245 m · Thu 10:00
28.1 km · 2151 m · Thu 13:00
34.7 km · 1850 m · Thu 14:00
44.2 km · 2682 m · Thu 17:00
48.2 km · 3128 m · Thu 19:00
65.3 km · 2043 m · Thu 23:59
77.8 km · 1704 m · Fri 05:00
87.3 km · 2549 m · Fri 09:00
102.4 km · 1397 m · Fri 14:00
123.9 km · 1278 m · Fri 21:00
130.2 km · 2125 m · Sat 01:00
147.5 km · 1779 m · Sat 08:30
164.7 km · 2261 m · Sat 14:00
168.5 km · 1750 m · Sat 15:00
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Course data researched from public sources — verify against the official roadbook.