Wildstrubel by UTMB®
Wildstrubel by UTMB® – Wild 25 Leukerbad
Leukerbad → Crans-Montana
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The Wild 25 Leukerbad is the short course at Wildstrubel by UTMB, a 26 km point-to-point that climbs from Leukerbad to a high point of 2,232 m before descending across to Crans-Montana. With 1,100 m of climb concentrated into one major ascent, it delivers a genuine taste of the Valais high country in a distance most trail runners can complete in a single push. Though it is the entry distance of the Wildstrubel by UTMB weekend, the Wild 25 is no easy stroll: it starts low in the valley at Leukerbad and hauls straight up to the alpine, so the effort is front-loaded and the reward is a high traverse and long descent to the finish line at Crans-Montana.
The course and terrain
The Wild 25 is a 26 km point-to-point from Leukerbad at 1,380 m to Crans-Montana at 1,498 m, with 1,100 m of positive climb. The shape is simple but demanding: a sustained climb to Varneralp at 11.5 km and 2,232 m – the high point of the course – followed by a descent and traverse through Relais de Colombire at 18.5 km (1,849 m) and on to the finish. Unlike the longer Wildstrubel routes with their repeated valley-to-pass swings, the Wild 25 is essentially one big up and one long way down. Because almost all of the 1,100 m of gain is stacked into the first 11.5 km, the terrain in the opening half is steep and continuous. From Varneralp the course loses elevation across the middle and closing sections, dropping to Relais de Colombire and then to Crans-Montana, with the finish sitting slightly higher than the start. This is high alpine trail throughout, spending its middle third above 1,800 m.
Where the race is decided: the climb to Varneralp
There is one decisive feature on the Wild 25: the ascent from Leukerbad to Varneralp. In just 11.5 km the route climbs from 1,380 m to 2,232 m – roughly 850 m of gain, and the great majority of the day's vertical, delivered in a single sustained effort straight from the start. Get to the top of this climb in good shape and the rest of the course flows in your favour. After Varneralp the profile turns downhill on balance, descending to Relais de Colombire at 1,849 m by 18.5 km and then continuing down and across to Crans-Montana at 1,498 m. That closing 14.5 km of net descent is where you can run freely – provided you paced the climb sensibly. Going out too hard on the ascent to Varneralp will leave your quads shredded for a descent that should otherwise be the fastest, most enjoyable part of the day.
Pacing and fuelling
The grounding data lists no intermediate time cut-offs for the Wild 25, so the practical governor on your race is simply the sustained climb to Varneralp rather than a series of gates. That makes pacing straightforward in principle: climb steadily and within yourself for the first 11.5 km, then use the long descent to Crans-Montana to bring it home. Resist the temptation to race the early kilometres before you have crossed the high point. Leukerbad and Crans-Montana are both crew points, but between them the aid picture centres on Varneralp (11.5 km) and Relais de Colombire (18.5 km). The most demanding carry is the opening climb to Varneralp, where you gain 850 m before the first mid-course point – start with enough fluid and a couple of gels or bars to cover it. Top up at Varneralp and Relais de Colombire and you are well supplied for the descent to the finish. On a 26 km alpine route, one to two bottles plus modest solid food is a reasonable baseline.
Conditions to expect
The Wild 25 spends its middle section high in the Valais Alps, with the Varneralp high point at 2,232 m and the traverse through Relais de Colombire above 1,800 m. Conditions up top can be markedly cooler and more exposed than down in Leukerbad at the start, so even on a short race it is worth carrying a light layer for the high traverse. The big early climb also means you will warm up fast on the ascent before hitting the more exposed higher ground. With crew access at both Leukerbad and Crans-Montana, you can dial in your kit at the start and know support is waiting at the finish. Prepare for a steep, sustained opening climb, a cool and exposed high section around Varneralp, and a long descent to close. Manage the climb to Varneralp as the crux and the Wild 25 becomes a rewarding high-alpine day with a fast finish into Crans-Montana.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 1380 m · —
11.5 km · 2232 m · —
18.5 km · 1849 m · —
26 km · 1498 m · —
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