35K regulation

REGISTRATION

Art. 1 ORGANIZATION

The amateur sports association VUT is organizing, on Saturday 25 July 2026, the fifth edition of the “VUT35K”, a semi-self-sufficient mountain running race on a route in an alpine environment.

Art. 2 GENERAL INFORMATION

The Valmalenco UltraDistance Trail is a foot race along the trails of the Alta Via della Valmalenco, approximately 35 km long with 2,300 meters of positive elevation gain, in semi-self-sufficiency, starting in Lanzada, Piazza del Magnan, and finishing in Caspoggio within the maximum time of 14 hours.
For the 2026 edition, due to the summer closure of the municipal road toward Franscia and Campo Moro, the VUT35K route has been modified as indicated in these regulations and in the organization’s official communications.
The organization is affiliated with CSEN.
Each runner must make sure, when leaving each refreshment point, that they have the quantity of water and food supplies necessary to reach the next refreshment point.

Art. 3 PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

Participation in the race requires mountain experience and clothing suitable for temperatures that may range from -5 to +30 degrees Celsius.
The participating athlete must be fully aware of the environmental context in which the competition takes place and of the technical difficulties of the race route.

Art. 4 REGISTRATION

a) Registration requirements
The event is open to all adult athletes who, for the current year, are duly registered with a sports promotion body (CSEN, CSI, UISP, Libertas, etc.) or FIDAL, or who hold a Mountain & Trail RunCard or RunCard. Athletes serving bans for the use of doping substances will not be accepted. 

Anyone without a membership card (but with a valid sports medical examination) may take out a CSEN membership card at an additional cost of 10 euros. In any case, all competitors must hold a medical certificate of fitness for competitive athletics valid on the day of the race (medical certificates indicating other sports, e.g. football, cycling, skiing, etc., will not be considered valid).

Foreign athletes may take part in the competition if they are already registered with their own athletics federation. Otherwise, for insurance reasons, they will be registered with CSEN by providing a copy of their medical certificate of fitness for sports practice or by self-certifying possession of it pursuant to current Italian legislation.

A copy of the valid medical certificate or substitute declaration, if not provided at the time of registration, must be handed in when collecting the race bib together with the signed liability waiver (which will be available at bib collection).

b) Registration procedure
Registration will open on 15 January 2026 and close on 20 July 2026, unless the maximum number of participants is reached earlier (400).

Registrations must be completed according to the procedures indicated on the website ultravalmalenco.com.

c) Registration fees

50.00 euros

The registration fee includes:
- race bib
- refreshment points along the route
- race pack
- post-race meal
- gadget for finishers

d) Payment method
The registration fee must be paid by credit card or bank transfer, according to the procedures indicated on the Endu website.

e) Cancellation
If unable to participate, the request to cancel the registration must be communicated by email to valmalencoultratrail@evodata.it.

The following refund methods are provided:
- refund of 70% of the fee if cancellation is requested by 14 July 2026
- no refund if cancellation is requested after 14 July 2026
The refund of the fee will be made within one month from the end of the race.
The transfer of the race bib may be authorized — at the discretion of the race management — up to one week before the event, subject to payment of 10 euros for administrative costs.

In the event of pregnancy confirmed after registration, the athlete may request that the registration be postponed to the following edition or that the full fee be refunded.

In the event of race cancellation due to force majeure, no refund will be due to participants.

Art. 5 MEDICAL CERTIFICATION

Italian athletes (including those residing abroad) must submit, at the time of registration, a copy of a competitive sports medical certificate valid on the days of the race, or present it when collecting the race bib. Otherwise, the registration will be cancelled and no refund will be due to the competitor.
For Italian athletes, only the certificate of fitness for competitive sports activity (pursuant to Art. 5 - Ministerial Decree 18/2/82) - yellow form - or equivalent certification for which all diagnostic protocols required by the same decree have been carried out - white form - are valid.
Foreign athletes may take part in the competition if they are already registered with their own athletics federation. Otherwise, for insurance reasons, they will be registered with CSEN by providing a copy of their medical certificate of fitness for sports practice or by self-certifying possession of it (if foreign) pursuant to current Italian legislation.
A copy of the valid medical certificate or substitute declaration, if not provided at the time of registration, must be handed in when collecting the race bib together with the signed liability waiver (which will be available at bib collection).

Art. 6 BIB AND RACE PACK COLLECTION

Art. 7 LIABILITY WAIVER

The liability waiver must mandatorily be signed by each individual athlete at the race office in front of the organization’s staff. Pre-signed waivers will not be accepted.

Art. 8 MANDATORY EQUIPMENT

It is mandatory to carry the following equipment for the entire duration of the race:

- camel bag or bottle holder containing at least one liter of liquids
- race bib clearly visible throughout the entire race
- survival blanket
- whistle
- mobile phone switched on with ringtone activated
- waterproof windproof jacket with hood (minimum protection 10,000 mm water column and heat-sealed seams)
- long-sleeved shirt or short-sleeved shirt with arm warmers
- long-sleeved microfleece or equivalent
- long trousers or trousers covering at least the knee
- hat or bandana
- gloves
- cup, glass, or bottle (no cups at refreshment points)
- small waste bag (to avoid accidentally losing wrappers and packaging along the route)
- suitable footwear
The mandatory equipment may be worn or stored inside the race backpack.
The organizing committee reserves the right to check the mandatory equipment at the start, during the competition, or immediately after the finish line has been crossed.

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT:
It is recommended to carry the following equipment:

- waterproof trousers
- energy bars or solid food
- some money for the possible purchase of food at mountain huts
- elastic bandage for strapping
The use of poles is permitted.

Art. 9 MAXIMUM TIME, TIME GATES, WITHDRAWALS

The maximum time to reach the finish is 14 hours (by 23:00 on Saturday). A “sweeper” service is provided, which will follow the route behind the last competitor, in order to assist those who withdraw and to prevent any injured participants from being left without assistance.

For the 2026 edition, a provisional time gate will be established, where the organization will provide assistance for delayed competitors returning to the finish area:

- Paluetto, km 18, by 15:00 on Saturday (6 hours of race time, 1,600 m D+)

The times and time gates for the 2026 edition may be subject to change following route inspections and the final assessments of the Race Management.

Competitors who do not arrive within the established time limits will be stopped and may not continue the race, and must hand over their bibs to the staff present on the route.

To protect participants’ health, medical staff present at checkpoints or along the route are authorized to stop any competitor deemed unfit to continue the race. In this case, the competitor must follow the instructions of the medical staff, under penalty of immediate disqualification.

Competitors who arrive at the time gates outside the maximum time, those judged by medical staff to be unfit to continue the race, and any other athletes who wish to withdraw voluntarily, may use the return service at Paluetto or at the other points established by the organization for the 2026 edition. For logistical reasons, withdrawn competitors may have to wait some time before being transported back to the finish area. Any competitor withdrawing from the race outside the designated points must immediately communicate their withdrawal by SMS or phone call to the number indicated by the organization and make their own way back to Caspoggio.
If a withdrawn athlete wishes to request return transport outside the designated points, and if deemed possible, the organization may offer the service — at the athlete’s expense — using the available means (shuttles or helicopter).
The organization’s vehicles, not being adequately equipped, cannot intervene in the event of rescue for an athlete requiring medical care. In that case, official emergency medical services must intervene.

Art. 10 REFRESHMENT POINTS 

The race is run in semi-self-sufficiency, with the obligation to carry at least one liter of water. For the 2026 edition, the following refreshment and checkpoint points are planned along the route:
- Albareda, km 6, elevation 1,400 m
- Prati Pedrana, km 9, elevation 1,520 m
- Paluetto, km 17, time gate/checkpoint only
- Rifugio Lago Palù, km 19, elevation 1,950 m
- Rifugio Motta, km 23, elevation 2,170 m
- Alpe Ponte, km 28, elevation 1,550 m

Only competitors with their bib clearly visible may access the refreshment point.

Food and drinks from the refreshment point must be consumed on site; drinking directly from refreshment bottles is prohibited; waste must be disposed of in the appropriate containers. 
When leaving each refreshment point, runners must have the quantity of water and food necessary to reach the next refreshment point.
An additional liquid refreshment point will be available at the finish; furthermore, each participant may consume a hot meal at the facilities set up at the finish at the Caspoggio sports center: access requires presentation of the meal voucher.
There are several streams and fountains along the route where water can be refilled. For the entire duration of the competition, it is possible to use the alpine huts located along the route. Any purchase of extra food or drinks in the huts is at the competitor’s expense.

Art. 11 RACE ASSISTANCE

Assistance to athletes by family members or teams is possible only at refreshment points.
Accompanying athletes during the race is prohibited.

Art. 12 BAG DROP 

Bags may be left at the Caspoggio sports center or handed in at the start.
For the 2026 edition, no intermediate bag drop points are planned along the route, unless otherwise communicated by the organization.
Inside the facilities set up at the finish at the Caspoggio sports center, changing rooms and bag storage will be available. Bags may be collected no later than 24:00 on Saturday, upon presentation of the race bib. Competitors are advised not to place valuables in their bags; in any case, the organization is not responsible for any theft, loss, or damage to the bags or their contents.

Art. 13 START

Competitors must report to the start in Lanzada (Piazza del Magnan) by 7:30 on Saturday 25 July. The race will start at 9:00.

Art. 14 ROUTE

The VUT35K route requires the ability to move over particular terrain, tracks, or difficult or treacherous paths (slopes with rocky outcrops or debris), sometimes exposed. 
For the 2026 edition, due to the summer closure of the municipal road toward Franscia and Campo Moro, the VUT35K route follows the following itinerary:
Lanzada (Piazza del Magnan), Vassalini, Albareda, Barchi, Palulungo, Lago d’Entova, Rifugio Palù, Alpe Palù, Rifugio Motta, Alpe Campolungo, Cima Sassa, Alpe Ponte, Tornadri di Lanzada, Curnasch, Curada, Caspoggio.
In the event of bad weather or the impracticability of one or more trails, alternative routes are provided and will be presented at the pre-race briefing before the start. 
Kilometers are not marked. Competitors must strictly follow the marked race route, avoiding shortcuts or cutting sections of the route. Leaving the official route, in addition to resulting in disqualification from the results, will be done at the competitor’s sole risk and peril.
The route and technical data for the 2026 edition may be subject to change following route inspections and the final assessments of the Race Management.

Art. 15 SAFETY AND CONTROL

At the most significant points identified by the organization and in any case at refreshment points, a rescue call point will be established. A rescue team will be present in the finish area. The rescue points are intended to provide assistance to all persons in danger using the organization’s own means or through affiliated bodies. Official doctors are authorized to suspend competitors judged unfit to continue the race. Rescuers are authorized to evacuate runners judged to be in danger using the means deemed suitable. If necessary, for reasons that are in the interest of the person being assisted, at the discretion of the organization and healthcare staff, official rescue services will be called upon; they will take over the management of operations and deploy all appropriate means, including a helicopter. Any costs arising from the use of exceptional means (helicopter) will be borne by the person rescued in accordance with current regulations. A runner who calls upon a doctor or rescuer thereby submits to their authority and undertakes to respect their decisions.

Art. 16 ENVIRONMENT

The race takes place in natural mountain environments with delicate ecosystems located within protected SIC and ZPS areas. Competitors must behave respectfully toward the environment, avoiding littering, picking flowers, or disturbing wildlife. Anyone caught abandoning waste along the route will be disqualified from the race and will incur any sanctions provided for by municipal regulations. To reduce environmental impact, cups will not be provided at refreshment points. Each competitor must carry a cup or bottle to refill at refreshment points.

Art. 17 WEATHER 

In the event of significant weather phenomena (dense fog, snowstorms, severe thunderstorms), the organization reserves the right to make route changes, even at the last minute or during the race, in order to eliminate potential dangers or conditions of severe discomfort for participants. Any changes will be communicated to participants and indicated by staff. The organization also reserves the right to suspend or cancel the race if weather conditions put the safety of participants, volunteers, or rescuers at risk. 
In the event of interruption or cancellation of the race, no refund will be due to participants.

Art. 18 DISQUALIFICATIONS AND PENALTIES

Disqualification, with withdrawal of the race bib, is provided for the following infractions:
- failure to pass through a checkpoint
- cutting the race route
- abandoning waste on the route
- failure to assist a competitor in difficulty
- insults or threats toward organizers or volunteers
- use of means of transport during the race
- refusal to undergo checks by medical staff on the route
- refusal to undergo checks of mandatory equipment
- absence of headlamp, windproof jacket, thermal blanket, container for 1 liter of liquids 

Disqualification may also be applied immediately on the route.

A 30-minute penalty is provided for the following infractions:
- absence of whistle, long-sleeved shirt, trousers covering at least the knee, hat or bandana, gloves, cup or bottle, failure to display the race bib.
Disqualification will be applied immediately at the point where any infraction is ascertained.

Art. 19 PRIZES

No cash prizes are provided. Prizes in kind will be awarded to the first 5 men and first 5 women. Each competitor who completes the race within the maximum time will receive a Finisher gadget. The awards ceremony will take place at 22:00 on Saturday 25 July in Caspoggio. Under no circumstances will prizes be awarded in advance or shipped.

Art. 20 IMAGE RIGHTS

By registering, competitors authorize the organization to use, free of charge and without any limitation, still and moving images portraying them during their participation in the VUT35K.

Art. 21 ACCEPTANCE OF THE REGULATIONS

Voluntary registration and consequent participation in the race indicate full acceptance of these regulations and of any amendments made to them. By registering, the participant releases the organizers from any liability, both civil and criminal, for damage to persons and/or property caused by or arising from the participant.