SkyMarathon
Date
The race is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026.
In case of bad weather, the race will take place on Sunday. In the event of a postponement, athletes will be advised via email and on site. The race director’s decision is final and may decide to postpone the race, to cancel it or decide on a shorter version. In the event an athlete is unable to race due to postponement, the entry fee will not be reimbursed.
Entries
A maximum of 250 teams of two are accepted between the Monte Rosa SkyMarathon and the Monte Rosa SkySummit. The number may vary depending on the conditions on the mountain and the final decision of the race director.
Entries for those who have already completed the Monte Rosa SkyMarathon will open from December 3, 2025.
Entries for those who haven’t yet participated will be open from January 9, 2026 to March 1, 2026.
Confirmation of acceptance is based on the CV and closed when the quota is reached. In case the quota is reached, teams that entered earlier will be selected first.
Excess qualified teams will be placed on a waiting list and included in case of cancellations.
Entry fees
€170 per person – entry and race bag
In case of cancellation by May 30 a 50% reimbursement will be available.
Course
MONTE ROSA SKYMARATHON – 4554m – Teams of two
Distance 35 km. Vertical climb 7,000m +/-
The course retraces the original route first completed in 1993 from Alagna Valsesia, 1,192m, via the Bocchetta delle Pisse, 2,396m, to the Indren cable car station at 3,260m. It continues towards the Gnifetti Hut, 3,647m, Colle del Lys, 4,250m, to summit at the Margherita Hut, 4,554m returning by the same course to Alagna.
The course is on mountain trails with demanding uphill and downhill sections, over snow fields, glaciers with crevasses, exposed areas, steep pastures and scree, possibly subject to severe environmental and weather conditions, summiting at 4,554m. Apart from the Alagna Ski area in the Piedmont Region, from Indren, the course crosses into Gressoney-La-Trinité in the Aosta Valley until Colle del Lys. From here, it’s on Swiss territory up to the summit and the Margherita Hut in Italy.
A high level of physical preparation is required, high altitude mountaineering experience, knowledge of the risks of the terrain and the ability to manage eventual sudden changes such as strong winds and below zero temperatures.
The respect of the environment and solidarity towards other competitors are among the principal requirements of this high altitude race.
Throwing trash outside the aid stations is subject to a penalty of 3’ to 20’ or disqualification in more serious cases.
Assistance from outsiders is allowed only within an area of +/- 100m of the aid stations.
The route is marked with flags and tape and/or coloured posts. Other signage may be communicated at the briefing and/or on race day. The signage must be followed on sight before the snow fields and on the exact course in the snow and on the glacier, subject disqualification.
Athletes
The race is reserved for teams of athletes with mountaineering experience.
Every athlete must complete the online form and supply a brief CV attesting to races completed and high altitude mountain experience.
Athletes aged between 18 and 70 are admitted. They must be in possession of a medical certificate attesting to their racing ability. They must demonstrate mountaineering and/or ski mountaineering experience and/or their skyrunning CV which must include at least one SkyMarathon in the Alps.
Each single athlete’s CV determines the assessment or exclusion of the team. Entry requests without a CV will not be accepted.
Each athlete will receive a bib which must be visible at all times.
A timing chip is provided together with the bib which will be checked at the start together with the mandatory equipment.
Marshals at the cut-off check points have the faculty to decide if an athlete is not fit to continue the race in which case, to collect the bib and determine the return to the finish line.
It is NOT permitted to continue the race without the bib.
Retirements
In case a team decides to abandon the race or is stopped at the cut-off times, if they’re able to return to Alagna autonomously, they must:
- Inform the nearest check point/marshals
- Keep roped up and return along the marked course, keeping the bib visible and reach the nearest cable car station (Punta Indren 3270m – Bocchetta delle Pisse 2394m – Pianalunga 2028m)
- Show the bib to the cable car personnel to access the gondola and return to Alagna
- Return the chip and bib to the timekeepes at the finish line
Equipment
Each athlete is directly responsible for their equipment during the race.
At the race start in Alagna, the following kit is required:
- trail running shoes with snow gaiter
- thermal socks
- long tights
- long sleeved technical top
- sun glasses
- gloves
- head gear
- harness
- ARTVA turned on
In the backpack it is compulsory to have:
- windproof jacket with hood
- micro-crampons
- rope
- via ferrata kit
- poles
- helmet
- 1 lt hydration pack or bottle
- survival blanket
- windproof over pants
It may be necessary to use micro crampons and helmet from Alagna depending on the snow conditions.
It will not be possible to collect or leave any equipment at Punta Indren, nor to receive it from external aid.
From the Indren cable car station, teams must be roped with: UIAA 105 approved harness, UIAA 101 approved 8 mm diameter dynamic rope 10m long, UIAA 128 approved via ferrata kit with two carabiners, micro metal crampons must be worn and ski or cross country poles must be carried.
Poles must be used for the entire race.
Equipment will be checked at the race start, at the Indren cable car station and at the finish. Race staff may check the equipment at any time during the race.
Improper use of the equipment, ropes, micro crampons or whatever action that may prejudice the safety of the team or other race participants will mean immediate disqualification of the team.
Programme
Friday June 12, 2026
10:00 – Palazzetto dello Sport
Race office opening
Registration, bib and race bag pick up
18:00 – Palazzetto dello Sport
Compulsory briefing for Monte Rosa SkyMarathon
19:00 – Palazzetto dello Sport
Race office closure
Saturday June 13, 2026
5:30 – Palazzetto dello Sport
Monte Rosa SkyMarathon start
In case of bad weather, the race might be limited to Colle del Lys or moved to Sunday, June 14
10:00 – Piazza Grober
Arrival of first athletes Monte Rosa SkyMarathon
Podium ceremony after top three men and women
15:00 – Piazza Grober
Prize giving ceremony
Cut-off times
There are five cut-off points, four on the ascent and one on the descent.
• Punta Indren: 3h
• Rifugio Gnifetti: 4h30’
• Colle del Lys: 5h30′
• Capanna Margherita: 6h30′
• Maximum time limit to Indren station: 7h30’ (return by cable car)
• Overall time limit: 9h
If stopped at a cut-off it is NOT permitted to continue even without bib.
Evacuation plan
In case of unexpected bad weather or incidents, all teams may be stopped at any point of the course. Athletes must go back to the start either on the race course or via huts and cable car.
Aid stations
Two aid stations will be set up along the course with liquid and solid supplies:
• Bocchetta delle Pisse (2,396m)
• Punta Indren (3,260m)
• At Colle del Lys (4,250m) and Margherita Hut (4,554m) emergency tents, liquids and energy bars/gels will be available.
External aids are allowed only at aid stations and can include only food and beverages, not equipment. External aids are allowed only until Colle del Lys, while only race personnel can access Margherita Hut.
Race results
Three results categories are recognised: overall MALE, overall FEMALE and MIXED teams.
It will not be possible to continue wearing the bib. If the cut-off times above Indren are not met, the time at the highest point reached will be registered in the final race results.
In case of deteriorating weather conditions during the race, the race director may decide to descend from the summit towards the ascending athletes who must immediately return to the finish line in Alagna. Also in this case, the results will be based on the highest point reached.
Prizes
Cash prizes will be published as soon as possible.
Prizes are awarded to the top three male and female teams and to the first mixed team, provided at least five teams each are ranked.
Responsibility and insurance
Race entry signifies the unconditional acceptance of the regulations as set out by the Race Director.
Personal insurance is mandatory.
Athletes without a federal license insurance that do not include this type of race are obliged to take out a license for insurance.
The athlete must check if the insurance he/she has includes this type of races.
Athletes without a federal license insurance that do not include this type of race are obliged to take out a license for insurance. Athletes must check if their insurance includes this type of race. An option for foreign athletes can be found here.
The Race Committee declines any responsibility for eventual accidents caused by athletes’ conduct not conforming to the regulations or to third parties on the course for whatever reason or for others including spectators on or off the course.
Course certification
Monte Rosa SkyMarathon received the Certified Course Label by the International Skyrunning Federation and is listed among the 2025 Certified Courses.
This SkyMarathon is one of the most technical certified by the ISF, reaching technical level 3+.
Parameters take into account for the technical evaluation are:
- Average incline
- Altitude
- Distance
- Terrain
- Vertical climb
- Technical features and/or use of specific equipment
