Challenge Stellina – Partisan Memorial

A race that honors memory

The Challenge Stellina – Partisan Memorial is much more than a running race: it is an annual summer event that transforms the mountains above Susa, in the Susa Valley, into a stage for endurance, passion, and historical remembrance. Organized by Atletica Susa Adriano Aschieris, the event has been held since 1989, traversing the trails that once served as the theater of the partisan struggle, climbing from the center of Susa up to the Costa Rossa partisan monument, in the municipality of Mompantero, in the province of Turin.

Historical significance

The race was established to commemorate the Battle of Grange Sevine on August 26, 1944, when partisan units led by commander Aldo Laghi, alias Giulio Bolaffi, confronted Nazi troops on the slopes of the Susa Valley. Running the Stellina means retracing those paths steeped in history: sport merges with the duty of remembrance in a territory where the Resistance left a profound mark.

The course

The track is a challenge reserved for mountain lovers: an uphill-only race that takes competitors from Susa to the high-altitude plateau of Costa Rossa. In its most demanding version, the course measures approximately 14.5 kilometers with 1,630 meters of positive elevation gain, a continuous ascent that tests legs, lungs, and resolve. Over the years, the race has seen various formats, but it remains a classic among Piedmont's mountain running events.

The 2026 edition and the Italian Championship

On Sunday, August 23, 2026, Susa and Mompantero will host the 38th edition of the Challenge Stellina, which carries special significance: the race serves as the sole event for the Italian Uphill Mountain Running Championship (Senior and Junior categories). It is not the first time the Susa Valley has hosted national titles—having done so in 2010 and 2020—but this return feels like a true sporting rebirth for the region.

Sport, community, and the Susa Valley

• One of the most cherished sporting events in the Upper Susa Valley
• Technical and scenic route through historic partisan trails
• Strong connection to the history of the Piedmontese Resistance
• Active involvement of the municipalities of Susa and Mompantero and the local community

The Stellina is the perfect opportunity to discover the Susa Valley and the town of Mompantero: alpine landscapes, history, and a decades-long sporting tradition come together for a day of authentic sport.