Cross della Vallagarina
The classic winter international cross-country race
About Cross Vallagarina
A classic of Italian cross-country
The Cross della Vallagarina is among the most anticipated and long-standing events in the Italian cross-country calendar. It takes place every January (occasionally in February) on the meadows of the Località Giardini sports area in Villa Lagarina, a small town in the lower Vallagarina valley in the province of Trento, in the heart of Trentino-Alto Adige. The event is organized by the historic US Quercia Rovereto club and is considered by many to be the "classic winter" race of cross-country running.
An international circuit
The race is FIDAL-approved and part of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour, the global international cross-country circuit, holding a Bronze level label. Every year, this brings top-tier athletes from Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Bahrain, Rwanda, Burundi, and Turkey to the Trentino track, where they compete against the best Italian middle-distance runners. Throughout its history, the Cross has hosted legendary champions such as Gelindo Bordin, Francesco Panetta, Gabriella Dorio, and Roberta Brunet, and in 2005 and 2007, it hosted the Italian National Championships.
More than just elite
Alongside the men's and women's elite races, the program includes a wide range of youth and master categories: beginners, juniors, and seniors, with distances ranging from 700 meters for the youngest to over eight kilometers for the men. Hundreds of young athletes from Trentino and the Po Valley clubs bring the morning to life, while the international races conclude the day in the early afternoon.
The territory
Villa Lagarina, overlooking the Adige Valley just a few kilometers from Rovereto, offers a picturesque backdrop of vineyards, mountains, and winter landscapes. The race is complemented by a program of side events, including technical running seminars and evenings at the nearby Distillerie Marzadro in Nogaredo, highlighting the deep bond between the event and the social fabric of the Vallagarina area.
Cross Vallagarina — edition 2026
The 48th edition of the Cross della Vallagarina took place on Sunday, January 11, 2026, in the Località Giardini sports area in Villa Lagarina, as part of the Bronze-level World Athletics Cross Country Tour. The traditional track was partially revised due to a loose boulder, requiring an alternative route with the start and finish remaining within the sports area. The day kicked off in the morning with master and youth categories, concluding in the afternoon with the highly anticipated international races.
Programme Cross Vallagarina 2026
Sunday, January 11, 2026
- 11:00 — Master races
- Following — Youth categories: beginners (0.7 km), juniors, cadets, students (distances up to 3.2 km)
- Approx. 14:20 — Women's elite race (5.3 km)
- Approx. 14:55 — Men's elite race (8 km)
2026 Winners
Men's race (8 km):
- 1st — Enrico Vecchi (Atletica Casone Noceto) in 26:07
- 2nd — Marco Fontana Granotto (Atl. Insieme Verona) in 26:15
- 3rd — Isacco Costa (La Recastello Radici Group) in 26:18
Women's elite race (5.3 km):
- 1st — Emily Collinge (Great Britain) in 19:02
- 2nd — Anna Malkova (Czech Republic) in 19:23
- 3rd — Licia Ferrari (junior, category Italian champion) in 19:50
Among the youth categories, successes for Nicholas Odorizzi (men's U20) and Marketa Radanova (women's U18, Czech Republic).
Highlights Cross Vallagarina 2026
Prices Cross Vallagarina 2026
Practical information — Cross Vallagarina
Getting there
Villa Lagarina is located in the lower Vallagarina, just a few kilometers from Rovereto. By car: A22 Brennero motorway, exit at Rovereto Nord or Rovereto Sud, then follow signs for Villa Lagarina. By train: Rovereto station on the Verona-Brennero line, then local connection. The race area is at Località Giardini, which features a sports field and ample meadow space.
Registration and costs
Registration for FIDAL-registered athletes is done online. Indicative fees are 8 euros for senior categories, 4 euros for youth, and 1 euro for beginners. The public can watch for free along the course.
Tips
As this is a winter race, dress in layers and wear footwear suitable for mud and cold weather. The elite races take place in the early afternoon: arrive in the morning to follow the youth events as well.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Cross Vallagarina
Campo Sportivo - Località Giardini
Località Giardini, 38060 Villa Lagarina