Italian Mountain Running Championship – On Leonardo's Trails

A national challenge at the foot of Leonardo's mountain

The Italian Mountain Running Championship – On Leonardo's Trails brings to Revello, in the province of Cuneo (Piedmont), one of the most prestigious events on the national FIDAL calendar: the Italian title for the Mountain Classic specialty, the "up & down" mountain race consisting of demanding climbs and fast, technical descents. The Municipality of Revello, at the entrance to the Po Valley, is dominated by Monbracco, also known as the "mountain of Leonardo": Leonardo da Vinci mentioned it in his Codex B, studying and appreciating the bargiolina, a white quartzite he compared to the famous Carrara marble. Hence the name of the event and the charm of a course that intertwines sport with historical memory.

The Mountain Classic courses

The route winds along the trails above the town of Revello, with two distances depending on the categories:

• 6.5 km with 515 meters of elevation gain for Junior M/F categories and Master over 60 (one lap);
• 13 km with 1,030 meters of elevation gain for Promesse and Senior M/F (two laps).

The up & down format tests both climbing ability and downhill skill on terrain that—when the weather is unkind—becomes mud and roots, providing competitive action and a spectacle for enthusiasts.

Titles at stake

The event awards the Individual Italian Titles of Mountain Classic for the Junior, Promesse, and Senior categories and serves as the first round of the Italian Club Championship. The race is also a selection trial for the European Mountain and Trail Running Championships. The best national specialists compete on the field, joined by the hosts from Atletica Saluzzo.

Organization and setting

The event is promoted by Atletica Saluzzo in collaboration with the Municipality of Revello and with the approval of the FIDAL Piedmont Committee. The logistical heart of the day is Piazza Lorenzo Denina, the site for the meeting point, start, and finish, with official timing, federal judges, and medical services. The event is sponsored by the Piedmont Region, the Province of Cuneo, the Monviso Park, and the Cuneo Local Tourist Board.

More than just competition

Surrounding the main race is a program for the little ones: the Kids Sport Camp, free recreational and motor activities for children, which makes Revello the Piedmontese capital of mountain running for a weekend. Between the streets of the village and the trails of Monbracco, the day combines high-level sport, tradition, and discovery of the Po Valley territory.