Monte Serra Grand Prix - Vega 10 Boys

A legendary climb in Tuscan running

The Monte Serra Grand Prix - Vega 10 Boys is one of the toughest and most captivating road races in the province of Pisa. It is an entirely uphill race covering 9.266 kilometres—officially measured by FIDAL—that leads athletes from the majestic Certosa di Calci to the lighthouse monument at Prato di Ceragiola, atop Monte Serra in the heart of the Monti Pisani.

Organized by the Pisa Road Runners Club ASD with the support of the municipalities of Calci and Buti, the UISP of Pisa, and numerous local volunteer groups, the event is recognized as one of the '4 Legendary Tuscan Climbs', alongside the Scalata in San Pellegrino in Alpe, the Reggello-Vallombrosa, and the Monte Amiata climb. In recent years, it has also served as the opening stage of the Tuscan Running Criterium.

A race born from memory

This race is more than just a sporting challenge; it is, above all, an act of remembrance. The Grand Prix honors the 44 young men of the C-130 'Vega 10', the Italian Air Force plane that crashed on Monte Serra on March 3, 1977. On board were 38 cadets from the Naval Academy of Livorno and six crew members, all of whom lost their lives in the impact. The race was established in 2007 by Andrea Maggini, in collaboration with the Association of the Families of the Monte Serra Victims, to keep their memory alive thirty years after the tragedy.

To this day, the victims' families welcome athletes at the finish line, making the arrival at the lighthouse monument a moment of profound emotion. Fittingly, numerous cadets from the Naval Academy of Livorno participate in the race every year.

Calci and the Monti Pisani

The small town of Calci, in the province of Pisa, Tuscany, is famous for its stunning Certosa di Pisa (Certosa di Calci), one of the region's most important monastic complexes, and for the olive-grove-dotted Valle Graziosa. Monte Serra, with its scenic trails overlooking the Pisan plain and the Tyrrhenian Sea, is a favorite destination for hikers, cyclists, and runners, providing a natural backdrop for this race of deep symbolic value.

Awards and recognition

Beyond the classic category awards, the Grand Prix features special recognition for military personnel (Navy, Air Force, Army, Carabinieri, and Guardia di Finanza), a trophy for families, and prizes for the largest groups and local residents. In recent years, the event has embraced sustainability: all participants receive a recycled wood medal.