The vertical race at the foot of the Stone King, in Crissolo, Po Valley
The Monviso Vertical Race is one of the most beloved mountain running events in the Cuneo area. It takes place in Crissolo, a small village in the upper Po Valley, in early June, with Monviso—the Stone King—providing a stunning backdrop. The format is the essential and ruthless one of a vertical race: starting from the valley floor and climbing relentlessly to the high-altitude pastures.
The route spans just over 4.1 kilometers with 1,000 meters of elevation gain. The race follows the ancient main path, the V9 trail: starting from the center of Crissolo, near the bridge over the Po River (at about 1,330 meters above sea level), it climbs to the finish line near Monte Granè, at around 2,330 meters. It is a continuous ascent on alpine terrain that tests even the most trained athletes and offers spectacular views of the Monviso massif.
The event is organized by the Pro Loco of Crissolo with the technical support of the ASD Podistica Valle Infernotto from Barge. A well-oiled organizational machine that has been bringing this event to life for years on the first Sunday or Monday of June, combining sport, mountain culture, and promotion of the Po Valley region.
The Monviso Vertical Race is no walk in the park: the top times speak for themselves. The men's course record belongs to Marco Moletto (36'56"), and the women's to Camilla Magliano (43'36"). Over the years, the race has joined circuits dedicated to vertical racing, attracting specialists in vertical kilometer and skyrunning from all over Piedmont and beyond.
Running the vertical race is also an opportunity to discover Crissolo, the last inhabited village in the Po Valley before reaching Pian del Re, where the Po River rises. It is a corner of the alpine Piedmont where mountain racing is a way of life and where, every June, the community gathers around this sporting event that has now become a classic.
After two editions held on the alternative Bric Arpiol track, the Monviso Vertical Race 2026 returned to the classic V9 trail, starting from the center of Crissolo and finishing at altitude near Monte Granè, for a total of approximately 4.175 km and 1,000 meters of elevation gain. 55 athletes were at the start.
In the men's category, victory went to Fabio Bonetto (Atletica Val Pellice) with a time of 41'29", ahead of Nicolas Bouchard (Atletica Saluzzo, 41'52") and Matteo Cesano (Boves Run). Among the women, Alessandra Paschetta (Apple Team) triumphed in 52'17", followed by Lisa Curti and Marta Menditto.
Course: just over 4.1 km with 1000 m of elevation gain. Online registration via Wedosport or on the morning of the race until just before the start.
Crissolo can be reached by car by driving up the Po Valley from Saluzzo (CN), passing through Paesana and Oncino. The most convenient airports and train stations are in Cuneo and Turin, from where you can continue by car.
Registration is done online via the Wedosport portal, with the possibility of signing up on the morning of the race until just before the start (with an increased fee). The entry fee is affordable (in recent years around 13-15 euros).
As this is a high-altitude vertical race, clothing suitable for mountain conditions is essential, even if the weather is fine in the valley. Always check the date, times, and details on the organization's website and the Pro Loco of Crissolo's social channels.
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Crissolo - Valle Po (ai piedi del Monviso)