Ultra del Turchino

A race from the night to the sea

The Ultra del Turchino is one of the most distinctive ultramarathons in Northwest Italy: 50 kilometres connecting Ovada, in the Alto Monferrato area of the Province of Alessandria (Piedmont), to the coastline of Genoa-Voltri, in Liguria. The start is set in the middle of the night, just after midnight, and runners make their way through the darkness along the winding roads that separate Lower Piedmont from the Riviera, reaching the finish line as the sun rises and the sea comes into view.

The route and the Turchino Pass

The course begins at Lung'Orba Giuseppe Mazzini, in the centre of Ovada, with an initial 12.5-kilometre loop through the town. From there, the race winds along the valley and tackles the climb towards the historic Turchino Pass, the mountain pass that has always linked Piedmont with the Genoa area. Once over the pass, the route descends towards the sea, passing through the Ligurian villages of Rossiglione, Campo Ligure, Masone and Mele, before arriving at the Giardino Caduti Partigiani Voltresi in Genoa-Voltri. The total distance is 50 kilometres with an elevation gain of approximately 1,280 metres.

A semi-self-sufficient challenge

The Ultra del Turchino is a semi-self-sufficient event: free refreshment points manned by volunteers are positioned approximately every 5 kilometres along the route, but each participant must manage their own race independently, setting a pace that suits their training. The spirit is that of pure ultra-distance running, defined by physical exertion, the silence of the night, and the satisfaction of reaching the sea on one's own feet.

A IUTA calendar event

The event is organized by the Impossible Target ASD association and is part of the IUTA National Ultramarathon Calendar, serving as a stage for the IUTA Grand Prix. It has become a staple of the summer running calendar in the territory between Piedmont and Liguria, attracting ultramarathoners from all over Italy. The nocturnal nature of the race and its connection to the Turchino Pass—already famous in cycling history for the Milan-San Remo race—make this a unique experience in the Italian ultra-running scene.