Valle Stura Skyrace

A skyrace in the wild heart of the Cottian Alps

The Valle Stura Skyrace is one of the most evocative skyrunning competitions in Piedmont, set in the upper Stura Valley of Demonte, within the municipality of Argentera, in the Province of Cuneo. The start and finish lines are located in Bersezio, one of the highest and most characteristic hamlets in the valley, nestled at the foot of the Maddalena Pass, just a few kilometers from the French border.

Runners face a course that embodies the purest spirit of skyrunning: steep trails, sharp ridges, scree slopes, alpine lakes, and the historical allure of the Western Alpine Wall fortifications, whose rock-hewn tunnels are an integral part of the route. The highest point of the race reaches the 2,840-meter summit of Monte Scaletta.

Three courses for every ability

The race offers three distances designed to accommodate both seasoned skyrunners and those new to mountain running:

• Skyrace 24K — The flagship course: 24 km with 2,150 meters of positive elevation gain. A technical and exposed route passing through the Roburent lakes, scree fields, and the Alpine Wall tunnels up to Monte Scaletta.
• SkyTrail 20K — 20 km with 1,400 meters of elevation gain; a route that traverses the Western Alpine Wall works in a setting that is just as spectacular but more accessible.
• Vertical 4K — 4 km with 1,000 meters of elevation gain; a pure uphill challenge introduced in the 2026 edition—short but intensely steep.

2026: The Italian Championship title is up for grabs

The 2026 edition is highly anticipated, as the Valle Stura Skyrace will host the 2026 Italian Skyrace Championship, awarding both overall and category titles. This event will draw the best Italian athletes in the discipline to the foot of Monte Scaletta, confirming the rapid rise of a race that has quickly become a benchmark in the national skyrunning calendar.

An event rooted in the territory

Organized by Mentecorpo SSD, the race is more than just a sporting competition: it is a way to showcase and promote an authentic, unspoiled corner of the Piedmontese Alps, where the mountains retain their rugged and majestic character. With peaks exceeding 3,000 meters and twelve municipalities scattered along the road to the Maddalena Pass, the Stura Valley offers an exceptional natural backdrop that the race helps share with runners and spectators from all over Italy.