INTERNATIONAL ROSETTA SKYRACE
The Route
In Rasura, after the start, the runners will ascend towards the alpine pastures of Ronchi and Corte, where the mountain hut of the same name will host the first refreshment point.
Leaving the hut, the ascent continues briefly towards Tagliate di Mezzo, before joining a dirt road and then a trail leading to Alpe Tagliata, where the first intermediate time check will be located near Casera Vegia (km 6.4).
After this short flat section, the climb resumes toward the historic Alpe Piazza, on the border with the wild Val Lesina. After passing the hut at the alpine pasture and reaching the ridge, the route continues to the Alpe Piazza bivouac, situated on a stunning plateau with a small lake, before tackling the steep climb up to Pizzo dei Galli (km 9), where at an altitude of 2217 meters the King of the Mountain prize will be awarded.
This section undoubtedly offers an unparalleled panoramic view over the Lower Valtellina, with vistas stretching from the Rhaetian Alps to the Orobie Alps, dominated by the imposing silhouette of Monte Legnone, guarding over Lake Como.
A first technical descent leads to the Olano pasture, where amidst larches, rhododendrons, and blueberries, the landscape opens towards the nearby Culino pasture, crossing the high-altitude meadows of the Bitto Valleys, renowned for the historic production of the namesake aged cheese.
The trail then ascends once again, climbing the steep eastern slopes of Cima Rosetta at 2142 meters (km 13), followed by a short descent to Baita della Cima, overlooking Lake Culino.
Runners will then take on highly technical trails, alternating climbs and descents, linking the alpine pastures of Culino, Combana, and Stavello via a new ridge route that crosses Bocchetta del Pegurer (2200 m) and Bocchetta dell’Uschiolo (2160 m), eventually reaching the southern slopes of Monte Rotondo.
A final short but intense climb leads participants to the ridge separating Valgerola and Val Varrone, reaching 2270 meters, where the Stavello military barracks — part of the First World War fortifications — have stood for over a century, guarding the Bitto Valleys.
The long descent towards the finish line begins by crossing the remains of trenches and war structures at Bocchetta di Stavello, then heading towards the alpine pasture of the same name, where the technical ridge paths give way to more runnable trails. The route then passes in quick succession Rifugio Stavello, Casera di Combanina, and the Bar Bianco agriturismo.
The final stretch features an unrelenting downhill from the Larice pasture, bringing competitors to the finish line at the Polifunctional Center in Rasura.
GPS track to download (in .gpx format):
