The thermometer in Cortina d’Ampezzo is threatening to hand down a harsher sentence than the 5,800 meters of vertical gain in the flagship race. While all eyes are on the Lavaredo 120K start line this Friday at 11:00 PM, the real story isn't about who has the most watts in their legs, but who will best manage an African heatwave that promises to turn the climb to Tre Cime di Lavaredo into a limestone oven. Hannes Namberger’s stratospheric record (11:48:05) is hanging by a thread—not due to a lack of talent in the field, but because physiological performance plummets when the mercury refuses to drop, even under the stars.
Assaulting the Lavaredo 120K Throne
The entry list is a minefield for any pundit. The French armada arrives seeking vendetta, but the technical focus remains on the runners' ability to maintain pace on the technical single tracks connecting Rifugio Auronzo with Passo Giau. On this leg-breaking terrain, hydration and core temperature regulation will be more decisive than pure climbing prowess. Anyone pushing the pace too early at Lago di Misurina risks a monumental bonk before the first light of dawn.
Speed and Technique in the Short Distances
The action kicks off with the Lavaredo 10K and 20K, where skyrunning specialists will look to redline their lungs on explosive courses. However, analysts are keeping a close eye on Friday’s Lavaredo 50K. With 2,600 meters of elevation gain, this distance has established itself as the ultimate litmus test for runners looking to transition to ultra-distances without shredding their muscles in the process. On Saturday, the Lavaredo 80K will close the competitive block, challenging athletes with a course that, despite being shorter than a 100-miler, punishes with a level of technicality that allows zero relaxation on the descents.
The race organization has bolstered liquid aid stations, fully aware that the dry, exposed Dolomitic terrain does not forgive miscalculations. The passage through Val Travenanzes, usually a mental transition stretch, is shaping up to be the critical point where the men’s and women’s podiums will be decided. Those who haven't mastered the art of thermal management will see their shots at glory evaporate among the pink rock walls.