The Val Masino granite knows no diplomacy and offers no weather-related truces. This Saturday, the Trofeo Kima is more than just a race; it is the ultimate test where climbing technique and cardiovascular endurance merge on a course widely considered the most technical on the planet. With 52 kilometers packing a staggering 8,400 meters of total elevation change, the big question at the Filorera start line is whether anyone can challenge Manuel Merillas’ hegemony on terrain where the Spaniard moves as if he had claws instead of trail shoes.
The Technical Factor: Chains, Glaciers, and Chaos
This is no ordinary Ultra Trail. Kima is pure, old-school Skyrunning. Crossing the seven passes above 2,500 meters, such as the dreaded Passo del Cameraccio, demands an agility that goes far beyond having high wattage in the legs. Local mountain guides report that residual snowfields are in mixed conditions, forcing elite runners to exercise extreme caution on the fixed-chain sections. Here, a slip on wet rock isn't just a stumble—it’s an immediate DNF.
The Extreme Alternative and the Mini Breeding Ground
While the spotlight shines on the 50K main event, this year’s 27.5-kilometer Kima Extreme SkyRace® is shaping up to be a pressure cooker. With 1,850 meters of vertical gain packed into its distance, it will attract short-course specialists looking to smash the clock without the energy management required for the full distance. It is the perfect stage for young talents who lack the mileage for the absolute Kima but dominate technical single tracks with insulting ease. Meanwhile, the 6-kilometer Mini Kima keeps the flame alive for Lombardy’s youth, passing the Val Masino spirit to the next generation without high-altitude exposure.
The Record Barrier
The atmosphere in Val Masino is electric. Stopwatch purists are closely monitoring the split times. If visibility remains stable on the ridges, the course record could be under threat. The key will lie in the final descent to the finish: a brutal leg-breaker where quads often hit the wall after hours of constant tension on airy ridges. Merillas knows every stone, but the push from a new wave of international runners, drawn by the mysticism of this sacred granite, promises a tactical battle from the very first meter of the climb.