Skip to content

Tor des Géants is a 330km ultra marathon in Courmayeur, Italy. Distance: 330km. Elevation: 24,000m D+. Difficulty: legendary (Challenge Rating 91/100). DNF rate: 40%. Time limit: 150h. Surface: trail. Established 2010.

330km legendary legendary iconic bucket-list mountainous

Tor des Géants

Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy

"330km through the Italian Alps with 24,000m of climbing. Six days of running with almost no sleep."

91
Extreme
Distance 330km
Elevation Gain ↑24,000m
Surface trail
DNF Rate 40%
Cutoff 150h
What Makes It Unique

The longest single-stage mountain ultra in Europe — 330km around the Aosta Valley with 24,000m of vertical gain.

The Course

A complete loop around the Aosta Valley in the Italian Alps, linking the trails of the Tour des Géants. 330km with 24,000m of total ascent, crossing 25 mountain passes above 2,000m. Runners have 150 hours to complete the course with minimal sleep — only a few designated life bases offer cots.

Profile

vertical

Topology

loop

Aid Stations

34

Highest Point

3,296m

No Crew Access
No Pacers
Yes Mandatory Gear

Runner Experience

Scenery 5/5
Organization 4/5
Community 4/5
Aid Stations

Well-supported with 34 aid stations. Frequent access to food, drinks, and medical support throughout the course.

Post-Race Culture

A legendary finish line atmosphere. Tor des Géants is a bucket-list race with celebrations that match its reputation.

Race Day Weather

Temperature

8°C

-5° – 20°

Humidity

60%

Rain Chance

50%

Conditions

Early autumn alpine conditions. Snow on high passes is common. Night temperatures regularly below freezing above 2500m.

Stats & Records

Established

2010

Finishers

400

Avg Finish

120:00:00

Course Record (M)

62:21:00

Franco Collé (2021)

Course Record (W)

75:27:00

Lisa Borzani (2023)

Entry

Entry Cost

€600

Opens

January

Sells Out

instant

Lottery Qualification Required Max Starters: 800
Official Website →
External Links

Lore & Trivia

Tor des Géants is the longest non-stop mountain ultra in the world: 330km with 24,000m of elevation gain through the Aosta Valley of northwestern Italy, circling the entire region beneath Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn, and Mont Blanc. Runners have 150 hours — over six days — to complete the course, and most need every one of them. The route links ancient Roman roads, medieval mule tracks, and high-altitude trails through the Gran Paradiso and Monte Rosa natural parks. Above 2,500m, the trails cross snowfields, glacial moraines, and exposed ridgelines where storms can materialize in minutes. The race allows runners to sleep at staffed mountain refuges along the course, creating a surreal scene: runners staggering into stone huts at 3am, collapsing on bunks for 90 minutes, then lurching back into the darkness. Sleep management is the defining tactical challenge — too little and you hallucinate; too much and you miss the cutoffs. Tor des Géants is not fast trail running. It is walking through the greatest mountain scenery in Europe, for six days, on the edge of collapse.

  • 330km with 24,000m of elevation gain — the longest non-stop mountain race in the world.
  • Runners have 150 hours (over 6 days) to finish.
  • The route circles the entire Aosta Valley beneath the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, and Mont Blanc.
  • Mountain refuges along the course serve as sleep stations — runners can nap on bunks.
  • Sleep management is the key tactical decision — the optimal strategy is heavily debated.
  • The course crosses two Italian national parks: Gran Paradiso and Monte Rosa.
  • Approximately 900 runners start; 55-65% typically finish.
  • Night running above 2,500m in the Alps, with only a headlamp and the stars — unforgettable.

After four days with almost no sleep, the mountains start talking to you. And if you're lucky, you start understanding.

— A 2019 finisher On sleep deprivation in the Aosta Valley

Notable Editions

2010

The Inaugural Tor

The first Tor des Géants shocked the ultra world: 330km with 24,000m of gain was unprecedented. Many experienced 100-milers dropped out, unprepared for the scale. Only 55% finished. The race immediately became the benchmark for extreme-distance mountain ultras.

Compare with another race

Similar Races

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Tor des Géants? +

Tor des Géants is a 330km (330km) ultra marathon with 24,000m of elevation gain. The course is loop on trail terrain.

How hard is Tor des Géants? +

Tor des Géants is rated legendary with a Challenge Rating of 91/100 (Extreme). The DNF rate is 40%. Runners have 150 hours to finish.

How do I enter Tor des Géants? +

Must have completed qualifying mountain ultra events with sufficient ITRA points.. Entry is by lottery. Entry costs €600. with a maximum of 800 starters.

What is the weather like at Tor des Géants? +

Average temperature is 8°C (range -5°C to 20°C) with 60% humidity and a 50% chance of rain. Early autumn alpine conditions. Snow on high passes is common. Night temperatures regularly below freezing above 2500m.

Are crew and pacers allowed at Tor des Géants? +

No crew access is permitted. Pacers are not allowed. Mandatory gear is required.

What is the course record for Tor des Géants? +

The men's course record is 62:21:00 set by Franco Collé in 2021. The women's course record is 75:27:00 set by Lisa Borzani in 2023.

What is the average finish time for Tor des Géants? +

The average finish time is 120:00:00. About 400 runners finish each year. The DNF rate is 40%.

Are you the organizer? Claim this race

Stay in the loop

New races, course records, and stories from the trail — monthly

← Back to all races