The second edition of the Garda Trentino Trail Extra kicked off from the beautiful Arco Castle, marking the beginning of a weekend full of sports events around Lake Garda. At 12:00, around seventy athletes started the challenging 150-kilometer race with a total elevation gain of 10,000 meters, crossing the peaks of Stivo, Altissimo, and the Valle di Ledro.
The sports councilor of the Municipality of Arco, Dario Ioppi, and the provincial councilor, Michela Calzà, gave the start signal for the race. Among the participants, Marco Gubert, one of the creators of the Extra version of the Garda Trentino Trail, immediately took the lead towards the Valle di Cavedine to face the climb to Monte Stivo alone. The competition also features favorites like English runner Sabrina Verjee.
Saturday will be a busy day with over 1700 participants in the various races of the Garda Trentino Trail. The main race, a 62-kilometer route, will start from Riva del Garda at 8:00, followed by the Ledro Trail (44 km) at 10:30 from Pieve di Ledro and the Tenno Trail (30 km) at 11:00 from Arco. Sunday will be dedicated to the Garda Trentino Run, a shorter but equally fascinating 11-kilometer race around Arco.
Among the athletes to watch out for are vice world champion Andreas Reiterer, Petter Restorp – the winner of the previous edition – and the young talents Alessia Scaini and Anna Hofer.
The route of the Ledro Trail was uncertain until a few weeks ago due to a landslide that interrupted the State Road 240 near Mezzolago last February. With the partial reopening of the road and to minimize the impact on local traffic, the organizers decided to start the race from Pieve di Ledro. From there, over 400 athletes will climb towards the Dromaè barns to join the main Garda Trentino Trail route.
The four lakes touched by the different competitions – Garda, Ledro, Tenno, and Cavedine – offer athletes breathtaking landscapes ranging from the Mediterranean climate of the lakeside shores to alpine environments over 2000 meters still covered in snow. Along these routes, historical places such as the Arco Castle, the Drena Castle, and the ruins of Castel Penede can be admired.
This year, the event is also supported by local refuges such as the Prospero Marchetti on Monte Stivo and the Damiano Chiesa on Altissimo, further strengthening the bond with the territory through partnerships with local companies like Aquafil through the Dryarn brand.
Detailed program of events:
Friday, May 17:
– Opening of the GTT Expo in Arco, Piazza delle Canoniche.
– 19:00 – Presentation of the Top Athletes in Piazzale Segantini.
Saturday, May 18:
– 8:00 – Start of the Garda Trentino Trail from Riva del Garda.
– 10:30 – Start of the Ledro Trail from Pieve di Ledro.
– 11:00 – Start of the Tenno Trail from Arco.
– 12:00 – Arrival of the first classified of GTT Extra, followed by the arrivals of the other distances in Arco, Piazzale Segantini.
– 17:00 – Awards ceremony in Piazzale Segantini.
Sunday, May 19:
– 10:00 – Start of the Garda Trentino Run in Arco.
– Around 12:00 – Final awards ceremony in Piazzale Segantini.
Italian Version
