The Great Wall 260K is an endurance trail race set to start on Wednesday 9 June at 6.00 pm from Pinerolo (TO), which will see athletes put themselves to the test on a 260-kilometre route that encompasses history and nature, fortifications, ancient paths and Alpine valleys.
The Grande Muraglia 260K was conceived, drawing inspiration from major international endurance trail events such as the Tor des Glaciers, the PTL and the 360° Challenge Transgrancanaria.
Whilst Alessandra Nicoletti and Ermanno Pollet built the story of their great adventures starting from the trails of the Alta Via 1 and 2 in the Aosta Valley, Omar Riccardi and Gianluca Logozzo have chosen to set off on a new route strongly supported by local authorities: “Le Strade dei Forti”. A trek of over 230 kilometres starting from the Pinerolo plain, created with the aim of promoting a region which, thanks to the strong support of local authorities, now finds in La Grande Muraglia 260K a further way to raise its profile.
La Grande Muraglia 260K will be a self-navigated race. This is a choice the organisers have tailored to the specific characteristics of the mountains crossed, seeking a balance between a spirit of adventure and safety. “It is therefore not a race on a route that is fully signposted and monitored metre by metre: athletes will have to navigate and manage their progress independently. But autonomy does not mean improvisation. In fact, the route will always follow existing and marked trails, even where these are classified as difficulty levels E and EE for hiking,” explain the organisers.
For a race of this length, race management will be a fundamental part of the challenge.
There will be three aid stations, at Fenestrelle, Massello and Pomaretto, each with its own time checkpoint.
There will also be 15 refreshment points along the route, whilst the maximum time allowed to complete the 260 kilometres will be 99 hours.
The Grande Muraglia 260K will traverse a mosaic of landscapes and valleys. The route will pass through Val Lemina, Val Noce, Val Sangone, Valle di Susa, Val Chisone, Val Troncea, Vallone di Massello and Val Germanasca.
Thirteen municipalities will be crossed:
Pinerolo, Pinasca, Roure, Fenestrelle, Usseaux, Pragelato, Massello, Salza di Pinerolo, Inverso Pinasca, Pramollo, Pomaretto, Prali and Perrero.
It’s not just the 260 km race. Although all eyes are now on the 260K La Grande Muraglia, with a maximum of 150 race numbers, there will be room for two further races: 75K La Fortezza, starting from the Fenestrelle Fortress on Saturday morning; La Grande Muraglia VK (vertical race), also starting from the Fenestrelle Fortress on Saturday morning.
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