Cervino Matterhorn Ultra Race

The Cervino Matterhorn Ultra Race, or CMUR, is a high-mountain trail running event based in Breuil-Cervinia, the resort village of Valtournenche at the head of a side valley in Italy's Aosta Valley. It is run by the sports association Cervino Sport Events. First held in 2022, the event originally featured a 173 km tour of the Matterhorn; after that format was cancelled in 2024 because of rockfalls and damaged trails, the organisers replaced it with a 70 km race for teams of two. Every course stays above 1,900 m, and the race takes place in late June.

The CMUR 70K is the flagship race: 70 km and 5,000 m of climbing, in pairs, running clockwise around the Matterhorn, with a night start at 1 am on the Friday. Teams pass the Perucca-Vuillermoz and Prarayer huts, climb to the Capanna Aosta, cross into Switzerland to the Schönbielhütte and down to Furi above Zermatt, then climb back to the Teodulo hut before descending to Breuil-Cervinia. The route crosses the Stockji and Theodul glaciers, where teams must rope up. Graded EEA, with glacier sections rated PD, it demands proven ultra and high-altitude experience along with mountaineering gear: harness, via ferrata set, helmet, microspikes and one rope per team. The time limit is 22 hours, with several cut-offs along the way.

Saturday is dedicated to the three other races. The CMUR 50K (47 km, 2,900 m of climbing) starts at 6 am, heads to the John Paul II cross, the Cime Bianche lakes and the Teodulo hut, drops to the Schwarzsee on the Swiss side, then returns via the Teodulo to Breuil-Cervinia; it crosses the Theodul glacier and has a 14-hour limit. The CMUR 30K (28 km, 1,800 m of climbing) sets off at 7 am along the Sant'Anna trail, over Motta di Platé and the lower and upper Cime Bianche passes to the Teodulo, before a long descent back to the village. The CMUR 15K (16 km, 700 m of climbing), starting at 8 am, follows the first part of that route to the Pope's Cross, then returns via Plan Maison and along the Goillet dam; it is open to runners aged 15 and over.

Trails, forest tracks and old mule paths make up most of the terrain, with the Matterhorn as a constant backdrop; the long loop reveals all four of its faces. All races are semi-self-sufficient: each runner carries at least one litre of water and their own cup, and must check in at every aid station. On the 50K, runners who reach the Teodulo too late finish on the 30K course. Mountain guides are stationed along the route and a sweeper closes each race.

Bibs are collected at the church in Breuil-Cervinia the day before and on race morning. A hot meal awaits every finisher. If the weather forecast is poor, starts may be pushed back by a day. Registration is online only and places are limited.