Cortina 56-26 – The Legacy Trail

Cortina 56-26 – The Legacy Trail is a trail race created in Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the heart of the Ampezzo Dolomites, to celebrate the resort's Olympic legacy as host of the 1956 Winter Games and again of the 2026 Games. Organised by the Fondazione Cortina, with help from the local branch of the Italian Alpine Club and the mountain rescue service, it links the town centre to the Olympic ski jump via the venues that shaped the valley's sporting history. The first edition, held in 2026, drew more than 300 runners. The race is listed on the ITRA calendar and counts towards the UTMB Index.

The long course, the Cortina 56K, covers about 56.5 km with 2,800 m of climbing and starts at 8 am from Piazza Dibona. It first climbs towards Faloria and its Olympic Vitelli "Ilio Colli" run, with aid stations at Tondi di Faloria (km 12) and Passo Tre Croci (km 18), before dropping to Fiames (km 28). The second half takes on the Tofane group: Col Drusciè and its A run, Piè Tofana (km 37), the Pomedes hut (km 40), the Olympia and Canalone runs, then Lago d'Ajal (km 49), the Campo cross-country track near Lago Pianozes and the finish at Zuel, below the Italia ski jump. The time limit is 11 hours, with cut-offs at 4 hours at Tre Croci and 7 h 30 at Piè Tofana.

The Cortina 26K (about 25.3 km, 1,310 m of climbing) starts an hour later, at 9 am. It passes the Olympic Ice Stadium and runs alongside the Eugenio Monti bobsleigh track before climbing to Col Drusciè, then joins the long course at Piè Tofana (km 6), the Pomedes hut (km 9.5) and Lago d'Ajal (km 18). The maximum time is 7 hours. A two-person relay lets runners share the effort: on the 26K, the first runner covers around 10 km and 1,180 m of climbing to the Duca d'Aosta changeover zone below the Pomedes hut, where the handover is made by physical contact.

The terrain alternates between mountain trails and ski runs, with long climbs up the slopes of the Tofane and sustained descents back to the valley. The 56K is aimed at trail runners used to long distances in the mountains; the 26K is still demanding but within reach of a well-trained runner, and the relay opens the race to pairs of mixed ability. All along the way, the dolomite walls and Olympic venues tell Cortina's story, from downhill skiing to bobsleigh.

Bibs are collected at the Revis gym on Via dei Campi the day before and early on race morning, on presentation of photo ID. The finish area at Zuel turns into a festival in the afternoon, with entertainment, the prize-giving in the early evening and a party hosted with the Zuel neighbourhood. The race is held on a Saturday in late July, and places are limited for each format.