Giro dei Tre Monti

The Giro dei Tre Monti is one of the oldest road races in Emilia-Romagna. It was founded in Imola in 1968 by Leo Monduzzi, who had discovered running in 1938, as an assistant postman in Ponticelli, when he watched a race go by. Started almost as a bet and first dismissed as a student prank, it grew into a genuine community festival for the people of Imola. Its founder also saw it as a way of opening sport up to women and older people. The race has missed only two years, 1985 and 2020. It is organised by ASD Atletica Imola SACMI AVIS with the patronage of the municipality.

The competitive race, on the FIDAL calendar, is 15.3 km. It starts at 9 am from the paddock of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, on Piazza Ayrton Senna. The course runs partly on the motor-racing circuit and partly on a scenic loop through the hills, the 'three hills' that give the race its name, before returning to the track at the Rivazza corner. There are two aid stations on the course and a third at the finish, and the time limit is two hours. The course records, 44:40 for men and 52:25 for women, date from 2011 and 2012.

The Giro dei Tre Monti is not only for ranked runners. Two non-competitive walks start after the race: one of 5 km entirely inside the circuit, the other over the full 15.3 km course, to be completed by noon. On the Saturday afternoon, children and teenagers race over age-appropriate distances near the finish line. The formula draws several thousand participants: in 2025 there were close to 3,800 in total, including around 2,800 walkers.

The setting combines motorsport heritage and countryside. Running through the Tosa, Piratella and Acque Minerali corners, on the circuit that follows the Santerno river, is an experience in itself, before the climb into the first hills of the Romagna Apennines, with views opening over the plain. This hilly section, with its climbs, makes the race tougher than its distance suggests; runners used to 10K and half-marathon races will find it a good autumn test.

Runners gather from 7:30 am at Paddock 1, where bibs are collected between 7:45 and 8:45 am on presentation of the confirmation letter. Entries for the competitive race are taken in advance only, and participation requires FIDAL membership, membership of a sports promotion body or a Runcard, together with a medical certificate. Showers, bag storage and parking are available on site, physiotherapy students from the University of Bologna offer massages at the finish, and local associations provide blood-sugar tests and gluten-free refreshments.