The Monte Soglio Ultra-Trail is an event held in the Piedmont region of northern Italy and is also part of the Italian Trail Running Championship Cup, attracting many elite athletes, including members of the Vibram Trail Running Test Team.
Although this race is not one of the Vibram Trail Running Test Team's key trail running events for 2013, the team members still took it very seriously — the long-distance race covers 63 kilometers with a total elevation gain of 3,500 meters and a terrain difficulty rated D+; the short-distance race is 44 kilometers long, with a cumulative elevation gain of 2,300 meters, featuring courses through uninhabited villages and pastures, extremely challenging terrain, and some sections with snow.
The Monte Soglio Ultra-Trail is not just a trail running event; it is also held to promote tourism development in the Piedmont region of northern Italy and support local outdoor fitness activities. The event also collected over 1,000 pairs of used shoes for underprivileged people in need of footwear.
Among all 860 participants, Stefano RUZZA from the Vibram Trail Running Test Team finished 8th in the long-distance category, wearing New Balance 1210 Trail Leadville trail running shoes. Francesca CANEPA wore Saucony Xodus 3 trail running shoes but had to withdraw from the race at the 30-kilometer mark due to injury. In the short-distance race, Luca PONTI secured 4th place while wearing Scott Aztech 3 trail running shoes.
