Italy’s Franco Collè and Tadei Pivk, second in 2021, enjoying the downhill. ©Chiara Guglielmina

After the recent successful return of the Monte Rosa SkyMarathon, Europe’s highest race, the organisers are pleased to announce next year’s date – June 25, 2022. The AMA VK2 will be held the same weekend.

Despite the extreme challenge and with entries limited for safety and Covid travel restrictions, some 700 athletes from 27 countries participated in the 2021 events.

The date is a week later than the previous editions due to the local Mountain Guides Festival which will celebrate 150 years, one of the oldest in the Alps.

The race ascends and descends Monte Rosa to an altitude of 4,554m, the second highest mountain in Europe after Mont Blanc. A ‘mere’ 35 kilometres long, the severity of the race is measured with a gruelling 7,000m vertical climb to the Margherita Hut at the summit, marking the turn-around point. Adding to this unique skyrunning recipe is the challenging terrain over moraine, snow fields and glaciers.

Sweden’s twins Lina and Sanna El Kott Helander on their way to the Margherita Hut, Europe’s highest. ©iancorless.com

After four editions after the 1992 inauguration, the race was relaunched in 2018 with a new format where competitors run in teams of two, roped together for safety and wearing micro crampons on the upper part of the course. With a break in 2020 due to the pandemic lockdown and travel restrictions in place in 2021, the 2022 edition is looking forward to welcoming teams from across the world to this 2celebrating the pure essence of skyrunning.

The third edition of the AMA VK2, a double Vertical Kilometer® which covers half the course of the main race – uphill only – will take place the same weekend.

Already working to welcome participants, sponsors, spectators for the 2022 edition of the Monte Rosa SkyMarathon and the AMA VK2 are Manuel Gambarini, Race Organiser and President of the AMA Organising Committee together with the team, the Mountain Guides, the Alpine Rescue Service and all the volunteers – on and off the mountain, together with the events’ institutional partners: Councils of Alagna Valsesia, Gressoney La Trinité, Borgosesia, Piedmont Region, Province of Vercelli, Visit Monterosa, and Monterosa 2000.

Looking forward to continuing the legend in 2022. Details for entries will be published at a later date.