Km Vertical Fuente Dé 2027: date, course and championship

Plan your race pace

The Km Vertical Fuente Dé 2027 will take place on Saturday, 15 May in Fuente Dé, part of the municipality of Camaleño in Cantabria. The race will host Spain’s national vertical club championship and serve as the second round of the Spanish Vertical Cup.

Organised by Club Atlético Km Vertical Fuente Dé, the event brings competition to the Picos de Europa in the Liébana region. The 2027 course, start times and registration conditions are yet to be confirmed; the 2026 details show what the previous edition involved, but the new regulations may change them.

Date and competitions in 2027

The FEDME calendar lists the race for 15 May 2027, three weeks earlier in the calendar than the edition held on 6 June 2026. The date matters to runners arranging travel to Cantabria or fitting the event into their mountain-running season.

The event brings together two distinct competitions: the national vertical club championship and the second round of the Spanish Vertical Cup. One puts a club title at stake; the other is part of a series of races. Participation and classification rules for each competition will need to be set out in the relevant regulations.

For runners hoping to compete with their team, belonging to a club does not necessarily mean meeting every championship requirement. Before registering, it is important to check licences, team composition and the entry procedure under the rules applicable in 2027.

The 2026 course: 2.6 kilometres uphill

In 2026, the main race connected the lower and upper stations of the Fuente Dé cable car over 2,600 metres with 972 metres of elevation gain. That distance and elevation gain apply exclusively to the previous edition, not to a confirmed course for 2027.

The ratio illustrates the character of the race: runners climbed an average of about a substantial amount of elevation for the distance covered. The gradient was not uniform; it was a mountain ascent where the profile and surface shaped the effort more than distance alone.

The first section combined grass and low scrub. Dirt paths and rock predominated in the second half, requiring runners to adjust their footing. The competition took the form of an uphill time trial, with ascent time determining the standings.

Comparing pace per kilometre with a road race offers little insight on a climb like this. The gradient calls for a mix of running and walking according to the section and each athlete’s ability; secure footing also becomes important as rock and fatigue come into play.

Registration, prices and start times

The 2027 entry fee, registration deadline, participant limit and start times are still to be confirmed. The race website is where runners can check the regulations and conditions for the new edition.

For historical context, the 2026 limit was 350 participants. The discounted entry fee until 30 April was €25 for federation members and €30 for non-members; prices increased from 1 May. Registration was due to close at 23:59 on 3 June or when places sold out. None of those conditions should be assumed to apply in 2027.

That year, the general uphill time-trial start was scheduled for 11:30 a.m., with the youth and cadet start at 12:15 p.m. For anyone facing a long journey, it is also worth checking where and when race bibs will be collected, as well as each category’s start time, before booking transport and accommodation.

Injury or an inability to travel can affect the real cost of entering. The refund and bib-transfer conditions should be checked in the regulations and during registration: withdrawing does not automatically mean a refund or permission to transfer an entry.

Youth categories and trekking poles

The 2026 edition included separate courses for younger runners: 1,000 metres with 361 metres of elevation gain for the youth category, and 1,500 metres with 510 metres of gain for cadets. The previous race did not admit children under 12 and calculated age as of 31 December in the competition year.

Those figures help illustrate the demands placed on younger categories, but they do not establish their age limits or distances for 2027. Parental permission, age and documentation requirements for minors will need to follow the rules for that edition.

Trekking poles were permitted in 2026. On a steep ascent they can help share some of the effort between arms and legs, although using them without obstructing other runners takes space and practice. Their permitted use and any conditions in 2027 will depend on the race regulations.

Logistics for a race that finishes high above the start

Fuente Dé is part of the municipality of Camaleño, in Liébana. The previous edition finished at the upper cable car station, making the return to the start a separate consideration from reaching the finish. The 2027 course and the organiser’s return instructions remain to be confirmed.

Before planning the day, it is useful to check whether transport down is included, whether it requires a booking and what arrangements apply to bags or warm clothing. These details can affect both the overall cost of the trip and the time needed after the race.

The 2026 course was marked and staffed by volunteers responsible for directing runners and helping keep them safe. Anyone injured or unable to return unaided was instructed to notify the organisers so evacuation could be arranged. In mountain terrain, do not improvise a descent while injured: report the incident to race staff.

Racing in the Picos de Europa

The 2026 edition took place within Picos de Europa National Park and required runners to follow the marked route. Breaking environmental rules could result in disqualification. This gives the course a different dimension from an urban race: it passes through a protected natural area.

Hosting Spain’s national club championship adds a team dimension in 2027 to a discipline often associated with individual effort. Team standings will depend on the rules published for the competition, while Fuente Dé will once again put vertical gain at the heart of the event.

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