Ultramediterrània 2027: dates, distances and prices

Plan your race pace

Alcoi and other towns in the l’Alcoià and El Comtat districts will host four days of mountain races from January 21 to 24, 2027. The fifth edition of Ultra Mediterrània Terres de Trail includes everything from a six-kilometre vertical race to a 160-kilometre ultra, alongside 14-, 25- and 50-kilometre races, a route of around 90 kilometres, a stage event and inclusive team races.

The event combines courses starting and finishing in different municipalities, demanding elevation gain and the logistics of a winter race. Registration is scheduled to run from July 30 to December 20, 2026, with fees increasing in stages. Some distance and elevation figures differ slightly between the event’s modality information and the registration platform, so the current regulations will be the final reference for each runner.

Four days of trail running between Alcoi and Cocentaina

The schedule runs from Thursday to Sunday, with starts spread across several locations in inland Alicante. The event begins on Thursday, Jan. 21, with the VOL, a six-kilometre race with 300 metres of positive elevation between Cocentaina and Cocentaina. Friday, Jan. 22, features the ultra-distance race and the VRT, a vertical race followed by a neutralized section. Long-distance races and a children’s event follow on Saturday, with the 25- and 14-kilometre races taking place Sunday.

The variety is about more than distance. Formats include individual start times, neutralized sections, point-to-point courses between towns and inclusive team options. Alcoi is one of the main operational hubs, with services and finishes at Ferrándiz i Carbonell Square and at the UPV sports facilities. Cocentaina, Gorga and Turballos are start or course locations for different races, so transport needs to be planned around the specific event.

The 160-kilometre challenge and longer races

The PRO is the longest event in the program: the registration platform lists it at 160 kilometres and 8,050 metres of positive elevation, starting and finishing in Alcoi on Friday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. This mountain ultra demands experience over extended efforts, careful fueling and the ability to cope with night-time conditions and cold. The event’s general information describes a route through the mountains of northern Alicante, although the detailed course and aid stations should be checked in the regulations and route guide published for this edition.

The longer options also include ONE, a race from Gorga to Alcoi listed in the schedule as 90 kilometres with 4,400 metres of positive elevation, while another label on the platform calls it an 86K. That difference means runners should check the current event sheet and regulations rather than assume one figure is definitive. STAGE covers 84 kilometres across stages, while MAX offers 50 kilometres from Turballos to Alcoi. MAX’s specific information lists 2,800 metres of elevation gain and a 12-hour, 50-minute cutoff; the general program lists 2,900 metres.

Middle distances and a vertical race

The 25-kilometre EXP takes place Sunday, Jan. 24, in Alcoi, starting at 9 a.m. and featuring 1,100 metres of positive elevation, according to its event sheet. The published cutoff is four hours and 35 minutes. The 14-kilometre CXM starts at 10:30 a.m., also in Alcoi, with 450 metres of positive elevation. Both offer a shorter alternative to the ultras, although mountain terrain and elevation still call for preparation and attention to weather conditions.

On Friday, the VRT uses a different format: six timed uphill kilometres followed by eight neutralized downhill kilometres. Its event sheet gives 720 metres of positive elevation, while the general schedule lists 750, another discrepancy to be resolved in the final documents. The neutralized start is at Palau Comtal in Cocentaina, and the timed section reaches Mas de Llopis. Individual start times will be published before race day, and the organizers plan a shuttle between Alcoi and Cocentaina.

Schedule and start times to keep straight

The six-kilometre VOL is listed for Thursday, Jan. 21, at 7:30 p.m., while the 160-kilometre PRO starts Friday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. The general schedule says individual starts for the VRT begin at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, sees ONE start in Gorga at 6 a.m. and MAX leave Turballos at 9 a.m.; an urban children’s race is scheduled in Alcoi at 7 p.m. Sunday’s EXP begins at 9 a.m. and the CXM at 10:30 a.m.

MAX starts in Turballos and finishes in Alcoi. The organizers detail shuttles from Alcoi at 6:30 and 7:30 a.m., assigned according to each runner’s bib, and note that the bus stop in Turballos is about 1.3 kilometres from the start, a walk of roughly 20 minutes. For the vertical race, a bus from Alcoi is listed at 2:40 p.m., with a return from Cocentaina at 9:30 p.m. These logistics matter: arriving in the finish town is not enough if the start is elsewhere.

Registration, fees and refund terms

The general registration period is listed as running from July 30 to December 20, 2026. Fees rise in stages, with changes on Oct. 28 and Nov. 29. The platform lists VOL at 42, 47 or 52 euros; PRO at 237, 247 or 267; ONE at 155, 165 or 185; STAGE at 189, 206 or 226; and MAX at 87, 94 or 99 euros. Platform fees may not be included.

For shorter distances, EXP is listed at 53, 58 or 63 euros and CXM at 43, 48 or 53. Inclusive team races have separate fees: the Joelette option ranges from 200 to 215 euros, and Barra Team from 89 to 99. Published information says the entry includes sports accident insurance. Standard participant or distance changes and refunds are listed as available until Dec. 13; cancellation insurance provides for a 100% refund until Dec. 20, subject to conditions. MAX information also lists a 50% injury refund until Dec. 13. Check the regulations to see which terms apply to each distance.

Mandatory kit and checks

Required equipment depends on the event and expected conditions. For MAX, the event sheet specifies a waterproof long-sleeved hooded jacket, a long-sleeved thermal layer, a headlamp with a red rear light, a thermal blanket, a mobile phone, a device carrying the route, a whistle, at least one litre of water, a cup or container and a food reserve of at least 600 calories. Food wrappers must also carry the runner’s bib number. Poles are recommended but not required.

For EXP and CXM, the published kit requirement is a long-sleeved jacket or windbreaker and a cup or soft flask; the VRT also requires a headlamp. The organizers say mandatory kit will be checked at bib collection and that random checks may take place before, during and after the race. If a cold-weather kit is activated, participants will be notified in the days before the event. Requirements can vary by distance and weather, so the applicable list is the one in the regulations for each race, not a general guide.

Age, bib collection and race services

MAX and EXP require runners to be at least 18 on race day. The published minimum age for VRT and CXM is 13, and minors must provide signed guardian authorization. Bibs are handed over in person with photo ID and the QR code from the confirmation email; collection outside the designated hours is not planned. The FEMECV event appears as pending confirmation in some information, so its specific requirements should not be treated as final.

Bib collection is split between Alcoi and Cocentaina depending on the route. MAX offers collection windows in Alcoi on Thursday and Friday; for Sunday’s races, collection is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday morning. Central services, including bib collection, bag drop and showers, are based at the EPSA-UPV sports pavilion on Alarcón Street in Alcoi. Runners must keep their wristband to access services such as bag drop, showers and the finish-area aid station.

Inclusive options and a stage race

The program includes inclusive team options in the 14-kilometre race, with Barra teams and Joelette wheelchairs. These are not simply individual entries under another name: they have their own team places and fees, so their specific requirements and operational information should be checked with the organizers. The 14-kilometre race is also linked to a possible FEMECV competition for junior and youth categories, which remains subject to confirmation in the information provided.

STAGE offers another way to tackle the mountains: spreading the effort over several days instead of concentrating it in one start. The schedule says participants in this event must wear their wristband throughout and tell the organizers if it breaks so it can be replaced. As with the longer distances, stage details, start times and aid stations should be checked against the latest event sheet. Some information and documents are still marked as forthcoming.

Winter conditions shape the course

The January date places the race in the heart of winter, in mountainous terrain where cold, rain, wind and darkness can affect pace. The challenge is not measured only in kilometres: a prolonged climb, wet ground or technical descent can make a short section decisive. Mandatory equipment, lighting and reserve food therefore serve a safety purpose as well as a practical one, especially in events lasting many hours.

The organizers say they may activate a cold-weather kit depending on the forecast and notify participants before race day. They also identify the regulations as the official source of information. Useful preparation includes studying the updated route, knowing the cutoffs and planning travel between starts and finishes. Conditions should not be assumed to be the same for every distance: each event has its own profile and requirements.

Alcoi as a base and travel between towns

Alcoi concentrates many services and several starts and finishes. Ferrándiz i Carbonell Square is a central location for EXP and CXM, while the EPSA-UPV pavilion provides services for runners. The UPV car park is listed as open all weekend. For MAX, the organizers advise following directions from a GALP gas station rather than searching directly for access to Turballos in a map app; parking and local traffic require specific attention.

A lodging discount code, UTMD2027, is also listed for runners and accompanying guests. Transport between Alicante or Valencia and Alcoi, parking for cars and campervans, and other details are grouped in the event’s information section. Because races do not necessarily share a start location or time, staying near Alcoi does not remove the need to check buses, bib collection and travel times, especially for early starts.

Details to confirm before choosing a race

The event offers enough alternatives for the choice to depend on both sporting goals and available logistics. Runners seeking a first mountain-race experience might consider 14 or 25 kilometres; distances of 50 kilometres and longer demand greater self-sufficiency and careful planning. The vertical race, meanwhile, combines a short competitive climb with a neutralized descent. For every option, elevation, cutoff time and actual start location help explain the effort involved better than the distance label alone.

Pay particular attention to ONE, listed as 86K in one name and 90 kilometres in the schedule; MAX’s elevation, given as either 2,800 or 2,900 metres; and VRT’s elevation, listed as either 720 or 750 metres. Some details also differ between registration information and event sheets. These differences alone do not establish that the route has changed; they may reflect different versions or measurement methods. The latest regulations and official updates should settle them.

A mountain event spread over four days

The January 2027 program turns inland Alicante into a trail-running setting for four days, with urban events, timed climbs, routes between towns and a 160-kilometre ultra. Alcoi is the operational hub, but Cocentaina, Gorga and Turballos are part of the race geography, making it important to look beyond the finish line. That range of formats is why distances, schedules and services need to be read for each event separately.

The overall dates, start schedule and staged fees are already included in the available information, but several technical details remain subject to the regulations and future updates. To gauge the challenge, the decisive figure is not simply the distance between start and finish, but how elevation, terrain, timing, weather and logistics combine. In a winter mountain race, that combination shapes both the experience and the preparation required.

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