For elite ultramarathon runners, the primary goal for 2026 is the 100 km World Championships, featuring both individual and team competitions, scheduled for Sunday, September 20th, in Ames, Spain.
According to IAU (International Association of Ultrarunners) regulations, the GIS (General Information Service) of the World Championships organizing committee must receive a preliminary list of up to nine names per gender within ninety days of the race date. From these lists, the final six selected athletes (plus a potential reserve) will be chosen. Among these six men and six women, the top three finishers in each category will contribute points towards the World Nations Championship.
First Confirmations for the Passatore Race
This ‘ninety-day’ deadline before September 20th means that the selectors for the Italian teams, Monica Casiraghi for the women and Paolo Bravi for the men, have until Monday, June 15th, to submit those preliminary lists of 9+9 names.
This effectively gives the green light to top Italian runners, eager to compete in the Passatore event on May 23-24, which also serves as the Italian 100 km Championship.
Training camps and summer programs, commencing immediately after the Pistoia-Abetone 50 km race on Sunday, June 28th, will allow athletes to recover from minor ailments and build their condition to best honor the national blue jersey.
