Baltea Runner ASD ©
HISTORY
Born from a dream like all things that become great, the first edition of the Royal Ultra Sky Marathon Gran Paradiso took place on June 22 2008 on a shorter route than the current one (L=46 km – D+=3575 m) and with the finish at Pian della Balma in Ceresole Reale. There were 36 people at the start, mostly local sports enthusiasts, romantics of Gran Paradiso, and a few unknown athletes. It was such an ambitious challenge that few believed it could become what the Royal is today: amazement reigned among the small group of fans present at the start and at the finish line of the race.
The 2009 edition replicates the route of the previous year. Over the years, the route was perfected both to best interpret the Royal spirit and to make it increasingly spectacular, such as the start from the Teleccio Lake dam and the finish on the shore of Lake Ceresole Reale.
In 2010 (3rd edition) the crossing of the fifth pass, the Colle del Nel (2551 m), was introduced and the route reached a length of 53.5 km and a positive elevation gain of 4000 m.
In 2011 major changes: the race became biennial, alternated and twinned with the Kima Trophy, and the combined trophy "Ultraskymarathon Trophy" was established; the finish line was permanently moved to the shore of Lake Ceresole Reale at the Massimo Mila Refuge (L=52 km – D+=4000 m). The short race was introduced, the Roc Sky Race (L=31 km – D+=2000 m).
In 2013 it is the Italian Skyrunning Championship – Ultra category of the Italian Skyrunning Federation.
In 2015 it was the Italian Absolute Ultra Sky Marathon Championship of the Italian Skyrunning Federation.
In 2017 the highest achievement of a dream: the Royal entered the Olympus of skyrunning, becoming a stage of the Sky Runner World Series (Sky Extreme category) of the International Skyrunning Federation. The tradition of dedicating the Royal began, and thus it became the “Duke of the Abruzzi” edition in honor of the wonderful explorer Luigi Amedeo of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of the Abruzzi. The route became definitive by introducing two new passes (Colle del Nivolet and Colle delle Rocce Bianche) and reaching a length of 55 km with a positive elevation gain of 4141 m.
2019 is a world double with the Royal once again a stage of the Sky Runner World Series. “Lamarmora” edition in honor of the great Savoyard generals of the Risorgimento. The tradition of the "Journey of the Flag" is born: on the Saturday of the weekend preceding the Royal, a relay of dozens of athletes carries the flag of the Royal and of the Lamarmora family from the Biella residence of the generals to the finish line of the Royal, where the Olympic brazier was lit. The territory is ignited for the Royal as if it were an Olympics.
The pandemic years have not dimmed the Royal, which returns ready in 2023 to once again be a great spectacle of sport and nature in the Gran Paradiso, offered to the whole world!
Long live the Royal!
Baltea Runner ASD ©