The Sky Marathon Rosengarten Schlern begins at 7:00 a.m. in San Cipriano, Tiers, located in South Tyrol’s Bolzano region. The primary event is a high-alpine trail run covering approximately 45 to 46 km. While similar in length to a marathon, the elevation figures highlight its mountainous nature: roughly 2,980 to 3,000 meters of ascent and slightly over 3,000 meters of descent, with extended portions above 2,000 meters. Shorter races are available, including 36 km and 16 km options, offering the same mountain environment for those preferring a shorter distance.
The course crosses Cigolade Pass, Passo Principe, Grasleitenpass, and Molignon Pass before entering the Sciliar area. It then proceeds through Devil’s Gorge, known locally as Pruegelweg, ascends again towards Tschafon, and finally descends to the finish line in Tiers village center. The organizers frankly state the challenge: participants require thorough preparation and a good head for heights because of the steep, exposed alpine terrain, which differs significantly from runnable valley trails.