Trail Monte Casto

Trail Monte Casto is an autumn trail race held in Andorno Micca, Piedmont, Italy, starting near 560 meters elevation. Participants can select a 20K route or a 44 km long course; both are mountain races, not road races. The event is included in the ITRA National League and Piemontrail Challenge, has a capacity of 800 runners, and does not offer prize money. Consequently, the participants are primarily trail specialists, local runners, and dedicated amateurs, not those seeking cash prizes. The long course involves approximately 2,050 meters of climbing and reaches a summit of about 1,500 meters. The shorter route includes around 850 meters of elevation gain. Roughly 80 percent of the running takes place on unpaved trails, emphasizing the importance of footing, climbing technique, and descending skill alongside flat running speed. The race has been held annually since 2006. Cristian Minoggio's record of 3:28:03 is the men's best time, and the women's record is 4:14:12. Runners also mention the autumn foliage and the post-race pasta and beer gathering, contributing to a distinctly local Piedmont atmosphere after the demanding climbs.