From March 20th to 22nd, the Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB 2026 transformed scenic trails and ancient vineyards into a stage of unforgettable emotions, where every Fessura Trail Team athlete left their mark.
A weekend that also saw a series of misfortunes align: some injuries, right at the start of the season, forced important athletes like Giacomo Forconi, Giorgio Lampa, Andrea Tamiazzo, Davide Alesi, and Christian Marini to withdraw. These were significant absences for the team, but they didn't stop their support; their energy and encouragement continued to motivate everyone, strengthening team spirit and the determination to come back stronger.
Friday, March 20th: Kicking off with a bang
The 10 km CWR opened the weekend with high pace and pure adrenaline. Among the women, Ecaterina Sevcenco achieved an incredible 3rd place, reaching the podium and demonstrating the strength of the Fessura Trail Team. Among the men, Luca Cesarini finished 4th overall, tackling the race with determination and consistency, while Luca Gargiulo finished 8th, confirming the team's competitive level and character from the very beginning of the weekend.
Saturday, March 21st: high-level performance.
Just before dawn, in Radda in Chianti, headlamps cut through the darkness as the queen race came to life: ultrarunners were ready to push beyond every limit. Patrizio Bartolini tackled the UTCC with determination and endurance, dominating his category and finishing 17th overall and 1st in his category, proving that tenacity can turn fatigue into triumph. In the same race, Emanuele Ludovisi ran with great consistency, step by step, showing his strength and finishing 70th.
Not much later, at 7:00 AM, the CUT began, a 75 km pure challenge. Alessio Donati and Marco Brutti ran side by side, overcoming every obstacle and conquering 22nd and 23rd place respectively, while Annalisa Fitti confirmed her tireless spirit with a brilliant 41st place in her category. Every step was a battle, every breath an act of resilience: a tale of strategy, sacrifice, and pure determination.
Sunday, March 22nd: the grand finale.
The weekend was drawing to a close, and Sunday showed another side of the challenge: shorter distances, but with intensity through the roof.
In the 46 km CMT, Mirko Fioretti gritted his teeth all the way to the finish, 62nd, embodying the tenacity that distinguishes Fessura athletes.
In the 21 km CHT, among the men, Mario Maresca finished 18th, followed by Alberto Mattia Perronace 22nd, both protagonists of a race run with determination and control.
Among the women, Deyanira Rodriguez achieved a valuable 10th place, while Caterina Corti placed 18th and Clara Donghi finished 61st, demonstrating character and resilience on a course where every step counts.
The trail season begins.
The trail season begins. The Chianti Ultra Trail 2026 was not just a race, but a team experience of endurance and passion. This weekend, athletes had the opportunity to test the new GSR Team shoes, improved from the previous model, also showing the difference during the race. But that's not all: they wore the vest, the belt, and the new kit, branded Fessura, which will be available soon, completing the package.
Every athlete demonstrated that passion for trail running goes beyond results, transforming fatigue into emotion and stories to tell. Every step left its mark. The next challenge is already ahead, even more intense, even more ambitious.
