On September 26th and 27th, 2026, Amandola and the Sibillini Mountains became the meeting point for the first edition of the Fessura Ultratrail GSR. A Zero Edition born with a specific goal: to use sport to tell the story of a territory, to showcase its trails, and to create a new event dedicated to trail running and the mountains. Two days that combined running, nature, encounters, and community, transforming the race into something that goes beyond just a simple race.
From the center of Amandola to the Great Ring of the Sibillini
The program began on Saturday, September 26th with a day dedicated to the flagship race, talks, and screenings. Five athletes took on the mission of covering the Great Ring of the Sibillini (Grande Anello dei Sibillini), a 124 km itinerary with over 5,000 meters of positive elevation gain that crosses and encircles the territory of the Sibillini Mountains National Park.
A challenge born to test the course and lay the foundations for the future of the project. The goal is, in fact, to develop a true ultratrail competition on the GSR in future editions, transforming the Great Ring into the main distance of the event.
Sunday is trail day
Sunday, September 27th, was race day, with three competitions over different distances that brought over 500 athletes to the trails of the Sibillini Mountains. Rounding out the day were walkers, families, supporters, and enthusiasts who shared the trail experience and lived the event alongside the Amandola community.
The VTR with 35 km and 1,900 D+ saw the victory of Christian Marini of Team Fessura in 3h07, while in the women's race, Manuela Rinaldi of Never Stop Runners won with a time of 4h14.
In the SBL with 21 km and 950 D+, the winners were Marco Brutti of Team Fessura in 1h42 and Asia Lanuti of Gubbio Runners in 2h02.
The PLT with 12 km and 400 D+ saw Stefano Massimi of Team Fessura take the highest step on the podium with a time of 50 minutes, and Benedetta Pompei, also from Team Fessura, in 58 minutes.
Completing the program were a 12 km non-competitive walk and a 4 km family course, designed to involve those who simply wanted to experience the mountain without the competitive element.
More than just a race
The Fessura Ultratrail GSR was born from a direct link between Fessura and the Marche region. Amandola and the Sibillini Mountains were not merely the setting for the event, but an integral part of the project. The trail becomes a tool to showcase these places through direct experience: running on the paths, crossing the landscapes, and meeting the people who live in these territories.
This is the vision behind the event: sport and territory meeting to create new opportunities for discovery and participation. An approach that also involved the local community, thanks to the collaboration with the Municipality of Amandola, the Sibillini Mountains National Park, the CAI of Amandola, the Alpine Rescue, Total Training, and the sports clubs Space Running and Trail Adventure Marche.
A weekend full of guests
Among the guests of the Zero Edition was Marco Olmo, a legend of Italian trail running and two-time winner of the UTMB Mont Blanc. After participating in Saturday's talk, Olmo took part in the 12 km race, experiencing the course firsthand.
“I was impressed by the care and attention with which everything was organized. The territory is truly beautiful, and initiatives like this are important for raising awareness of the Sibillini Mountains through sport.”
Gilberto Zorat, a speaker at major international trail running events, also highlighted the potential of the project and the organization: “The staff was cohesive and the atmosphere very welcoming. All the elements are there to help this project grow and transform it into an international event.”
An event focused on the community
Sport was only one element of the weekend. The program included moments of gathering, music, activities, and initiatives dedicated to the territory and the community. Among these was the participation of ANFFAS Sibillini APS, present with a space dedicated to products made by the association's members. Fessura also made a 10,000 euro donation to ANFFAS, intended for the construction of a well at the association's estate. The intervention will help support recreational activities dedicated to the young people and enhance the spaces at their disposal. A concrete contribution that strengthens the bond between the event and the community that hosts it.
A first chapter
The Zero Edition was a starting point, not an end point. The project is already looking to the next edition, with the aim of growing the Fessura Ultratrail GSR and developing it as a high-level competition capable of attracting athletes from Italy and abroad, while keeping the bond with Amandola and the Sibillini Mountains intact.
“We are very satisfied with this first edition and are already at work on the next one. We want to grow the Fessura Ultratrail GSR.” This is how Andrea Vecchiola, Founder of Fessura, describes the future of the project. A vision shared by the local administration as well. For the mayor of Amandola, Adolfo Marinangeli, the weekend represented an important opportunity to tell the story of the territory through sport.
The Zero Edition therefore closes with a first milestone reached and a clearly defined direction. The Fessura Ultratrail GSR has just begun. The next step will be returning to the trails of the Sibillini Mountains with an even bigger project, without losing what made this first edition special: the mountains, the people, and the connection to the territory.
