Grotta Gigante, Trieste (Italy), Sunday 27 November 2016
The Cronotraversata del Maestro time trial race is a unique running event.
Starting at 30-second intervals, participants run through the world's largest tourist cave, the Grotta Gigante, situated on the Karst Plateau near the port of Trieste in the north-east of Italy.
The route is approximately 1,600 metres long. The first 800 metres are a flat multi-terrain run on roads and trails through the village of Borgo Grotta Gigante.
The second half of the race is run on the internal staircase of the cave.
Competitors run 500 steps down to the bottom of the Grotta Gigante (119 metres of elevation change) and then 500 steps up on the other side of the cave. The finishing line is at the cave exit.
You are well advised to wear protective gloves as the handrails of the staircase might be a bit rough and rusty.
The entry limit is 250 runners. Last year, 159 runners completed the race. The fastest finisher was Matjaž Mikloša of Slovenia (8 minutes 7 seconds). Nicol Guidolin from Trieste (10 minutes 26 seconds) was the first woman across the line.
Race report, photos and results: Cronotraversata del Maestro 2011
Photos and results: Cronotraversata del Maestro 2013
Country: Italy
Venue (Map): Grotta Gigante (Trieste city centre 13km, Udine 67km, Ljubljana 90km)
Date: 27 November 2016 (Sunday)
Race distance: ca. 1.6km
Start time: 10.00 (start at 30-second intervalls)
Start and finish: at the Grotta Gigante Visitor Centre
Race centre: Grotta Gigante Visitor Centre (on the day 8.00-9.30)
Entries: online (up to 24 November 2016) with payment by bank transfer; late entries on the day (8.00-9.30) if the race limit of 250 runners has not been reached; entrants must provide a medical certificate at registration; entrants from outside Italy do not have to provide a medical certificate if they are registered with an athletics federation
Entry fees: € 18 (up to 24 November 2016), € 23 (on 27 November 2016)
Timekeeping: chip timing (included in the entry fees)
You get: a souvenir gift, snacks and drinks at the finish, pasta party after the race (11.30-13.00)
Prizes: to the first 10 men and 5 women
Award ceremony: at 13.00
Number of finishers 2015: 159
Event website (in Italian): caicim.it
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page! Please visit the official event website to verify the above information.