Bariloche by UTMB

Event Overview

Course & Terrain

A loop that starts and finishes at the Centro Cívico in Bariloche. It climbs Cerro Otto, then runs by Chitaka, Cerro Pontoneros, Los Baqueanos, Peuma, Picada Frey, Ski Ranch, Jakob, Bella Vista, Colonia Suiza, Casa de Piedra, El Chucaro, Cerro Lynch, Refugio Cazadores and Trypay Antú before crossing Cerro Otto again. The organizer lists Mounts Pontoneros, Catedral, Otto and Bella Vista, the shore of Lake Gutiérrez and Colonia Suiza. Other races: Frey 85K (88 km, 4,760 m+), Bella Vista 55K (57.5 km, 3,000 m+), Nahuel Huapi 33K (35 km, 1,425 m+), Cerro Lindo 22K (22 km, 985 m+) and Otto 12K (12.7 km, 500 m+).

Key course features to know before comparing this race:

• Cerro Otto, crossed near the start and again near the finish
• Cerro Catedral and Bella Vista
• Lake Gutiérrez and Colonia Suiza

Lenga and ñire forest, valleys, rocky peaks and lakeshores. The course table starts at 795 m and reaches 1,959 m, with big climbs to Pontoneros, Bella Vista and Lynch.

The organizer says runners’ gear must handle all conditions and one or two nights on the course. An adverse-weather kit can be made mandatory before bib pickup opens.

Entry & Logistics

Why This Race Matters

UTMB announced Patagonia Bariloche by UTMB in April 2025 as its second UTMB World Series event in Argentina, and the first edition ran November 18–22, 2025. It is a World Series event, not one of the four 2026 Majors. The Tronador is its 100M-category race: the organizer says finishers earn 4 Running Stones toward the UTMB Mont-Blanc lottery, and the top three men and women qualify directly for the UTMB final. Western States lists the race as a new qualifier for its 2028 lottery, with a 32-hour standard.

Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):

• 2025 winners, first edition (UTMB Live, 132 km course): Ethan Peters (Canada), 15:01:29; Mariana Fernandez, 21:10:16

Preparing for a Race Like Bariloche by UTMB

The fixed-distance race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:

• Walking strategy for ultramarathons: When and how to walk by terrain, effort and cutoffs.
• Crew and aid-station strategy: Crew tables, aid stops, drop bags and runner preferences.
• Hydration and sodium for ultramarathons: Fluid, sodium, thirst, sweat rate and hyponatremia risk.
• Tapering for ultramarathons: Plan the taper and race week around your own recovery.

Best Fit

• Runners chasing 4 Running Stones in South America
• Mountain runners ready for a second night on the course

Planning Notes

• Prepare for sleep decisions, weather swings, and aid-station discipline. The distance is only one part of a multi-day fixed-distance race.
• Train for terrain-specific fatigue. Technical trails and mountain courses demand downhill durability, hiking efficiency, and reliable night lighting.
• The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
• Headphones are not allowed
• Training on the private land the course crosses can lead to sanctions, including disqualification
• No refunds, transfers or distance changes after October 1
• Poles, if used, must be carried from start to finish

Event FAQs

Related Preparation

• Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
• Open the Fixed-Distance format guide
• Compare all race formats
• Use the timed-race pace calculator
• Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
• Build a crew and drop-bag plan
• Build a race-specific gear checklist