Vertical kilometer – Wikipedia

The Vertical Kilometer (“vertical kilometer” in Italian) is a registered trademark that identifies a skyrunning specialty. ^{[first] [2]}

It consists of 1 000 m in altitude difference uphill on variable soil with a substantial slope (very steep paths, ski slopes or even disused funicular) and a length of less than 5 km. ^[first] So the average slope required is a minimum of 20.4% (11.5 °). With the same power expressed, the speed of ascent (VAM) increases if the slope increases. There are numerous vertical kilometers over the Alpine arc. Once part of the Skyrunner World Series, since 2017 there has been a circuit specifically dedicated to this specialty, the Vertical Kilometer World Circuit.

The three most steep vertical kilometers in the world are:

1. Vke di Prali in Italy with 1 697 meters of development. (average slope of about 73% or 36 °) ^[3]
2. Verticale du Grand-Serre in Cholonge in France with 1 811 meters of development. ^{[4] [5]}
3. Km Vertical de Fully in Switzerland with 1 920 meters of development. ^[6]

It is “double kilometer” therefore 2 000 meters in altitude on a development path not exceeding 10 km.
The races that fall into this category are:

• TPS Villaroger K2 (France), 7.6 km of development of 1 220 m (Le Pré de Villaroger) up to the top of the Iguille Rouge at 3 220 m altitude; held since 2015. ^[7]

Record: Yoann serves 1h23’39 “NEL 2015. ^[8]

• Vertical 2000 of Morgex (Italy), 8.15 km of development of 920 m (Morgex center) up to the top of the heads of Licones at 2920 m above sea level; held since 2012. ^{[9] [ten]}

Record: Dennis Brunod 1H22’24 “Nel 2014. ^[11]

• Double km vertical de chando in Chandolin (Switzerland), 7.7 km of development of 803 m (mud step) up to the top of the ILLHORN at 2 716 m altitude; held since 2014. This race involves 1 913 m in altitude, therefore in reality it is not a double vertical kilometer even if commonly approved as such. In fact, a 5% tolerance (100 m) of altitude on a path of less than 8 km is accepted ^[twelfth] . ^[13]

Record: Kílian Jornet and Burgada 1h11’16 “Nel 2014. ^[14]

In 2015 the European Cup in double kilometer cup (K2 European Cup) was played for the first time. The general classification consisted of two stages: of the race at Villaroger and the one in Chandolin. Morgex’s race was not part of it.
In 2016, the K2 European Cup will also include the Italian race. ^[twelfth]

There is a single vertical type race in the world with 3 000 meters in altitude.

• Red Bull K3 of Susa (Italy), 9.9 km of development of 503 m (center of Susa) up to the top of the Rocciamelone at 3 538 m altitude (3 035 m in altitude); held since 2014. ^[15]

The record belongs to the Swiss Martin Anthamaten 1h58’53 “in 2017. ^[16]

The world record was 29 minutes and 42 seconds, established in Fully on 25 October 2014 by the Italian athlete Urban Zemmer, with the help of the sticks but was beaten, on October 22, 2017, from South Tyrolean Philip Gotsch, which he stopped The hands on the time of 28’53 “. ^[17] The uphill speed was 2 010 meters/hour. By comparison, the upper speed of an average hiker is assessed by the Italian Alpine Club in 300 meters/hour. ^[18] The previous record (with sticks) always belonged to Urban Zemmer with the time of 30’26 “, always obtained in Fully in October 2012. ^[19] The world record of vertical kilometer, without the help of any external agent such as sticks or other, is from the Italian Bernard Dematteis who in 2013 stopped the hands on the time trial of 30’27 “in the Chiavenna-Lagunc vertical km in Chiavenna.

The world record with sticks is 34 minutes and 44 seconds, established in Fully on 25 October 2014 by the French athlete Christel Dewalle, while the record, that is, that obtained without sticks is by the Austrian Andrea Mayr, always on the Chiavenna route Lagunc, established in 2017 with 35’54 ”