Rain slows but does not stop, and mud becomes the true protagonist of the 9th Brunello Crossing. The Trofeo Banfi 45 km once again belongs to Biondi and Breen. On the 24 km Trofeo Camigliano, victory for Luigi Pietrini and confirmation for Pina Deiana. The 14 km Enoteca La Fortezza race rewards Nicola Severini and Maria Rossi. A great debut for the Col d’Orcia Walk & Nordic Walking. Casi: “The volunteers, the soul of a challenge made epic by mud.”
MONTALCINO – An intense, authentic, and deeply “trail-running” day marked Sunday, February 8, 2026, the 9th edition of the Brunello Crossing. After days of relentless rain, the precipitation slowed the pace but never stopped accompanying the participants, who found themselves facing trails made extremely demanding by abundant mud, turning the race into an even tougher and more epic challenge.
Nearly 2,000 people – including athletes, walkers, and companions – animated the routes of Montalcino and the Val d’Orcia, creating a memorable edition in terms of intensity, participation, and team spirit.
The event, organized by SSD Montalcino Trail with the support of the Municipality of Montalcino and the Brunello di Montalcino Consortium, confirmed its strong national and international appeal, offering a high-level sporting spectacle across three competitive routes and successfully introducing a new proposal dedicated to walking enthusiasts.
Trofeo Banfi 45 KM
The flagship distance of the Brunello Crossing crowned Marco Biondi, who secured a repeat victory after his 2024 success. He finished in 3:44:07, improving his own time by two minutes and confirming himself as one of the leading figures in trail running across these hills.
In the women’s field, victory went to Anna Breen, an American naturalized Austrian athlete, who completed the 45 km in 4:45:25, asserting her dominance on a technical and selective course.
Highlighting the deep connection between the event and the territory, Rodolfo Maralli, President of Banfi, title sponsor of the longest race since the beginning, stated:
“Supporting the Brunello Crossing means for Banfi enhancing an authentic relationship with the territory, based on respect, passion, and sharing. The event represents a living expression of Montalcino’s identity, combining sport, tradition, and a sense of community.
We are pleased to associate the Banfi name with the trophy of the longest competitive race, an emblem of determination and perseverance, values that have always inspired our work.
The Brunello Crossing fully reflects the balance between territory, tradition, and vision that guides our commitment.”
Trofeo Camigliano 45 KM
On the middle distance, victory went to Luigi Pietrini, who after winning the 14 km last year chose to challenge himself on a longer course, tackling the 24 km Trofeo Camigliano and finishing in 1:49:07.
In the women’s category, another confirmation for Pina Deiana, now a true star of the Brunello Crossing. The Sardinian athlete repeated her 2025 success, stopping the clock at 2:17:11, just seconds off last year’s time, proving remarkable consistency.
For the second consecutive year, the Trofeo Camigliano was sponsored by the historic Camigliano estate, deeply rooted in the Montalcino territory. Led by the Ghezzi family, Camigliano represents a unique reality: a village closely connected to its vineyards, expressing an authentic bond between wine, community, and tradition, with organic production almost entirely focused on Brunello di Montalcino DOCG.
Enoteca La Fortezza 14 KM
The fastest distance may have changed its name, but not its spectacle. The 14 km Enoteca La Fortezza race saw victory for Nicola Severini, first across the line in 1:06:06.
Among the women, Maria Rossi prevailed, finishing in 1:15:21, winning on a course made challenging by terrain conditions but still offering great satisfaction to the athletes.
The race is named after the historic Enoteca La Fortezza, a key reference point in Montalcino for promoting and enhancing the area’s wines. The wines included in the race pack were provided by the Tassi family, deeply connected to local winemaking tradition and known for a production focused on quality and the identity of Brunello di Montalcino.
Col D’Orcia Walk & Nordic Walking
A major new feature of the 2026 edition was the Col d’Orcia Walk & Nordic Walking, which received extraordinary enthusiasm. Nearly 700 walkers took part in the 17.5 km route, starting from Sant’Angelo Scalo and finishing in Montalcino, crossing one of the most scenic and least known sides of the territory.
The route was designed to highlight landscape, biodiversity, and rural identity, with the start and first refreshment point hosted by the historic Col d’Orcia estate.
“It is a pleasure to have contributed to the success of such a highly anticipated event in the Montalcino calendar as the Brunello Crossing, which brings thousands of runners and walkers from all over Italy to the area. The Col d’Orcia Walk & Nordic Walking is a completely new route, designed to reveal the beauty of Montalcino’s southern side, starting from the richness and biodiversity of our estate, among vineyards, olive groves, and Mediterranean scrub.”
WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT
“The volunteers are, as always, the soul of this event,” underlines Alessio Casi, President of SSD Montalcino Trail. “Their commitment, passion, and availability make the Brunello Crossing possible every year, transforming it into something that goes beyond a simple sporting event.”
“A heartfelt thank you also goes to the Municipality of Montalcino, the Brunello di Montalcino Consortium, sponsors, and all those who contribute to the success of the event. We continue to grow while keeping firm the values of sport, territory, and sustainability that make the Brunello Crossing a truly unique event.”