The Race
| Next Race Date | Sunday 11 April 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Point-to-point (Limone sul Garda to Malcesine) |
| Registration | Open entry |
| Ballot opens | Not applicable |
| Start | Limone sul Garda lakefront, 09:00 |
| Finish | Malcesine lakefront |
| Total finishers | Not published |
| Avg race-day temp | 7 to 16°C (April) |
| Cutoff time | 6 hours 15 minutes (finish line closes at 15:15) |
| Free race-day transport | Yes, for runners who booked the shuttle at registration |
| Course certification | FIDAL measured and approved, Type A, valid through 2027. No World Athletics Label |
History
Lake Garda 42 is organised by Communico Italia SSD a RL and is sold with a title sponsor that has changed over the years: X-BIONIC in 2023 and 2024, FILA in 2025 and PEAK from 2026. The organiser's results archive lists editions from 2022. The event has a marathon, called LG42, and a half marathon, called LG21, which starts in Arco and finishes at the same place as the marathon.
The defining feature is the format. The marathon starts on the western shore at Limone, runs north to Riva del Garda and inland to Arco, and returns to the eastern shore to finish at Malcesine. The start and finish are in different towns, connected by ferry, so the transport is as much a part of the event as the run.
A runner's report of the 2022 edition described a small field of roughly 700, a narrow opening in Limone, a GPS signal that failed in the tunnels and a smooth ferry transfer to the start. Those observations belong to that year and are not 2027 figures.
An older Lake Garda Marathon name and website exist and may refer to a different event, so no earlier history is imported here. No course record was verified.
The course
Lake Garda 42 starts at 09:00 on the lakefront at Limone sul Garda and finishes in Malcesine. The 42.195 km course is measured and approved by FIDAL as Type A, valid through 2027. The organiser says the route can change.
The course runs north along the western Gardesana road through a chain of tunnels, among them Galleria Naladi at 4 km, Galleria dei Titani at 6 km and Galleria Casagranda at 9 km, and drops into Riva del Garda at 10 km. It then heads inland through Arco, turning at about 21 km, and returns south by the Ciclovia dei laghi to Torbole at 27 km. From there it follows the eastern shore, crosses the Trentino-Veneto border in the Galleria del Confine provinciale at 34 km, and finishes in Malcesine.
The organiser gives approximate ascent of 180 m and descent of 160 m. It also warns that GPS tracks are unreliable because the tunnels block satellite signals, while the measured distance is correct. The Gardesana is closed to traffic for the race and the finish line closes at 15:15.
Kilometre by kilometre
Kilometre positions follow the 2027 route and the organiser's aid-station list. Tunnels distort GPS, so treat every position as approximate and rely on the kilometre boards.
Km 0 to 10: Limone to Riva. The gun goes at 09:00 on the Limone lakefront, where the streets are narrow and the first few hundred metres are congested. The route leaves the water almost at once, climbing through the village by Via Nova and Via Reamol to about 106 m at 2 km, then turns onto the western Gardesana, with the lake on one side and rock on the other. It enters Galleria Naladi at 4 km, passes Pregasina and Galleria dei Titani at 5 and 6 km, and runs through Galleria Orione at 7 km. The sharpest rise of the course arrives at 8 km, and the road then drops through Galleria Casagranda at 9 km to Piazza Garibaldi in Riva del Garda at about 10 km. The chart overstates this stretch (see the caption), but it is the one place where the road itself climbs and descends in earnest, and it comes early, so hold pace back. Do not trust your watch in the tunnels: use the organiser's kilometre boards and elapsed time.
Km 10 to 21: Riva, the orchards and Arco. Through Riva the route swings round the northern end of the lake and joins the Ciclovia Adige-Garda at 11 and 12 km, then runs flat and close to 70 m through Via Linfano at 13 to 16 km, Prato Saiano at 17 km and the lanes of San Giorgio and Chiarano at 18 and 19 km. It reaches Viale delle Magnolie in Arco at about 21 km, the farthest point from the start, 13.6 km away in a straight line. The halfway aid station is at 21.1 km. The half marathon starts in Arco 30 minutes after the marathon and finishes at the same place, so the marathon field has left before the half field arrives.
Km 21 to 28: back to the shore. The route turns south on the Ciclovia dei laghi at 22 km and follows it for five kilometres, with a gentle fall from 84 m to 67 m. It reaches Torbole at 27 km and the lakefront Passeggiata dell'Ora at 28 km. The organiser has set an official cheering zone at Torbole, the busiest crowd point of the race.
Km 28 to 42.2: the eastern shore. From Torbole the route follows the Lungolago Conca d'Oro south at 29 to 32 km, then the Gardesana Orientale, joining SS249 at Tempesta at 33 km. It passes through the Galleria del Confine provinciale at 34 km, where it leaves Trentino for Veneto, and reaches Navene at 35 km. The road then runs on the Via Gardesana Orientale at 36 to 41 km, with the lake on the right and Monte Baldo rising on the left, between about 68 m and 97 m on the profile. The last stretch rises about 17 m over 3 km into Malcesine, and the finish is on the lakefront, a few hundred metres from the Scaliger castle. The road may be exposed to wind on this side of the lake.
Aid stations are at 4.5, 10.3, 15.5, 21.1, 24.1, 28.3, 32.5 and 36.8 km. The included-services page says nine for the marathon, which probably counts the finish, but the organiser's list shows eight intermediate points.
A narrow start, a climb out of Limone and the tunnels of the western Gardesana, with the day's real hill at 8 km. Watches lose signal. Use the kilometre boards.
Flat ground round the top of the lake and inland to Arco, with the halfway aid at 21.1 km.
The route turns south on the Ciclovia dei laghi and returns to the lake at the cheering zone.
A gently rolling road to Malcesine, with the lake on one side and Monte Baldo on the other.
Course Map
The line follows the 2027 route. Tap a marker for the start, finish, bib collection, shuttle stops and landmarks, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
The route uses tunnels on the Gardesana, and satellite watches lose signal in them. The measured distance is correct, so use the kilometre boards and elapsed time instead of your watch's pace.
April on Lake Garda is cool at the start and mild by the finish. Expect roughly 7 to 16°C, with a chilly start on the Limone lakefront at 09:00 and sun and possible wind on the eastern shore. The tunnels are cool and shaded.
A vest with arm sleeves suits most runners, and gloves and a light hat are worth wearing at the start. A throwaway layer is sensible for the wait. Wear sunscreen for the open eastern shore.
The organiser's baggage handover at Limone closes at 08:45. Bags are transported to Malcesine. Confirm the claim procedure with the organiser before the race.
Entry
Check availability before planning. The organiser's 2027 registration page prices the marathon in bib-count tiers (table below). At the ECB reference rate of €1 to £0.858 (28 September 2026) that is about £63, £67, £71 and £80. When the page was checked on 30 September 2026, the first three tiers showed as sold out and only the final last-bibs tier at €93 remained. The half marathon showed as sold out in every tier, and the organiser warned against buying bibs from unofficial sellers. The page says registration runs until 22 March 2027 as long as the participant limit has not been reached.
Student and group discounts are advertised. There is no ballot, guaranteed-entry standard or charity allocation. The FAQ says a change of distance is free until 22 March 2027 if places remain.
Book the shuttle when you register. The included race shuttle serves only participants who booked it during registration. Companions cannot use it.
Entering from outside Italy. For the competitive FIDAL result, a foreign runner can use a card from a World Athletics-affiliated federation, or a RunCard plus an athletics-specific medical certificate. The FAQ says the certificate may be in English or Italian, signed and stamped, marked athletics, and must include an exercise ECG, spirometry, a urine test, blood pressure at rest and under exertion and a personal and family history.
A non-resident foreign runner without Italian registration or a certificate can choose the non-competitive option. It uses a liability waiver, gives a time in a separate alphabetical results list and carries no prizes. The minimum age is 20 for the marathon. The full 2027 conditions PDF was not found, so use the FAQ and confirm with the organiser before paying.
| Bib count | Fee |
|---|---|
| First 300 bibs | €73 (about £63) |
| Bibs 301 to 800 | €78 (about £67) |
| Bibs 801 to 1,500 | €83 (about £71) |
| Bib 1,501 onwards | €93 (about £80) |
Fast runner standards
There is no guaranteed-entry or qualifying standard.
Lake Garda 42: official site →Race Weekend
Bib collection in Arco
Bib collection is in Arco, not at the start or finish, and there is no Sunday pickup. The pickup point is the Cantiere 26 youth centre, Via Paolina Caproni Maini 26/E, Arco. It is open on Friday 9 April from 14:00 to 20:00 and on Saturday 10 April from 10:00 to 19:00.
Bring your confirmation and a valid identity document, plus any discount proof and participation paperwork. If you are staying in Limone or Malcesine, plan the trip to Arco before race morning. The 2026 conditions allowed proxy collection with written authority, a confirmation and ID copies, but the 2027 rule needs checking.
Getting to the start
The start area at the Limone lakefront opens at 08:30, baggage handover ends at 08:45 and the gun goes at 09:00. Where you sleep decides your morning.
How the weekend works. Collect your bib in Arco on Friday or Saturday, since there is no Sunday pickup. Book the shuttle when you register. On race morning, get to Limone by the shuttle or ferry before the 08:45 baggage deadline, and expect to finish in Malcesine, where a return ferry or bus is part of the plan.
A runner staying in Limone can walk to the start but must collect the bib in Arco and return from Malcesine after the finish. A runner in Riva can reserve the morning Riva to Limone ferry and an afternoon return from Malcesine via Limone to Riva. A runner in Malcesine can reserve a morning Malcesine to Limone ferry and walk home from the finish. A runner in Arco needs the ferry or bus transfer to the start and a Malcesine to Arco bus after the finish. The shuttle is for participants who booked it at registration, with bib and event bracelet.
Public ferries for companions run on a separate timetable and fare. Roads matter too. The FAQ gives SS45bis between Limone and Riva as closed from 08:30 to 10:30, and SS249 between Torbole and Malcesine and Navene as closed from 09:30 to 15:00, plus intermittent closures around Riva and Arco. A car transfer that relies on these roads will fail. The finish has catering and a gastro expo of local products.
Nutrition on course
The organiser lists aid stations at 4.5, 10.3, 15.5, 21.1, 24.1, 28.3, 32.5 and 36.8 km, with more at the finish. The spacing is uneven, with gaps of about 5 km early on and about 3 km in the second half.
The 2027 brands, menu, cup policy and gel availability are not published. The 2024 runner booklet listed water, isotonic drink, fruit, bars and gels, which is previous-edition evidence that needs reconfirming. Carry the fuel you have trained with.
Spectating
The point-to-point format is the hard part for supporters. The start, the halfway point, the cheering zone and the finish are in four different places and the Gardesana is closed to cars. No spectator ferry timetable, boarding allocation or barrier map has been published for 2027.
- Watch the start from a permitted spot on the lakefront
- Take a scheduled public ferry to Malcesine
- Check the 11 April timetable with Navigazione Laghi, since the runner shuttle excludes companions
- Stand on the approved promenade near Riva at about 10 km
- Take a public boat to Malcesine with plenty of slack
- Confirm the timetable, which has not been published
- Use the organiser's official cheering zone at Torbole, around 28 km
- Take a public boat or a route that avoids the closed SS249 to Malcesine
- Confirm the timetable, which has not been published
Post-race food
The organiser includes substantial catering at the Malcesine finish and a gastro expo of local products. Restaurants and Sunday opening hours in early April are not documented, and some lakeside kitchens may still be on their winter timetable.
If you are staying across the lake, check the return ferry time before booking a long lunch.
Where to Stay
Choose a base by working out three things: where you collect your bib, how you reach the start and how you get back from the finish. The finish is in Malcesine, so the walk home from there is the first thing to settle. The north-lake towns are not interchangeable on a closed-road Sunday.
Malcesine centre
You can walk home from the finish and eat nearby. You need to prebook the morning ferry to Limone and make the Arco trip for your bib.
Limone waterfront
You can walk to the start and keep a quiet morning routine. The catch is the Arco bib trip and a ferry back from Malcesine.
Riva del Garda
A more central transport base at the top of the lake. The organiser's ferries serve Riva in both directions, but there are two water legs on race day and booking is critical.
Arco
Convenient for bib collection and the half marathon start. For the marathon, you need a transfer to Limone and a bus back from Malcesine.
Torbole
Good for the cheering zone and the scenery, but there is no direct race shuttle listed to Limone and the SS249 closure restricts car access.
The organiser's lodging links are Garda Trentino, Visit Limone and Visit Malcesine. None gives a verified room quote. Compare each candidate's walking route to the shuttle stop: Piazzale Carlo Gerardi in Limone, Piazza Catena in Riva or Piazza Guglielmo Marconi in Malcesine. No Arco hotel is near the marathon start.
Booking timeline
Book the shuttle with your entry, then a refundable room in the town you choose. Plan a Friday or Saturday trip to Arco for your bib.
The 22 March 2027 registration date is the latest possible, and the marathon tiers were already close to sold out in September 2026, so the last bibs may go early. Confirm availability on the official page before making non-refundable travel plans.
A few weeks before the race, check the ferry allocation and whether resort hotels have opened for the spring. In race week, check the forecast, road notices and transport or strike updates. The 2026 shuttle change deadline of 13 March does not apply to 2027.
See & Do
Malcesine is compact. The first three stops are within a short walk or cable-car ride of the finish, and the other two are reached by boat.
Malcesine old town and lakefront
The finish is on the lakefront. The old town climbs behind it in narrow stone streets. The waterfront is flat.
Scaliger Castle, Malcesine
A medieval castle on a rock at the edge of the harbour. Check opening days and ticket prices. There are steps.
Monte Baldo cable car
A cable car with rotating cabins rises from Malcesine to the ridge of Monte Baldo. April operation depends on the weather and maintenance schedule, so check before planning a trip.
Limone sul Garda
The start town, with a narrow lakeside old town and historic lemon houses on the hillside. Check ferry times.
Riva del Garda
A flat lakeside town at the northern end of the lake, with a promenade and an old harbour.
After the Race
Early April is quiet on the lake. Recovery days can stay in Malcesine, or take a boat to Limone and Riva, or a bus and train to Verona.
A castle on the harbour, a flat lakefront and a cable car to the ridge if the weather allows.
The two ends of the race, seen from the water. A ferry does all the work.
An Arena, a river and old squares, reached by bus to the southern shore and a train from there.
The quiet top of the lake, with a promenade at Riva and a castle above Arco.