# Giro Podistico Internazionale di Castelbuono > The Giro Podistico di Castelbuono, a road race founded in 1912, is run on 26 July for Sant'Anna: 10 laps of the old town with world-class runners. - Page: https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/giro-podistico-internazionale-castelbuono/ - Updated: 2026-10-19 - Other languages: [Italiano](https://www.lemadonie.it/eventi/giro-podistico-internazionale-castelbuono.md) · [Español](https://www.lemadonie.it/es/eventos/giro-podistico-internazionale-di-castelbuono.md) · [Français](https://www.lemadonie.it/fr/evenements/giro-podistico-internazionale-castelbuono.md) · [Deutsch](https://www.lemadonie.it/de/veranstaltungen/giro-podistico-internazionale-di-castelbuono.md) ## At a glance | | | |---|---| | 2026 edition | 26 July 2026 | | Where | 1,134-metre circuit in the old town, starting and finishing in Piazza Margherita, [Castelbuono](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/castelbuono/) | | Category | Sport | | Recurrence | Every year, 26 July, feast of Sant'Anna; the elite race starts in the late afternoon (7 pm in 2026) | | Organiser | Gruppo Atletico Polisportivo Castelbuonese | | Price | Free entry | | Official website | https://www.girodicastelbuono.com | | Source | https://www.madoniepress.it/2026/07/26/tamirat-tola-entra-nella-storia-suo-il-100-giro-di-castelbuono/ (checked on 2026-10-19) | ## Programme 100th edition (the first was run on 27 July 1912). Elite race at 7 pm, ten laps of the town circuit; in the morning the Baby Run, youth races, Vintage Race and FISDIR race. Won by Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola (34:26) ahead of Yeman Crippa (34:36) and Victor Kiplangat (35:20). The Giro Podistico Internazionale di Castelbuono is a 10-lap road race through the old town of Castelbuono, first run on 27 July 1912 and one of the oldest in Europe. It takes place every year on 26 July, the feast of Sant'Anna, in the late afternoon, with Olympic and world champions on the start line. On 26 July 2026 the 100th edition was won by Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola. Spectators watch for free along the barriers. ## When is it run and what happens on the day? The date never changes: 26 July, during the [feast of Sant'Anna](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/festa-di-santanna-castelbuono/), patron saint of Castelbuono. This is how the 2026 day went, according to the festival programme published by [Castelbuonolive](https://www.castelbuonolive.com/santanna-2026-castelbuono-si-prepara-alla-festa-della-patrona-ecco-il-programma-completo-dei-festeggiamenti/): | When | What | |---|---| | Evening of 25 July, 10 pm | Presentation of the Giro in Piazza Margherita | | Morning of 26 July | Baby Run, youth races, Vintage Race and FISDIR race | | 26 July, 7 pm | Start of the elite race, ten laps of the circuit | | From 8:30 pm | Live on Rai Sport and streamed on the Giro's channels | ## The course: 10 laps of 1,134 metres The loop is 1,134 metres long and starts and finishes in Piazza Margherita, the main square. It is run ten times, for a total of 11,340 metres according to the organisers; World Athletics lists the race as 11,273 metres. It was originally called the "Maratonina dei 10 Giri". The route winds through the old town with constant ups and downs. One hard uphill stretch often decides the race: in 2026 Tola broke away right there on the fourth lap, and dropped Crippa on the climb of the eighth. ## History: from 1912 to the 100th edition The first edition was run on 27 July 1912 and won by Blanchet, who won again in 1913. The roll of honour has gaps, in the years of the two world wars, in a few years between the wars and in 2020: that's why the 100th edition only came in 2026. Until the late 1980s the winners were all Italian, among them Franco Fava (1977), Venanzio Ortis (1978) and Gelindo Bordin, who won in 1987 and 1988. From 1990, with Kenya's Koech, the great African distance runners arrived. Paul Tergat won twice, in 1994 and 2003; then came Khalid Khannouchi (1998), Martin Lel (2004), Geoffrey Mutai (2011) and Tariku Bekele (2012). In 2021 World Athletics awarded the Giro its Heritage Plaque, given to events that have shaped the history of athletics. For the centenary, small stones engraved with the names of all the winners were laid on the start line: the Giro's "Walk of Fame". ## Recent winners The latest winners, from the [official roll of honour](https://www.girodicastelbuono.com/roll-of-honor/). | Year | Winner | |---|---| | 2026 | Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia) | | 2025 | Yeman Crippa (Italy) | | 2024 | Ilias Fifa (Spain) | | 2023 | Edris Muktar (Ethiopia) | | 2022 | Kipkemboi Too (Kenya) | | 2021 | Lomuket (Kenya) | | 2019 | Worku Tadese (Ethiopia) | ## The 100th edition in 2026 It was run in about 38 degrees in front of a huge crowd. After a fast start, eight men stayed together until the third lap; on the fourth Tola attacked on the climb and only Crippa could follow, until the eighth lap. Tola finished in 34:26, Crippa in 34:36, Kiplangat third in 35:20 ([World Athletics results](https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7240790)). Guests included Marcello Fiasconaro, former 800-metre world record holder whose father was born in Castelbuono, and Paul Tergat. ## Running the Giro: open races The elite race is by invitation: you need a certified personal best under 36 minutes for 10,000 metres. For everyone else, the [official website](https://www.girodicastelbuono.com/) opens entries for: - **Vintage Race**: 5 laps, 5,635 metres, for senior and masters runners registered with FIDAL, holding a Runcard or registered with a sports promotion body, and for athletes with disabilities registered with FISDIR; - **youth races**: one 1,127-metre lap for 12-13 and 14-15 year olds; - **Baby Run**: a non-competitive run for children up to 11, in the morning. ## Tips for spectators The loop is short and you'll see the runners pass ten times. The best spots are along the climb and in Piazza Margherita, at the finish: arrive well ahead of time, because on 26 July the town is packed for the feast. Official sources don't list dedicated car parks. Castelbuono is 90 km from Palermo, about an hour and 20 minutes, using the Pollina-Castelbuono exit on the A20 (see [getting to the Madonie by car](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/roads/)). Book early among the options for [where to stay in Castelbuono](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/castelbuono/where-to-stay/): in late July, between the feast and the Giro, it fills up. Before you go, check the [Castelbuono weather](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/weather/castelbuono/): on the day of the centenary it was around 38 degrees at the start. In August the town also hosts the [Ypsigrock Festival](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/ypsigrock-festival/). Other sports events are on the [Madonie sports events](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/sport/) page, and local events under [events in Castelbuono](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/castelbuono/events/). ## Frequently asked questions ### When is the Giro Podistico di Castelbuono run? The Giro Podistico Internazionale di Castelbuono is run every year on 26 July, the feast day of Sant'Anna, the town's patron saint. In 2026 the 100th edition started at 7 pm and was broadcast live on Rai Sport. The youth races, the Baby Run and the Vintage Race take place on the morning of the same day. ### How long is the Castelbuono course? The course is a 1,134-metre loop through the old town, run 10 times, starting and finishing in Piazza Margherita: 11,340 metres in total according to the organisers, while World Athletics lists the race as 11,273 metres. The route climbs and drops constantly, with one hard uphill stretch that often decides the race. ### Who won the 2026 Giro di Castelbuono? The 100th edition, on 26 July 2026, was won by Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola, Olympic marathon champion at Paris 2024, in 34:26. Yeman Crippa, the 2025 winner, was second in 34:36, and Uganda's Victor Kiplangat third in 35:20. The times are those of the official results published by World Athletics. ### Can I enter and run the Giro di Castelbuono? The elite race is by invitation and requires a certified personal best under 36 minutes for 10,000 metres. Amateurs registered with FIDAL, holding a Runcard or registered with a sports promotion body can run the Vintage Race: 5 laps, 5,635 metres, on the same course. There are also races for 12-15 year olds and a non-competitive Baby Run. ### Do I have to pay to watch? The Giro is run through the streets of Castelbuono's old town, and spectators watch for free from the barriers along the circuit. Official sources mention no tickets or paid stands. Arrive early: for the 100th edition the organisers described an overflowing crowd along the whole course. ### Why is the Giro di Castelbuono so famous? It is one of the oldest road races in Europe, first run on 27 July 1912, and in 2021 it received the World Athletics Heritage Plaque for its contribution to the history of athletics. Its roll of honour includes Gelindo Bordin, Paul Tergat, Khalid Khannouchi, Martin Lel, Geoffrey Mutai, Tariku Bekele and Tamirat Tola. ## Sources - [Giro Podistico di Castelbuono, sito ufficiale (percorso, gare, regolamenti)](https://www.girodicastelbuono.com/) - [Giro Podistico di Castelbuono, albo d'oro](https://www.girodicastelbuono.com/roll-of-honor/) - [Giro Podistico di Castelbuono, cronaca della 100ª edizione](https://www.girodicastelbuono.com/giro-di-castelbuono-crippa-si-arrende-ad-un-grande-tola/) - [Giro Podistico di Castelbuono, la Walk of Fame dei vincitori](https://www.girodicastelbuono.com/castelbuono-celebra-i-100-giri-nasce-la-walk-of-fame/) - [World Athletics, risultati 2026](https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7240790) - [Madonie Press, Tamirat Tola vince il 100° Giro](https://www.madoniepress.it/2026/07/26/tamirat-tola-entra-nella-storia-suo-il-100-giro-di-castelbuono/) - [Castelbuonolive, programma di Sant'Anna 2026](https://www.castelbuonolive.com/santanna-2026-castelbuono-si-prepara-alla-festa-della-patrona-ecco-il-programma-completo-dei-festeggiamenti/) --- Markdown version of the page https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/giro-podistico-internazionale-castelbuono/, from Le Madonie (lemadonie.it), an independent guide to the Madonie. Facts with source and date of check.