ITRA Points and UTMB Index: complete guide for trail runners in Spain
ITRA Points and UTMB Index: everything you need to know
If you’re planning your first trail running season or looking to step up to longer distances, sooner or later you’ll come across two acronyms: ITRA and UTMB. Some races award them, others require them for registration. In this guide we explain what they are, how they work and what you need for the main trail races in Spain.
What are ITRA points?
ITRA points (International Trail Running Association) measure race difficulty on a scale from 1 to 6. They’re calculated by combining the distance and cumulative positive elevation gain. The longer the race and the more climbing, the more points.
| ITRA Points | Difficulty range | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to ~25 km, low elevation | Vertical Km, short trail |
| 2 | 25-45 km, moderate elevation | Medium trail, mountain half marathon |
| 3 | 40-65 km, high elevation | Mountain marathon |
| 4 | 55-80 km, high elevation | Short ultra |
| 5 | 70-110 km, very high elevation | Medium ultra |
| 6 | 100+ km, extreme elevation | Long ultra |
Points are awarded to finishers: if you complete the race within the time limit, the result is registered on your itra.run profile and you accumulate those points.
ITRA points for trail races in Spain
Here are the main races in Spain that award ITRA points, sorted from highest to lowest:
6 ITRA points
| Race | Distance | Elev. | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Pirineu — Ultra 100K | 100 km | 6,400 m | Catalonia |
| Penyagolosa Trails — CSP 106K | 106 km | 5,600 m | Valencia |
5 ITRA points
| Race | Distance | Elev. | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transgrancanaria — Classic 128K | 128 km | 7,500 m | Canary Islands |
| Travesera Picos de Europa — 72K | 72 km | 5,800 m | Cantabria |
| Transvulcania — Ultramarathon 73K | 73 km | 4,350 m | Canary Islands |
4 ITRA points
| Race | Distance | Elev. | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picos de Europa Trail — Ultra 55K | 55 km | 4,200 m | Asturias |
| Transgrancanaria — Advanced 83K | 83 km | 4,400 m | Canary Islands |
| Ultra Pirineu — Marathon 54K | 54 km | 3,800 m | Catalonia |
| Penyagolosa Trails — MiM 60K | 60 km | 3,300 m | Valencia |
3 ITRA points
| Race | Distance | Elev. | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zegama-Aizkorri — Marathon 42K | 42 km | 2,736 m | Basque Country |
| Ultra Sierra Nevada — Marathon 42K | 42 km | 2,800 m | Andalusia |
| Reventon Trail — Ultra Trail 70K | 70.5 km | 4,079 m | Canary Islands |
| Ultra Trail Bosques del Sur — Ultra 70K | 70 km | 3,700 m | Andalusia |
| Travesera Picos de Europa — Machacona 36K | 36 km | 2,800 m | Cantabria |
1-2 ITRA points
| Race | Distance | Elev. | ITRA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zegama-Aizkorri — Vertical Km | 4.5 km | 1,050 m | 1 |
| Ultra Sierra Nevada — Trail 21K | 21 km | 1,200 m | 1 |
| Picos de Europa Trail — Trail 25K | 25 km | 1,500 m | 2 |
| Transgrancanaria — Starter 30K | 30 km | 1,200 m | 2 |
Which races require ITRA points for registration?
Not all races that award points require them. But the longest and most demanding events do set a minimum to ensure runners have enough experience.
| Race | Distance | Points required |
|---|---|---|
| Transgrancanaria Classic | 128 km | 4 ITRA or 6 UTMB Index |
| Transgrancanaria Advanced | 83 km | 2 ITRA |
| Ultra Pirineu Ultra | 100 km | 4 ITRA or 6 UTMB Index |
| Travesera Picos de Europa | 72 km | 3 ITRA |
| Picos de Europa Trail Ultra | 55 km | 2 ITRA |
Races in the UTMB World Series circuit usually accept both ITRA points and UTMB Index — you can meet the requirement with either system.
How to earn your first ITRA points
If you don’t have any points yet, these races in Spain are a great starting point: they have no prior requirements and award points for future registrations.
- 1 point: Zegama-Aizkorri Vertical Km (4.5 km), Ultra Sierra Nevada Trail 21K
- 2 points: Picos de Europa Trail 25K, Transgrancanaria Starter 30K
- 3 points: Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon, Ultra Sierra Nevada Marathon
With 3 ITRA points you can already register for Travesera Picos de Europa. With 4 points, the Transgrancanaria Classic and Ultra Pirineu open up.
What is the UTMB Index?
The UTMB Index is a classification system specific to the UTMB World Series circuit, independent from ITRA. It categorizes races into four tiers based on their difficulty:
| UTMB Category | Typical distance/elevation | Example in Spain |
|---|---|---|
| 20K | Up to ~25 km | Tenerife Bluetrail 24K |
| 50K | 30-55 km | Val d’Aran EXP 32K |
| 100K | 55-110 km | Transgrancanaria Advanced 83K |
| 100M | 100+ km (or very high elevation) | Ultra Pirineu 100K |
Every time you finish a UTMB circuit race, you accumulate Running Stones on your profile. These stones determine your access to higher-category races within the circuit, including the UTMB in Chamonix itself.
UTMB World Series races in Spain
Spain has several races within the UTMB World Series circuit. These are the ones you can run to accumulate Running Stones:
| Race | Available categories |
|---|---|
| Transgrancanaria | 50K, 100K, 100M |
| Ultra Pirineu | 50K, 100M |
| Tenerife Bluetrail | 20K, 50K, 100K, 100M |
| Val d’Aran by UTMB | 20K, 50K, 100K, 100M |
| Mallorca by UTMB | 20K, 50K, 100K, 100M |
| Gran Trail Aneto-Posets | 50K, 100M |
ITRA vs UTMB Index: which one do you need?
| ITRA | UTMB Index | |
|---|---|---|
| Organization | International Trail Running Association | UTMB Group |
| Scope | Any certified race worldwide | Only UTMB World Series races |
| Scale | 1-6 points per race | Categories 20K, 50K, 100K, 100M |
| Accumulation | Points per completed race | Running Stones per completed race |
| What for? | Registration requirement for many races | Access to UTMB races and the UTMB in Chamonix |
In practice: if you only run races in Spain that aren’t part of the UTMB circuit, ITRA points are all you need. If you aspire to run the UTMB in Chamonix or other UTMB World Series events, you need to accumulate Running Stones through that circuit.
Races that require points usually accept both systems — for example, the Transgrancanaria Classic asks for “4 ITRA points or 6 UTMB Index points”.
Calculate your ITRA points
Want to know how many points a race awards based on its distance and elevation? Use our ITRA points calculator to estimate it instantly.
For more information about the registration process (medical certificates, federation licenses, lottery systems), check our complete registration guide. If you’re planning your budget, review how much it costs to run an ultra trail in Spain.