Runners in last year's event. Photo: Jeantet Stefano

A UK outdoors brand is again sponsoring one of Europe’s toughest mountain trail races.

Registration has opened for the Montane Tor des Géants, which will take place in the Aosta Valley in September.

The 330km (200-mile) race along the Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2 entails 24,000m (78,740ft) of ascent, with only 60 per cent of entrants likely to finish the event.

Montane said it expects the 750 available places to fill quickly. Runners face high and low temperatures due to the race’s variation in altitude. It is aimed at men and women who want to push the limits of both their resolve and athletic capabilities.

The race starts and ends at Courmayeur in Italy, and passes through the Gran Paradiso natural park and the Mont Avic regional park. It crosses 34 municipalities, 25 mountain passes and 30 Alpine lakes.

The race follows the Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2. Photo: Jeantet Stefano

The highest point along the course is the Loson Pass, at 3,299m, while the lowest is Donnas, 322m above sea level. The route runs at an average of 2,000m and rarely drops below 1,500m. Competitors have 150 hours to complete the route.

The current record for the Montane Tor des Géants is held by Iker Karrera of Spain, in a 2013 time of 70hrs 4mins and Swiss runner Denise Zimmermann holds the women’s title with her time of 79hrs 12mins, set in 2015.

The race’s name means Tour of the Giants in the Valdôtain dialect spoken in the area.

This year’s race will take place between 10-17 September. More details are on the event website.