The Trento Giro al Sas International (© Organisers)
Plaque name: Trento Giro al Sas International
Location: Banca per il Trentino Alto Adige, Via Belenzani 4 38122, Trento, TN, Italia
Plaque awarded: 27/09/2025
Reason: Plaque Category – Competition
The beginning of the Trento Giro al Sas International dates to the early 1900s, albeit under different names. In fact, in 1907, a footrace called the ‘Giro di Trento’ was held on the streets of the city, which at that time was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The event was a great success, both competitively and as a spectacle, and it became an important annual occasion for Trento.
The race continued until World War I and resumed between the two world wars, following a route around the city's promenade. It was suspended again in 1940 due to World War II but resumed in 1945 under the name Giro al Sas, which also marked the beginning of its current numbering, reaching the 78th edition this year.
The race has grown in importance year after year thanks to the consistent participation of talented champions. Its roll of honour is filled with prestigious names from the world of running, including world champions, Olympic medallists and world record-holders. The event has created widespread interest, becoming a true celebration of sport and a thrilling competitive spectacle.
The course, now well established, winds through the most picturesque streets of Trento's historic centre and covers a measured distance. The name ‘Giro al Sas’ has become a recognised brand and is now owned by Banca per il Trentino Alto Adige, while the organisation of the race remains in the hands of ASD Città di Trento.
The roll of honour highlights the international nature of the event, which has always featured matchups between Italian and European champions, with early victories claimed by athletes from Austria, the Balkans, Switzerland and Germany.
This European rivalry continued until the 1980s, when an Australian runner topped the podium. In the following years, reflecting global trends in road racing, African athletes began to dominate – first from Morocco, then from Sub-Saharan Africa, with Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda taking the lead, while top European athletes occasionally broke through. A few notable names – without detracting from all the others – include Kenenisa Bekele, Stefano Baldini, Edwin Soi, Muktar Edris and Jacob Kiplimo, just to mention some of the recent champions.