Sports
Columbia Debuts at Indomit Pedra do Baú with 2,500 Athletes
With a two-year circuit naming rights deal, the brand opens the mountain running season in São Bento do Sapucaí.
Columbia Brazil has secured a two-year naming rights deal for the Indomit circuit, kicking off the trail running season at Pedra do Baú in São Bento do Sapucaí. The event gathered around 2,500 athletes across distances ranging from 7 km to 80 km featuring challenging elevation gains.
The opening of the trail running season marked a strategic milestone in São Bento do Sapucaí, São Paulo. Columbia Brazil secured the naming rights to the Indomit circuit under a two-year agreement covering both the Pedra do Baú leg and the traditional race in Bombinhas, Santa Catarina. Far more than a simple sponsorship package, the partnership brings brand activations and real-world gear testing directly to the mountain, drawing roughly 2,500 athletes to one of the country's most iconic landscapes.
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Challenging courses and a cinematic finish
The event offered a wide range of distances catering to all types of runners: 7 km, 12 km, 21 km, 35 km, 50 km, and an 80 km ultramarathon. Start times were staggered to streamline trail logistics: the 7 km, 12 km, and 21 km races started at 7:00 AM, the 35 km at 6:00 AM, while the 80 km ultra kicked off at 10:00 PM the previous evening. A major highlight of the race was the finish line situated on the helipad of Pousada do Quilombo, perfectly framed against the dramatic backdrop of Pedra do Baú.
Mountain reality: 1,200 m of elevation gain in the 21 km
Competing in the 21 km race, Cado Santos emphasized the physical demands of the course, which packed roughly 1,200 meters of elevation gain on an intensely hot day. Illustrating the massive gulf between road and mountain running, Cado compared his flat half-marathon personal best of 1 hour 48 minutes with the more than 4 hours required to finish the distance in the mountains. In the elite division, the men's 21 km victory went to Lucas Ferreira, who crossed the line in an impressive 1h51m04s. In the 12 km race, Juliana Cassino also delivered a standout performance, securing 6th place in her age category.
Finish-line feast and post-race banter
Beyond the breathtaking views and punishing climbs, the welcoming trail running community set the tone for the weekend. Athletes enjoyed well-stocked aid stations offering everything from fruit and peanuts to gummy candy, boiled potatoes, and soda. The event also sparked buzz around local quirks, including the lighthearted "Deus Me Livre" vertical challenge held the following day—a steep uphill sprint of just over 1 km where registration fees were paid in local sweets and treats.
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