1600 Runners at the 3rd Salomon Zugspitz Ultratrail
News Release / 20.06.2013
The heat is on! With less than 72 hours to go before the 3rd SALOMON ZUGSPITZ ULTRATRAIL sets off, expect a few athletes to break a sweat! After all, this event has gone big-time with 1,600 runners from a whopping 38 countries having signed up to compete on running trails around the base of Germany's tallest peak.
Sunny, bluebird days lead up to the international trail-running fest widdling away any lingering snow and sparking widespread interest in getting out. „Our trails don't give any indication of the poor weather we've had over the past weeks. Patches of snow are disappearing fast and even at elevations above 1,800 m they are few and far between“ according to course director Wolfgang Pohl who checked conditions on the ground today.
Meanwhile quite a few race participants have arrived early to get a first-hand impression of the course and to take advantage of the splendid weather in the mountains. Martina Burger of the Grainau Tourism Association is gleeming with excitement „Accommodations in our community are fully booked and we're looking forward to a suspense-packed race“. That excitement has spilled over to all other resort communities at the base of the Zugspitze massif.
Mayors Andreas Hildebrandt (Grainau), Thomas Mößmer (Leutasch), Adolf Hornsteiner (Mittenwald) and Martin Hohenegg (Ehrwald) once again are thrilled to be co-hosting the SALOMON ZUGSPITZ ULTRATRAIL. „Trail runners are very pleasant guests to host and perfectly suit the type of vacation we'd like to offer to our visitors.“ Hopes are high that runners and their escorts will find some time apart from the race to enjoy the memorable mountain setting straddling the German-Austrian border.
Tight race expected on the Ultratrail distance
No fewer than 650 runners have committed to the longest distance of the SALOMON ZUGSPITZ ULTRATRAIL trilogy. Upon leaving the start area in the hamlet of Grainau, the racers will have to muster 100 kilometers with cumulative climbs of 5,400 m to complete the full circuit around the Zugspitze massif. The Ultratrail runners will set off from Grainau at 7:15 am and the leading racers should cover the loop in the mind-bogging time of just under 11 hours. They are expected back in town around 6 pm for a hero's welcome.
One shoo-in is certainly Philipp Reiter of Germany. The 21-year-old was able to dominate the Supertrail distance both previous years and this year has stepped up to prove his meddle among the world-class line-up in the showcase full-length loop. Whatever the outcome, he and the other pro racers will long have reached the finish line before 'mere mortals' among the participants even begin to face the toughest part of the SALOMON ZUGSPITZ ULTRATRAILS. Night will fall around 10 pm and the vast majority of the runners will have to don headlamps to race some technically demanding terrain into - if not through - the night. The very last arrival is expected to return to Grainau around 9:00 am for what will likely be a hearty Sunday morning breakfast.
1,000+ racers taking on the Supertrail and Basetrail distances
Roughly 500 racers have signed up for the Supertrail, which starts in the Tyrolean community of Leutasch and covers the last two-thirds of the full loop around the Zugspitze massif. That 'tail end' still adds up to a remarkable distance of 69,8 kilometers and 3,120 m of vertical ascent – no stats to balk at! The Supertrail will set off at 9:00 am and favored pro racers should call it quits after just 7 hours on the trails. In contrast, the last laggard (still no slouch) should reach Grainau at 2:00 am to receive the coveted finisher's medal.
Basetrail has been added by popular demand as this year's self-contained newcomer race and traces the last third of the loop around the Zugspitze massif. The Bavarian town of Mittenwald hosts the start for 520 racers, who have chosen the distance of 35,9 kilometers and climbs that total 1,892 meters to challenge themselves. To some it may be their preferred length of a quick dash across the mountains, to others it could be an introduction to the fast growing sport of trail-running near-marathon distances at lightning speed. Whatever their intention, the fastest racers should cross the finish line in Grainau around 03:00 pm with enough time to hit the local outdoor pool for a relaxing post-race soak.
Spectators and Supporters rooting on the racers
An important part of any race are the fans who cheer on the participants – no matter what. Anyone who is looking to get in on the action without actually running him-/ or herself, can do so at a number of scenic locations along the trail. Martina Burger of Grainau's Tourism Association names a few that are relatively easy to reach by the ULTRATRAIL shuttle bus: Eibseealm, Ehrwalder Alm, Hämmermoosalm, Hubertushof, Geisterklamm, Ferchensee, Partnachklamm (Hohe Brücke), Längen¬felderbahn (base of gondola) or Alpspitzbahn (summit station). Besides the ultra-convenient trailside shuttle, the Kreuzeckbahn will operate after business hours between 08 pm and 10 pm for any spectators eager to cath sunset from one of the area's premier vantage points. Shuttle and gondola passes will be available in the race office (located in Grainau's Kurhaus) as of now.
All information about the SALOMON ZUGSPITZ ULTRATRAIL you can finde at http://en.zugspitz-ultratrail.com
