Salomon 4 Trails

International Lineup Owns 1st Race Podium

News Release / 11.07.2013

Tofol Bernat Castaner of the Spanish Isle of Mallorca claimed victory on today's introductory stage of the 3rd Salomon 4 Trails. The 41-year-old athlete of Team Salomon International, one of the odds-on favorites in this year's strong international lineup of racers, left no doubt who was boss on today's course between Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) and Ehrwald (AUT). Bernat Castaner arrived at the finish with a comfortable 5-minute lead over 2nd-placing Stephan Hugenschmidt (GER) and 12 phenomenal minutes ahead of Max Frei (GER), himself a force to be reckoned with. Among the Master Men, Woody Schoch (SUI) proved that he earned various National trail running chamionship titles for good reason as he handily displaced his closest competitors. Today's title in the Women category went to Claire Gordon (GB) who managed to stay ahead of compatriot Angela Mudge, last year's overall victress.   

 
Successful kick-off to the 3rd Salomon 4 Trails
Today's start grid in Garmisch-Partenkirchen proved busy with 502 anxious racers hailing from 25 nations, not counting the hundreds of spectators who had shown up to send them off with loud support.  Early on Tofol Bernat Castaner (ESP) distanced himself from the leading field and set off on his own pace which put him 7 minutes ahead of German Max Frei (last year's fifth-ranking racer) already by the 2nd catering station. That didn't phase   Frei in his strategy much as he „wanted to replenish stores to ensure making it through the coming days and not get carried away by too much euphoria already on Stage One“. That move also allowed a pass by Stephan Hugenschmidt who maintained a distance between the two right into the finish but at no point managed to challenge Castaner's lead.

The ultimate victor never missed a beat through the stage and arrived at the finish with little sign of fatigue. The nonchalant Spaniard knew „that the lead was pretty sizeable, hoping that the legs would hold up as well on tomorrow's course“. Runner-up Stephan Hugenschmidt (GER) showed more concern about tomorrow's tough stage given he „had noticed a slight pain in his thigh on the last descent prior to the finish. I can only hope that I didn't gamble too much setting such a punishing pace right away. After all tomorrow's stage sports two climbs of 1.200 meters each which is going to be very hard“. Hugenschmidt has it in him though as he proved his prowess recently as victor of the Basetrail distance in the SALOMON ZUGSPITZ ULTRATRAIL race two weeks ago. 

Stage Two no walk in the park as course gains elevation
Compared to the upcoming 2nd stage, today's kick-off course will seem as a mere warm-up. Tomorrow's trails will lead across the Mieminger Mountains where steep, snowy slopes should slow down many runners. Most won't mind given the spectacular panorama that will unfold around and below the racers as they near Grünstein Saddle (2,272 meters), a spectacular col hewn into sheer rockwalls. A seemingly never-ending descent of 1200 meters will follow the first apex before runners have an opportunity to replenish spent energy reserves at the pivotal food stop of that stage. It'll be all uphill from here on out, a gruesome climb to the false summit of Tschirgant Peak, which makes up with stunning views across the glaciated ranges of the High Divide to the south and the rugged rock fortresses to the North. The final act will be a lengthy and steep downhill over 1400 meters to the finish in the Tyrolean town of Imst, which also marks the lowest elevation on the entire race course with only 780 meters asl. 

By that time the runners may be halfway through the race as far as days go, but the remaining balance of vertical gain and distance to Samnaun, Switzerland, will still exceed the stats of the first two stages. On the upside, the weather forecast promises excellent conditions for the latter half of the event!

For further information on the SALOMON 4 Trails visit: www.4-trails.com

To all results of stage 1: http://services.datasport.com/2013/lauf/Salomon4Trails/stage1/

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