Salomon Zugspitz Ultratrail 2012
25.06.2012
Grainau, 24. June 2012 – Julien Chorier (FRA) claimed victory in the 2. SALOMON ZUGSPITZ ULTRATRAIL, the infamous 100-km loop trail around the scenic German-Austrian Zugspitz Range. The Frenchman never ceded his early-on lead over a field of nearly 500 competitors despite a gruesome total vertical gain of 5,420 meters by day's end. Philip Reiter (GER), in turn, dominated over nearly 400 racers on the shorter 68.8 km Supertrail course, which packed a cumulative ascent of respectable 3,120 meters before reaching the finish line in Grainau, Upper Bavaria.
Julien Chorier claims first place overall on the Ultratrail loop around the Zugspitze
No newbie to Ultratrail racing, Julien Chorier of France laid down the gauntlet right from the start by setting a blistering pace and setting himself off the vanguard field. The 31-year-old Team Salomon racer managed to extend that lead to 14 minutes by day's end – having spent an exhausting 11:55.37 hours on the trail by the time he raced through the finish banner. Chorier commented on his victory „The course was not too steep which suited me well. In turn, I could run pretty much the whole distance. But I wouldn't have guessed once during the race that my lead was going to be that big.“ While Chorier's time stopped just short of 12 hours total, it did not touch last-year's record set by Spaniard Miguel Heras (10:55.19 Stunden).
Running to second-place was Constantin Pade (GER) of Team Dynafit. The 25 year-old covered the 100-kilometer loop in a whopping 12:41.17 hours. This blistering performance gained him a 26-minute lead over Thomas Wagner (AUT) who was third to arrive in 13:07.54 hours.
Results of the 2012 Ultratrail Categories
The Ultratrail race sported four race categories, including Men, Women, Master Men (40+ years and Senior Men (50+ years). The three fastest times overall in the 2012 race were all delivered by racers in the Men category (see above).
Among the Master Men an overjoyed Daniel Ulrich (SUI) was first to arrive back in Grainau after 14:11.54 hours. Andreas Panthen (GER), the fastest racer of the Senior Master Men covered the century race in 15:11.07 hours.
Ildiko Wermescher (HUN) was the dominant female racer in the 2012 Zugspitz Ultratrail. The 47-year-old Hungarian crossed the finish line in just 14:09.03 hours, nearly three minutes ahead of the fastest Senior Master Men. Wermescher had been pursued closely by Andrea Calmbach (GER) until the last gruesome climb when she finally managed to shake off the posse in a courageous dash for victory. Calmbach, persistently on Wermescher's heels throughout the race, reached the finish in second place clocking in at 14:18.36 hours. Antje Schuhaj (GER) arrived third after 16:27.50 hours completing the podium in the women category.
Note: There was single Women category on account of relatively few female competitors.
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