Sarentino, 28 March 2023 - the 2023 running season is slowly but surely gaining speed across the country. However, passionate mountaineers who are planning to come to Val Sarentino from all corners of the world will have to wait a little longer for one of the summer highlights: The 10th Südtirol Ultrarace will take place in five months, from 25 to 27 August.  

The extreme mountain run along the horseshoe shaped Hufeisen tour in the Sarntal Alps entices the trail scene with its well-known pluses. The panoramic scenery in the heart of South Tyrol with stunning views of the Dolomites, the Gruppo dell’Ortles and Gruppo del Brenta, as well as the Stubai, Ötztal and Zillertal Alps is unique. The route is technically extremely taxing, and surefootedness and the absence of vertigo are still the prime requirement for the Südtirol Ultrarace.

With a length of 119 kilometres and 7850 metres of ascent, the vast majority of participants almost reach the limits of their physical and mental resilience. Last but not least because the fastest athletes have to cope with one night of little or no sleep, those running at a slower speed with two. All in all: ten years after its premier in July 2013, the original distance of the South Südtirol Ultrarace is still only for hardy athletes with nerves of steel.


A total of 4 routes are on offer at the Südtirol Ultrarace

The organisers headed up by OC-President Josef Günther Mair don’t only offer this most prestigious distance. There are also three shorter routes that can be completed within a day (Saturday, 26 August). The second longest route covers 63 kilometres and 3550 metres of ascent. The race, called Südtirol Ultrarace 63K, has seen a route change in time for the 10th anniversary. Following the start in Bolzano, Corno del Renon, Stöfflhütte, Croce di Lazfons and Getrum Alm are the intermediate destinations, before the route descends to the finish in Sarentino.

Route number three is an “almost” classic marathon, with a distance of 45 kilometres and 2750 metres of ascent (Südtirol Ultrarace 45K). And finally, there is the 28 km distance with an elevation gain of 1880 meters. The Südtirol Ultrarace 28K is particularly ideal for newcomers to trail running - not least because there are no technically challenging or suspended sections. “The Südtirol Ultrarace is a trail fest for everyone. There is something for everyone on the four routes - depending on ability, physical condition, desire and mood," the organisers never tire to emphasise.


New team ranking

For the first time at the Südtirol Ultrarace, there will also be a team ranking for clubs or companies (at least five participants per team), where the kilometres run by each team member completing the route will be counted. In addition to brilliant prizes, each team receives one (5-9 runners per team) or two (from 10 runners per team) motivation units with a renowned health and movement expert for all members of staff or club.   

50 days before the great showdown, preparations for the Sarentino extreme sports event, which boasts a new and extremely committed partner in the form of the world-famous ASICS brand, are in full swing. The organising committee is currently working on the supporting programme to celebrate the 10th anniversary in a befitting manner. Registration is open: Over 120 trail runners from a dozen different countries and four continents have already registered for the big spectacle of the Südtirol Ultrarace. Further registrations are happily accepted at the official website www.ultrarace.it

Foto: Harald Wisthaler