Course

Distance: 43,7 km / pos. vertical: 2,378 m / neg. vertical: 2,239 m

Shortly after the start the GORE-TEX Transalpine Run 2018 offers dramatic alpine scenery in the heart of the rugged Wetterstein Mountains without exceeding a max. elevation of 1869 m asl. On the first stage choice trails – perpetually undulating – guide the racers along the base of the Zugspitze across the German-Austrian border past the village of Ehrwald in the direction of Biberwier up tot he Marienbergjoch. The finish town Nassereith can already be spotted from above while enjoying the great downhill to Adlerhorst.

Distance: 28.1 km / pos. vertical: 1,691 m / neg. vertical: 1,734 m

The course surpasses 2,000 m asl on this stage – a harbinger of things to come. Glorious trails with a panorama to boot lead up on the Starkenberger Panoramaweg to Sinnesbrunn. The route continues to the Grubigjöchl and Heiterwand hut. Shortly after the trails head west into the more desolate Alpeiltal, followed by a last ascent to the Schloss Starkenberg before reaching the finish in Imst.

Distance: 47.9 km / pos. vertical: 3,153 m / neg. vertical: 2,276 m

Make-it or break-it: stage! Stage Three in the GORE-TEX Transalpine Run 2018 is not only the longest but also the one with the greatest cumulative vertical gain during a full week of trail-running. Racers pay their dues on this day climbing out of the depths of the Inn Valley to the foot of the glaciated Ötztaler Range at the far end of famed Pitz Valley. The course takes advantage of the best trails en route and while a coarse glance at a map would suggest one long, steady climb, it’s more like a continuum of ups-and-downs.

Distance: 28,1 km / pos. vertical: 2,296 m / neg. vertical: 2,622 m

The  glacier stage of the GORE-TEX TRANSALPINE RUN! The relatively short stage guides racers out of the Pitz Valley by way of beautiful Riffl Lake to an elevation of nearly 3,000 meters asl. The breath-taking trail leads onto glacial ice briefly before a seemingly endless descent into Sölden in the Ötz Valley, best known as a fixture in World Cup alpine skiing. Highlights: steep ascent to the Braunschweiger hut, the crossing of the Rettenbach Joch 2,998 m and the Rettenberg glacier.

Distance: 39,6 km / pos. vertical: 2,286 m / neg. vertical: 2,956 m

The crux of this stage is the Timmelsjoch, at 2,474 m the highest non-technical pass across the High Divide from Austria to Italy. The trails out of Sölden steadily climb Timmels Valley to the pass proper which also serves as an apt and scenic food/water stop.  From there, those competent on drawn-out, technical descents should have a heyday on the way towards the food station 2 Rabenstein. This is followed by another ascent to the Toniger hut, here the most scenic food station in the history of GORE-TEX Transalpine Run is waiting for the runners. A final downhill leads to the finish in St. Leonhard in pastoral Passeier Valley.

Distance: 34,2 km / pos. vertical: 2,524 m / neg. vertical: 2,223 m

Racers will notice right away: they have arrived in the Southern Alps – vegetation and climate give it away. Yet, racers are still deep in the mountains.Alpine meadows, precipitous peaks and colorful lakes straight out of a coffeetable book hemline the trails with the world-renowned Dolomites as a befitting backdrop. The delightful landscape may allay the pains of the past days and boost racers’ motivation but the stage still sports a formidable distance with lots of punishing vertical and reaches a maximum elevation of 2,683 m asl, the Obere Scharte, in the process.

Distance: 36 km / pos. vertical: 2,118 m / neg. vertical: 2,532 m

The final stage in the GORE-TEX Transalpine Run 2018 promises another day with trails a cut above the rest. The long, 15 km ascent into the high country of the Sarntaler Alps will be indemnified by trails that won’t drop below 2,000m a.s.l. for the next 15 kilometers. With the landmark peaks of the Dolomites always in sight the course eventually drops into Brixen where racers can cut loose to celebrate their accomplisment of traversing the Alps – a distance of 257.6 km and 16,446 m of vertical gain under their belt.