Course

Distance 43.3 km, uphill 2,154 vertical metres, downhill 2,014 vertical metres

Stage 1 leads the runners up and down along the most beautiful trails around the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain, all the way over the Austrian border to Ehrwald and on to Biberwier, where they take on the Knappensteig trail up to the Marienbergjoch ridge (1,789m). Here, at the highest point of the stage, fabulous views of the Ötztal Mountains await. After a short descent to feed station 3 at the Marienbergalm hut, runners continue through the Marienbergtal Valley to Aschland. By the time they reach the Adlerhorst viewing platform they will already be able to see the finish. All that remains is a steep descent with a number of technical sections before they enter open pastures taking them down to the finish line.

Distance 26.8 km, uphill 1,474 vertical metres, downhill 1,519 vertical metres

The stage begins with a short flat section before the runners head into the Gafleintal Valley and climb steeply up to the highest point of the day, the Sinnesgatter (1,705m). This is followed by a short descent through open meadows down to feed station 1 at Sinnesbrunn. The following downhill leads through attractive larchwood forests down to Obtarrenz. It is here that the runners then branch off onto a spectacular trail leading through the Salvesenklamm gorge to the Starkenberg Castle and on to feed station 2 at Rastbichl. After a final loop through the mountain forests above Hochimst, the participants head downhill one last time to the finish.

Distance 51 km, uphill 3,163 vertical metres, downhill 2,286 vertical metres

Stage 3 of the 2020 Transalpine Run is the longest and hardest of all, containing more climbing and descending than any other. Runners won’t have much time to admire the fine views on the way from the Inn river to the glaciers of the Ötztal Valley. This stage takes participants along 51 kilometres of the best trails in the Pitztal Valley, with over 3000 vertical metres of ascent, all the way the village of Mandarfen at the end of the Pitztal Valley.

Distance 7.3 km, uphill 691 vertical metres, downhill 65 vertical metres

The mountain sprint may not be long, but it certainly shouldn’t be underestimated. After a warm-up lap in the valley, runners head straight onto the steep and straight climb. The trail is dotted with rock steps and tree roots. It is not until the final third that the gradient eases off a little. After reaching the Rifflseehütte hut, the route continues to the Rifflsee lake and completes a lap of the lake from south to north before one final uphill section to the finish at 2398 metres above sea level.

Distance 31 km, uphill 1,967 vertical metres, downhill 2,294 vertical metres

Runners first head uphill across an area of open meadows known as the Taschachalpe towards the Rifflsee lake. Before they reach the lake itself, they branch off onto a trail known as the Fuldaer Höhenweg. A downhill section in the middle of the valley leads down to the floor of the Taschachtal Valley, where feed station 1 awaits. Participants then follow the valley to Mittelberg and on to the Gletscherstube. Here begins the long but strikingly beautiful ascent up to the Braunschweiger Hütte and on to the Rettenbachjoch ridge (2,992m). Fabulous views of glaciers and ice-capped mountains await at the top. Runners must then descend through snowfields down to feed station 2 on the Rettenbach glacier. The final few kilometres to Sölden lead along forest paths and some steep trails.

Distance 22.4 km, uphill 1891 vertical metres, downhill 1547 vertical metres

Short but sharp, this stage starts by taking runners through the Windachtal Valley up to the Windachalm hut and on to feed station 1 at the end of the valley. There then follows a long climb to the Hildesheimer Hütte and across the glacier to the Jochdohle mountain restaurant (3105m) on the Stubai Glacier. This marks the highest point of the 2020 Transalpine Run. Participants must then descend through the snowfields of the Schaufelferner glacier to feed station 2 at the top station of the Eisgrat cable car. The route continues along a wide dirt road through the ski resort down to Gamsgarten, then along a series of technical trails to the Dresdner Hütte hut and finally down to the finish line in the Stubai Valley.

Distance 39.9 km, uphill 2,524 vertical metres, downhill 3,178 vertical metres

The first few kilometres are a gentle downhill before runners reach the start of the Langental Valley and the long climb up into alpine terrain. After reaching feed station 1 at the Nürnberger Hütte hut the participants follow the Stubai High Trail with its up and down profile through beautiful landscape to the Simmingjöchl ridge (2754m) and on to feed station 2 at the Bremer Hütte hut. Remaining above the treeline, the route reaches the Pflerschscharte ridge (marking the Italian border) and shortly afterwards feed station 3 at the Tribulaunhütte. A steep descent through open meadows and thin larchwood forests takes runners down into the Pflerschtal Valley. One final feed station awaits in St. Anton before the last few kilometres along the valley to the finish.

Distance 33.5 km, uphill 2,634 vertical metres, downhill 2,344 vertical metres

The final stage – but certainly not an easy finish…Runners ascend through the Daxlwald forest up to feed station 1 at the Zirogalm hut. After more climbing they reach the first crossing at the Schlüsseljoch ridge. This is followed by a downhill section with fine views of the Pfitschertal Valley, all the way down to the valley floor. No sooner have runners made it down into the valley than they start to climb again, this time up to feed station 2 in Fußendrass. The uphill action then continues through the Großbergtal Valley and finally up a steep section to the Sandjoch ridge (2,642m). This is the highest point of the day and the final mountain crossing of the 2020 Transalpine Run race. Participants then continue along perfect singletrails through alpine meadows to feed station 3 at the Brixener Hütte hut. The final few kilometres downhill lead past the beautiful Fane Alm hut and along the Ochsensprung