The legendary 4 TRAILS is back. Three years after the last event in July 2015 it is clear: The unique stage race will see its follow-up from July 10 to 13, 2019. It all will start in Seefeld (Austria). Three days later the end will be reached in Imst (Austria). The participants can look forward to a totally new concept with shorter stages and an extra choice for hikers. The big shared goal is to reach Lake Garda in four years. Wondering how that will work out? It’s pretty simple. Each year the athletes will see a different routing and the start of the next race will always begin at the end of the former one. That’s the unique feature of the new 4 TRAILS. Registration starts October 25. The number of participants is limited to 700.
The demand was huge. Numerous athletes asked for a new edition of the 4 TRAILS on a regular basis.
The stage race, which had been held five times between 2011 and 2015, had seen a temporary end in July 2015 when the Spanish Miguel Ortega Caballero won in Maria Alm (Austria). In all those years the event had a very high standing within the trail running community. It had developed its very own dynamic and a very special character. Although, being on his own for four days, having nobody to support or motivate, being all by oneself with pains had been too hard, too challenging, too painful and too long for some runners.
When the 4 TRAILS will find its place again on the trail running event calendar from July 10 to 13, 2019, many things will be the same, but a lot of things also will be new. Note: The four stages will be shorter and more tightly arranged with lengths between 23 and 26 kilometers per day and about 1,300 to 1,800 meters vertical height in the ascent and the descent. Therefore, the 4 TRAILS will be the perfect entrance for trail runners into the world of stage races, and the hikers who will go onto the track without race evaluation will experience a sportive challenge. This will offer an ideal mixture.
The stage locations for the first part of the way to Lake Garda are already fixed. After the start in Seefeld (July 10) it will go on to Leutasch where the highlight of the day will be the ascent through the ski area of Rosshütte on to the 2,062 meters high Seefelder Joch offering a great view of the Karwendel mountain range. The second stage will lead from Leutasch to Wildermieming where the route will follow the Ganghofer path to Gaistalalm going further on to Niedere Munde (2,059 m) and down on the Hintereggen path to the new Alpl hut. The track then passes chapels and huts on panoramic routes to the finish in Wildermieming.
On the third day, three mountain crosses have to be managed. The trail to Nassereith passes the Stöttltörl (2,036 m), the Hölltörl (2,163 m) and the Marienbergjoch (1,789 m) before it finds its way down steeply from the Adlerhorst view point to the finish.
The last stage from Nassereith to Imst again contains a high ascent. At the beginning the route will lead through the Gaflein valley up to the Gaflein hut and from there on to the Sinnesgatter. A spectacular view to the Teges valley and across to the Tschirgant – the home mountain of Imst – will await the participants there. After the impressing Alpeleskopf (2,358 m) it will go on through the Reissenschuh valley up to the Grubigjöchl (2,023 m). Passing the Heiterwand hut the path leads down in a steep descent to Tarrenz. On the way to the finish line the athletes will also pass Starkenburg castle before they reach the final point in Imst.
The real highlight of the event will be without doubt the routing, which will change each year and reveal new trails as well as fascinating landscapes again and again. Within four years 4 TRAILS will bring the participants to the final destination of the stage race on the north shore of Lake Garda. It will also be guaranteed that for the second year of 4 TRAILS there will be a starting spot for every participant who has passed the finish line the year before. Everyone will have the chance to continue his way to Italy in the years after. There are even some more offers in the four-year tournament. After finishing the event in
the first and in the second year, participants will get an additional 15 % discount, after participating in Registration will start October 25. After a long pause it will finally be possible to take part in the new edition of 4 TRAILS and to sign up for it. The number of participants is limited to 700.
