One of the most spectacular trail running events in Europe is just around the corner, the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE RUN. On the 29th of August, 2015, around 330 teams of two from 33 different countries will line up at the start to cross the full width of the Alps. Racers will be coming from as far away as Australia and New Zealand. The starting pistol will be fired at 10 AM in Oberstdorf. This will be followed by an unbelievable mixture of physical and psychological strain – coupled with unbelievable emotions. Breathtaking views and incredibly beautiful trails await the athletes in addition to the athletic demands of the race. A limit experience that former FIFA referee Dr. Markus Merk is also seeking.
Big sports, big emotions – a fitting description of the 11th edition of the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE RUN (TAR). After the favorite in the men’s category, Alfredo Gil/David Lopez from Spain who came in second last year, had to cancel at short notice due to an injury, Daniel Jung/Ivan Paulmichl, the duo from South Tyrol that took third last year, will be this year’s favorite contender for the title. Ex mountain bike racer Jung made great progress as a runner this year and placed third in the SALOMON 4 TRAILS. However, the Spaniards, Andres Lledo Lopez/Jose Ignacio Delgado Perdomo (X BIONIC), and the BUFF team of Tom Schlegel/Lukas Reichwald also have what it takes to reach the winner’s podium.
In the Mixed category, Anne-Marie Flammersfeld, Germany’s best-known extreme athlete, with Tim Wortmann will be competing in her first GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE RUN. The former second league handball player celebrated an impressive debut in the extreme sports scene in 2012 when she won the 4 Deserts Race of over 1000 km (621 mi.). Nevertheless, the resident of Switzerland has great respect for the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE RUN. “Eight days are long, the speed is always fast, and everyone has to adapt to their teammate. Anything can happen,” is Flammersfeld’s cautious take on the race. Flammersfeld/Wortmann will be running against prominent competitors: Michael Arend, victor of the SALOMON ZUGSPITZ ULTRATRAIL (with six-time TAR participant Kathrin Schichtl as his teammate), and the South African couple, Landie and Christiaan Greyling.
In the Woman’s class, Scotswoman Helen Bonsor (with Claire Gordon as her teammate) may be standing atop of the winner’s podium again after her victory in the SALOMON 4 TRAILS.
Since its premiere in 2005, the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE RUN has established itself as one of the most important stage runs in the world. The fact that renowned athletes like former FIFA referee Dr. Markus Merk and rally ace Andreas Mikkelsen, along with hundreds of other runners, will be taking part shows how strong the effect on other sports is.
“I am really looking forward to the 8 days of the TRANSALPINE RUN with many personal emotional moments, great experiences, and countless encounters with (positively) crazy like-minded persons,” explains Mark. “However, the duo team, our 4ever2gether duo team, is what I find really special. Being able to run the TAR together with my partner Sabine is a true gift and we want to enjoy and suffer through every meter together, hopefully up to the last meter in Sulden… and then it’s gonna be party time!”
After racers ran the eastern route from Ruhpolding to Sexten in the Pustertal valley last year, this year’s race will follow the western route, starting in Oberstdorf, Germany and finishing in Sulden in the Ortler range in Italy. Granted, with 268 km (167 mi.), this route is somewhat shorter, but it has significantly more elevation change with a total climb of 16,310 m (53,511 ft.). From Oberstdorf, the route goes to Lech am Arlberg (AUT), on to St. Anton (AUT), and then to Landeck (AUT), and all the way to Samnaun (SUI). Here, the 5th stage will include the mountain sprint up to the Alp Trida. After that, the runners will reach the destination towns of Scuol (SUI) and St. Valentin (ITA) on the Reschen Pass before crossing the finish line in Sulden.
Ambitious athletes from 33 countries (27 last year) have signed up. Around half of the participants are from Germany, followed by Austria and Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Italy. All of 18 runners from the USA and 15 from Canada will also be among the participants. There will even be runners coming from as far away as Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Uruguay, Andorra, and Columbia to take part in the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE RUN 2015. Graig Dean and Margaretha Fortmann from Australia, though, will have the longest distance to travel. What else do the statistics tell us? The average distance covered per day will be 33.5 km (20.8 mi.) and the highest point will be a lofty 2880 meters (9449 feet) above sea level. Despite all of the possible weather conditions ranging from extreme heat to blizzards, 75 percent of all the participants have reached the finish so far. This year, the oldest duo will have a total age of 125 years! And 190 of the total of 650 participants prefer not to spend the night in a hotel or B&B with soft featherbeds and, instead, will be sleeping in specially set up camps in schools and gyms and in other provisional accommodations.
Anyone who would like to get a picture of the toughest stage race across the Alps beforehand can find the 2014 event trailer along with all the information and terms of participation for the event at www.transalpine-run.com .
