The Salomon Zugspitz Ultratrail powered by Ledlenser by UTMB marked the successful debut of the UTMB World Series in Germany last weekend. Over four days of racing, the Zugspitz region around Garmisch-Partenkirchen became an international gathering point for the trail running community. Nearly 5,000 runners from 49 nations took on seven distances ranging from 16 to 107 kilometres, with women representing 31.7 percent of participants.
Due to thunderstorms and challenging weather conditions, several courses had to be adapted for safety reasons. The ZUT100, originally planned as a 100-mile race, was shortened to 107 kilometres with 5,280 metres of elevation gain. The Ultratrail and Ehrwald Trail courses were also adjusted on Friday to 74 kilometres and around 3,000 metres of elevation gain respectively, with both races starting in Leutasch this year. The Leutasch Trail, Mittenwald Trail, Garmisch-Partenkirchen Trail and Grainau Trail were held as planned on their original routes.
One of the most emotional moments of the weekend came from local athlete Tobias Fritz. After being forced to withdraw from the ZUT100 last year while leading the race, he returned this year to win the adapted course in 12:04:35.
“Winning at home is something very special. My very first trail race was also the ZUT nine years ago. To take the win here now is simply incredible,” said Fritz at the finish line. In the women’s race, Joana Tallmann successfully defended her title from last year, winning in 14:26:28.
High-level performances were also delivered across the other distances. Silvia Schwaiger won the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Trail in 2:45:40 and praised the atmosphere along the course: “It is great to have a UTMB race in Germany. The highlights for me were the Zegapa Cheering Zones, where so many spectators were there supporting us.”
In the men’s race over the same distance, Dominik Hohenleitner took the win and underlined the importance of the event for the German trail running scene: “It is great that there is now a UTMB race in Germany. The ZUT has always been a major event. By becoming part of the UTMB World Series and gaining more international attention, the event becomes even more important — and that is great for us athletes.”
eyond the sporting performances, the atmosphere was one of the defining features of the weekend. Thousands of spectators created an impressive backdrop in the start and finish areas and at several points along the courses. The “Zegapa” Cheering Zone, organised by the local running community NOMADS, became one of the emotional hotspots of the event, supporting athletes day and night.
Jürgen Kurapkat, Race Director of the Zugspitz Ultratrail, reflected positively on the four days of racing: “It was a great, eventful and exciting ZUT. We had a challenging situation with the weather, the heat and the thunderstorms. Our goal was to deliver the seven races in the best possible way and offer all runners a great race experience. I think we achieved that. We are already looking forward to the next Zugspitz Ultratrail by UTMB.”
With its first edition as part of the UTMB World Series, the Salomon Zugspitz Ultratrail powered by Ledlenser by UTMB showcased the strength and potential of the German trail running scene. The combination of an international field, a spectacular Alpine landscape and strong support along the course made the event a standout moment in the international trail running calendar.
Results
* Shortened courses
ZUT100* – 107 km | 5,280 m+
Women
Joana Tallmann (Germany) — 14:26:28
Pia von Keutz (Germany) — 16:03:41
Clara Schütte (Germany) — 16:05:03
Men
Tobias Fritz (Germany) — 12:04:35
Moritz Dammann (Germany) — 12:51:22
Yurick Aregger (Switzerland) — 12:58:18
Ultratrail* – 74 km | 3,000 m+
Women
Rosanna Buchauer (Germany) — 07:25:54
Lisa Wimmer (Germany) — 07:45:25
Juliane Bruness (Germany) — 08:17:22
Men
Manuel Hartweg (Germany) — 07:07:22
Simon Gosselin (France) — 07:21:10
Michel Nouguier (Germany) — 07:25:20
Ehrwald Trail* – 74 km | 3,296 m+
Women
Ida-Sophie Hegemann (Germany) — 08:07:17
Julia Metzner (Germany) — 09:16:06
Maren SchöXke (Germany) — 09:21:25
Men
Tomáš Hudec (Czech Republic) — 07:03:14
Edoardo Rossano (Italy) — 07:07:45
Dominik MaX (Austria) — 07:11:22
Leutasch Trail* – 69 km | 3,140 m+
Women
Miria Meinheit (Germany) — 07:15:22
Hannah Kilgenstein (Germany) — 07:56:18
Marie Oberlé (France) — 07:58:17
Men
Sven Koch (Germany) — 05:55:58
Andreu Simon Aymerich (Spain) — 06:18:16
Marek Causidis (Czech Republic) — 06:20:25
Mittenwald Trail – 44 km | 2,110 m+
Women
Lena Laukner (Deutschland) — 04:15:45
Evi Gudelius (Deutschland) — 04:31:55
MarIna Dal Bosco (Italien) — 04:37:16
Men
Hans-Peter Innerhofer (Österreich) — 03:39:51
Lennart Muschinski (Deutschland) — 03:45:59
Leon Schübel (Deutschland) — 03:47:22
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Trail (29 Kilometer | 1.565 Höhenmeter)
Männer
Women
Silvia Schwaiger (Slowakei) — 02:45:40
Nadine Hubel (Deutschland) — 02:54:43
Amelie Muss (Österreich) — 02:55:35•
Men
Dominik Hohenleitner (Deutschland) — 02:17:54
Pierre-Emmanuel Alexandre (Deutschland) — 02:35:06
Florian Nowak (Deutschland) — 03:47:22
Grainau Trail (16 Kilometer | 760 Höhenmeter)
Women
Johanna Ehrenklau (Deutschland)— 01:23:01
Rocco Nathalia González (Paraguay) — 01:29:15
Amelie Hagedorn (Deutschland) — 01:32:58Männer
Men
KonstanIn Wedel (Deutschland) — 01:07:26
Clemens Dobner (Deutschland) — 01:14:09
Xavier Kerwyn (Belgien) — 01:16:39
