Champions Meet the Alps: GTWS Returns to Austria for the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail

Following the spectacular Québec Mega Trail (Canada), the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) return to Europe for the fourth race of the season. The circuit heads to one of the most spectacular and picturesque alpine venues in global trail running.

After delivering one of the most-watched broadcasts of last season during its GTWS debut, the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail (Austria) will once again bring together the world’s best trail runners on Saturday, August 1, for one of the wildest and most demanding courses on the calendar.

Nestled in the heart of the Pitztal Valley, just 90 kilometres from Innsbruck, lies Mandarfen, the start and finish location of the race. Covering 24.5 kilometres with 1,618 metres of elevation gain, the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail is the most alpine race of the season, set against a postcard-perfect backdrop where mountain lakes and glaciers seem to merge with the sky. Its route combines fast-running sections with steep climbs and highly technical descents, creating a challenge that demands versatile and complete athletes to contend for victory.

A WILD ALPINE CHALLENGE

The Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail course starts in Mandarfen, at an altitude of 1,675 metres above sea level. Runners are immediately faced with a fast and undulating opening section along the valley. Over the first six kilometres, they complete an initial loop featuring a series of short climbs and descents before returning close to the start area. This opening sector, covering approximately 5 kilometres and 120 metres of elevation gain, gradually climbs towards Taschachalpe, a traditional alpine pasture where livestock spend the summer months.

This first section hosts the sprint segment (1.5 km with an average gradient of -3.6%), the first of three key segments on the course that award 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 bonus points towards the overall standings to the five fastest athletes. From this point onwards, the character of the race changes completely.

It is here that the course reveals its true nature: a wild, highly technical and extremely demanding alpine challenge. Over 13 kilometres and 1,300 metres of elevation gain, runners tackle a relentless climb through the Hirschtal Valley, where gradients exceed 30%, before reaching the Sunna Alm mountain hut.

From there, the route follows the crystal-clear shores of Lake Rifflsee for two kilometres before reaching one of the defining challenges of the race: the brutal ascent to Grubenkopf.

In just 2.2 kilometres, athletes will gain 560 metres of elevation to reach an altitude of 2,800 metres. This climb also features the uphill segment, designed to crown the strongest climber of the day, measuring 1.8 kilometres with an average gradient of 26.9%.

The reward comes in the form of a spectacular descent of six kilometres and 1,400 metres of elevation loss back towards Mandarfen. Technical, twisting and packed with switchbacks, this section includes the downhill segment, a 1.9-kilometre stretch with an average gradient of -21.3%, where descending specialists will have the opportunity to make a decisive difference.

Back on the valley floor, runners will tackle the opening loop once again, this time in reverse, before launching their final effort towards the finish line.

CHAMPIONS AGAINST CHAMPIONS: A WORLD-CLASS FIELD HEADS TO AUSTRIA

Once again, all eyes will be on the reigning Golden Trail World Series champions and current series leaders, Elhousine Elazzaoui (NNormal) and Madalina Florea (Scott). Lining up alongside them will be some of the biggest names in international trail running, including newly crowned European champions Jan Torrella (Salomon) and Hanna Grober, as well as Naomi Lang (Salomon), winner of the 2025 Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail. With such a stacked field, contenders are plentiful, but only the most complete and versatile athletes will have a realistic chance of conquering one of the toughest races on the GTWS calendar.

In the men’s race, Elazzaoui, who will be making his debut on this course, and Torrella will face a deep and talented field of challengers. Among them are Kenyan stars Patrick Kipngeno and Michael Selelo Saoli (Run2Gether On Trail), both consistent frontrunners on the circuit; Taylor Stack (Brooks), third at Zegama-Aizkorri; Christian Allen (Nike ACG), making his first GTWS appearance of the season; Youshing Guan (Kailas Fuga), Alain Santamaría (X-Bionic Integrity), Joey Hadorn (Salomon), and local favourite Manuel Innerhofer(Lowa). Also on the start line will be Bogdan Damian (Kailas Fuga), currently third in the overall standings and the dominant force in the GTWS downhill segments throughout the 2026 season.

The women’s race promises to be every bit as spectacular as the course itself. Madalina Florea will make her Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail debut after missing the event in 2025. The GTWS leader will face formidable opposition led by European champion Hanna Grober and defending race winner Naomi Lang. Another major contender is Malen Osa(Salomon), who will be making her second GTWS appearance of the season after narrowly missing victory on this course in 2025 and finishing runner-up at Zegama in the opening stage of the 2026 campaign.

Completing a remarkably strong women’s field are Ruth Gitonga (Run2Gether On Trail), María Fuentes (Kailas Fuga), Barbora Bukovjan (Salomon), Binbin Xiong (Kailas Fuga), Theres Leboeuf (Compressport / Lowa), and Estel Roig(Scott), all of whom have the talent and credentials to challenge for top honours in one of the season’s most demanding races.

PITZTAL VALLEY: THE HIDDEN GEM OF THE AUSTRIAN ALPS

Made up of the municipalities of Arzl, Wenns, Jerzens and St. Leonhard, the Pitztal Valley is one of the Alps’ best-kept secrets. Nestled in the heart of the Austrian Tyrol, it is an ideal destination for those seeking nature, adventure and spectacular mountain scenery away from the region’s busiest tourist hotspots.

During the summer months, the valley offers more than 380 kilometres of hiking trails, 36 mountain huts, three cable cars, 15 alpine lakes, and nearly 95 kilometres of mountain bike routes. But its outdoor offering extends far beyond hiking and cycling. Via ferratas, climbing routes, a bouldering area and a treetop adventure park make Pitztal a true paradise for mountain and outdoor enthusiasts, with activities suited to all ages and ability levels.

A HOME RACE FOR RUN2GETHER ON TRAIL

Not far from Mandarfen and the spectacular setting of the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail lies Kals am Großglockner, home to Run2Gether On Trail, one of the most prominent teams on the Golden Trail World Series circuit since joining the series in 2023.

Since its inception, the project has been built around three core pillars: elite sport, sports tourism and social impact. What began as a high-performance training initiative quickly attracted mountain runners from around the world. Today, Run2Gether operates a training centre in Kiambogo (Kenya) officially recognised by Athletics Kenya as the country’s first training centre dedicated to mountain running.

Alongside its sporting activities, the organisation supports a range of community projects, including a kindergarten, a primary school and a Youth Academy focused on developing the next generation of talent. Currently, the project supports around 60 elite athletes and between 20 and 25 young runners in development.

A key source of funding for these initiatives comes from the training camps Run2Gether organises both in Kals am Großglockner and Kenya. These unique experiences give runners and outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to train side by side with some of the world’s best Kenyan athletes while gaining first-hand insight into the philosophy and values that underpin the project.

HOW TO WATCH THE SALOMON PITZ ALPINE GLACIER TRAIL

Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail will be broadcast live across Warner Bros. Discovery platforms (HBO Max, Eurosport and TNT Sports), as well as through an extensive network of international broadcasters.

The women’s race will get underway on Saturday, August 1 at 11:15 CET, while the men’s race is scheduled to start at 11:45 CET. The event will be broadcast live in full from 11:05 CET on HBO Max, while viewers can follow the action on Eurosport 2 from 11:45 CET.

In addition to the live broadcast, fans will be able to follow all the action through real-time updates on the official Golden Trail World Series channels. A comprehensive race highlights programme will also be released in the days following the event and will be available on Eurosport, HBO Max, and the official GTWS YouTube channel.

RUN SALOMON PITZ ALPINE GLACIER TRAIL FROM HOME WITH KINOMAP

In 2026, Kinomap, the leading interactive training platform for cycling, running and rowing, joins the Golden Trail World Series as an official partner, with the aim of bringing the trail running experience directly into people’s homes.

Part of the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail course will be recorded using high-quality geosynchronised video technology and made available on the platform, allowing runners and fans from around the world to virtually train on some of the most iconic and spectacular landscapes featured on the GTWS circuit.