The inaugural Hochkönig Ultraks delivered the kind of trail running that doesn’t need adjectives to sell itself. Maria Alm, Dienten, Hinterthal and Mühlbach formed the backdrop; 47 countries’ worth of runners supplied the rest. Nine courses, all varying shades of difficult, wound around the Hochkönig massif as 2,200 athletes set off over two days in what quickly became less a debut and more a statement of intent.
Friday eased into things with the Raiffeisen Team Trail, the Mini Ultraks, and a Vertical race that was vertical in the literal sense: 5.9 kilometres and 1,080 metres of climbing from Dienten to the Lauskopf summit. Germany’s Evi Gudelius topped the women’s field in 57:53, while compatriot Alexander Brandner ran 46:38 to win the men’s race — times that suggest neither athlete wasted energy admiring the view.
Saturday brought the main course. The HK70 circled the massif for 71.5 kilometres and 4,150 metres of elevation gain, a route that rewards patience and punishes optimism. Italy’s Stefan Ungericht handled it best, winning in 7:29:47. Germany’s Sophia Reuß claimed the women’s title in 9:27:39, a performance that looked as steady as it was strong.
The HK30 EXTREME — the name is not false advertising — packed 2,680 metres of climbing into 34 kilometres and produced another pair of decisive winners. Germany’s Johannes Wingenfeld took the men’s race in 3:49:42, while Austria’s Anna Andres won the women’s in 5:12:27.
With the HK48, HK30 PANORAMA, HK20 and HK SPRINT rounding out the programme, the event offered something for everyone from first‑timers to the sort of athletes who consider “technical” a compliment rather than a warning.
For two days, the Hochkönig region leaned fully into the sport — mountains, atmosphere, and enough elevation to make road runners reconsider their life choices. A strong debut, and one that already feels like it plans to stick around.
