Arlberg Ultra

The Arlberg Ultra is a trail running weekend linking Lech Zürs in Vorarlberg with St. Anton am Arlberg in Tyrol, crossing the boundary between the two Austrian provinces. Run by Arlberg Marketing together with the agency PLAN B Sport Marketing, it builds on the existing Arlberg Trail, a route that strings together St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Zürs and Lech, and extends it into high alpine terrain: the Zugertal valley, the shores of the Spullersee, Formarinsee and Butzensee lakes, and the Karhorn. The course was designed by Martin Hafenmair, a certified mountain guide and race director of well-established Alpine events such as the Zugspitz Ultratrail and the Transalpine Run. Every race finishes in the same place, on the Schulplatz in the heart of Lech.

Six races share the weekend at the end of August. The flagship Arlberg100 leaves Lech on Friday at 10 pm for 110 km and around 7,030 m of climbing, first through the night and then on into the day, on trails across the Lechtal Alps, the Lechquellen range and the Verwall group. The same course is also run as a Team Race for teams of three. On Saturday, the Arlberg Ultra 60K sets off from St. Anton at 6 am for 61 km and 3,730 m of ascent before reaching Lech. Lech then hosts the starts of the Arlberg Classic 40K at 7.30 am (44 km, 2,625 m of climbing), the Lech Trail 20K at 8 am (26 km, 1,450 m) and the Rookie Trail 10K at 9 am (11.5 km, 680 m).

This is genuine high mountain terrain: alpine singletrack, pastures, scree, rocky sections and steep paths, with very little tarmac. The organisers describe the long course as a serious alpine challenge on a par with Europe’s most established ultra trails; it calls for real mountain experience, confidence running at night and the ability to look after yourself over many hours. The 60K and 40K are aimed at trail runners used to long days at altitude, while the 20K and the Rookie Trail are a more accessible way in, though hardly a stroll: the climbing relative to distance stays steep on every course.

The Arlberg is best known for skiing, with Lech, Zürs, St. Christoph and St. Anton among the historic resorts of the Austrian Alps, and the Arlberg Pass marking the crossing between Vorarlberg and Tyrol. In summer the scenery changes completely: ski runs give way to grazing pastures, the high lakes regain their clear water and limestone ridges tower over the Lech and Rosanna valleys. Running from one village to the next lets you cross the whole area in a single push, covering on foot the distances normally travelled by lift.

On the practical side, the event is an ITRA and UTMB Index partner, and entries are handled online through Datasport. Lech and St. Anton are connected by the Arlberg Pass road, and St. Anton has a station on the Arlberg railway, which makes both start areas easy to reach. The region’s new trail running routes are open outside race weekend too, handy for a recce. Detailed information on aid stations, cut-off times and mandatory kit is published by the organisers on the official website.