Race report: Salomon Zugspitz Ultra 2012 – Germany, June 24, 2012
Julien Chorier (FRA) claimed victory in the 2. SALOMON ZUGSPITZ ULTRATRAIL, the infamous 100-km loop trail around the scenic German-Austrian Zugspitz Range. The Frenchman never lost his early lead over a field of nearly 500 competitors, despite a gruesome total vertical gain of 5,420 meters by day's end.
Philip Reiter (GER) in turn, dominated over nearly 400 participants on the shorter 68.8 km Supertrail course, which packed a cumulative ascent of respectable 3,120 meters before reaching the finish line in Grainau, Upper Bavaria.
Photos: Julien Chorier and Philip Reiter win the Zugspitz Ultratrail (100km/5,420m) and Supertrail (68.8km/3,120) respectively
Julien Chorier claims first place overall on the Ultratrail loop around the Zugspitze
No newbie to Ultratrail racing, Julien Chorier of France laid down the gauntlet right from the start by setting a blistering pace. The 31-year-old Team Salomon racer managed to extend that lead to 14 minutes by day's end – having spent an exhausting 11:55.37 hours on the trail by the time he raced through the finish banner. Chorier commented on his victory „The course was not too steep which suited me well. I could run pretty much the whole distance, but I wouldn't have guessed once during the race that my lead was going to be that big." While Chorier's time stopped just short of 12 hours total, it did not get close to last-year's record set by Spaniard Miguel Heras (10:55.19 Stunden).
Running to second-place was Constantin Pade (GER) of Team Dynafit. The 25 year-old covered the 100-kilometer loop in 12:41.17 hours. This performance gained him a 26-minute lead over Thomas Wagner (AUT) who was third to arrive in 13:07.54 hours.
Results of the 2012 Ultratrail Categories
The Ultratrail race sported four race categories, including Men, Women, Master Men (40+ years and Senior Men (50+ years). The three fastest times overall in the 2012 race were all delivered by racers in the Men category (see above).
Among the Master Men an overjoyed Daniel Ulrich (SUI) was first to arrive back in Grainau after 14:11.54 hours. Andreas Panthen (GER), the fastest racer of the Senior Master Men covered the century race in 15:11.07 hours.
Ildiko Wermescher (HUN) was the dominant female racer in the 2012 Zugspitz Ultratrail. The 47-year-old Hungarian crossed the finish line in just 14:09.03 hours. Wermescher had been pursued closely by Andrea Calmbach (GER) until the last climb, when she finally managed to shake off the others in a courageous dash for victory. Calmbach, persistently on Wermescher's heels throughout the race, reached the finish in second place clocking in at 14:18.36 hours. Antje Schuhaj (GER) arrived third after 16:27.50 hours completing the podium in the women category.
Note: On account of relatively small women's field, there were no seperate age-category results for women
Philipp Reiter proving unbeatable – once again - on the Zugspitz Supertrail
Twenty-year-old trail racing talent Philip Reiter participated in the 2012 Zugspitz Supertrail race with the mission to defend last year's win. The „Sorcerer's Apprentice“, as Reiter is affectionately called by friends and supporters, handily managed to achieve what he had come to do on the 68.8 kilometer course around the Zugspitze Range on the German-Austrian border. After leaving Leutsch-Weidach (AUT) at 09am he arrived in Grainau (GER) less than seven hours later. Reiter's victorious time of 6:49.56 hours beat his own record, set the last year. He commented in his trademark unassuming manner. "Clearly I wanted to beat the time I set last year but I was surprised that by the first catering stop I had no immediate competitors on my heels. I'm happy that it went so well today“.
Reiter arrived nearly 30 minutes ahead of second-placing Anton Philip (GER) who spent a total of 7:20.49 hours on the trail. The 43-year-old, a usual suspect for podium positions, started in the Master Men category but managed to leave most younger competitors well behind.
Florian Stelzle (GER) was the only potential threat for Anton Philip over the course of the day arriving in Grainau in third-place after 7:39.00 hours on the trail.
Results of the 2012 Supertrail categories
Philip Reiter's overall victory automatically claimed him the top-podium position among the Men. Anton Philip of Berglaufteam Haglöfs triumphed among the Master Men (40+ years of age). Rudi Schöpf (ITA), in turn, rejoiced over his victorious time of 9:13.43 hours and a sizeable lead over all other Senior Master Men (50+ years of age).
Among the Women, Simone Philipp (GER) was good for a surprise as she not only defended previous year's Master Women title with her time of 9:12.38 hours, but also managed to claimed overall victory among all Women with that performance. Arriving side-by-side in 9:25.423 hours, Sabine Kraus (GER) and Gerti Ott (GER) both claimed second place among the Master women leaving the third podium position unoccupied.
An overwhelmed Emily Hargreaves (ENG) claimed first place in the Women category after 10:13.33 hours of trail-running. By the end of a very successful day in the mountains, the 34-year-old had extended an early-on lead over her most immediate competitor to remarkable 38 minutes.
Additional information and detailed results are available on www.zugspitz-ultratrail.com
