Local heroes triumph at the 4th STUBAI ULTRATRAIL on the Stubai Glacier

Updated on 03.07.2021

Alexander Hutter takes victory with a new best time ahead of his local colleague Christian Stern. The women's winner, Marie Luise Mühlhuber, claims: "The STUBAI ULTRATRAIL is the "Streif of ultra runs".

Successful re-start after the Corona break. The STUBAI ULTRATRAIL, which operated under the name "city2glacier", once again impressively emphasised its claim to be one of the most beautiful, toughest and most spectacular trail events in the Alps at the 4th edition. In fantastic conditions, Austrian Alexander Hutter (Scott Running, Mieders) came out on top in the supreme discipline over 67 kilometres in a new record time of 8:24:33 hours. Second place also went to a local hero from the Stubai Valley. After third place last year, Christian Stern (SV Raiba Stubai, 8:33:23 hours) once again made it onto the podium ahead of Adrian Niski (8:44:22 hours, Innsbruck). The fastest woman was Marie-Luise Mühlhuber (Salomon Ambassador Austria) in a very good 10:03:41 hours. She could hardly believe her luck: "In terms of prestige, the SUT is the Streif of ultra trail runs."Second and third place in the women's category went to Monika Borowicz (Poland) and Karola Rennhack (Missen-Wilhams).

"Winning in front of this fantastic backdrop is simply incredible. The course is brilliant," said a jubilant Alexander Hutter as he reached the finish line on the Stubai Glacier at 3,173 metres above sea level in front of the Jochdohle restaurant. It didn't look like it at first. The almost 250 runners of the K67 started punctually at midnight in the Olympic city of Innsbruck. Adrian Siller, chairman of the Stubai Tirol tourism association, had given the starting signal for the longest of the four competitions. The first few kilometres to the ski jump on Mount Isel were run under police protection through Innsbruck at night.

New record time by winner Alexander Hutter

Christian Stern was clearly the fastest man up to the halfway point of the race. "I knew that Christian was going to start fast, so I couldn't keep up. I didn't want to explode," admitted the 29-year-old Hutter. However, Hutter caught up with Stern at the Starkenburger Hütte. They completed a few kilometres together before the 2019 fifth-place finisher pulled away and reached the finish after the extremely steep final climb with a new best time (8:24:33 hours) and a lead of 8:50 minutes over 41-year-old Christian Stern. He had to pay tribute for his fast pace at the start. "I suffered badly at the end, but I'm still very happy with second place," explained Stern, who comes from Neustift in the Stubai Valley. The lead over third-placed Adrian Niski (00:19:49 hours back), Ronald Jahnke (TSV Kösching, 8:50:50 hours) and the co-favourite Alexander Lieb (Salomon Running Austria, 9:05:35 hours) was quite comfortable.

A prestigious race for women's winner Mühlhuber

Marie-Luise Mühlhuber initially took things slowly in the women's race, but then overtook the field from behind. "I'm so happy that I managed to win this prestigious race. I didn't expect it, especially as things can always go wrong at altitude," commented Mühlhuber on her victory in 10:03:41 hours ahead of Monika Borowicz from Poland (10:28:44 hours) and Karola Rennhack from Germany (10:37:14 hours)

The favourites decide the other distances for themselves

The STUBAI K32 (31.6 kilometres, 3,100 m elevation gain) started at 9 a.m. in Neustift and saw the Englishman Thomas Roach in the lead right from the start. The long-distance specialist has lived in Pettnau for several years and teaches botany at the University of Innsbruck. Florian Reichert (Arc'teryx/VW-R Trailrunning Team) was powerless against the three-time Austrian national champion. In the end, the speedy professor from Brighton came out on top in 3:40:07 hours ahead of Reichert (3:50:01 hours) and Johannes Hinterseer (Team La Sportiva, 3:54:01 hours).

In the women's race, there was no way around the favourite Anita Eckerstorfer (Salomon Running Team Austria) with a winning time of 4:54:41 hours. Susi Lell-Reichert (5:12:06 hours) Salomon Trailrunning Team Germany) equalled her husband Florian Reichert and also took second place ahead of Evelyne Lachner (LC Running Puchberg, 5:28:44 hours).

Tyrolean Philipp Brugger wins every race at his distance

The STUBAI K20 (19 kilometres, 2,138 m elevation gain) was full of excitement, with a duel between Austrian Philipp Brugger (Tomaselli Sportlerei) and Moritz auf der Heide (adidas TERREX) from the very first metre. In the end, Brugger finished in 2:17:53 hours, just 53 seconds ahead of his opponent, who is a trail running pro for the first time this year. However, auf der Heide (2:18:46 hours) had no chance against Brugger. "I won the long distance in 2017, the K32 in 2019 and now the K20. Next year I'll try for the K8," said Brugger, delighted with his third victory on the Stubai Glacier. Third place went to Marcel Höche (Köchel, 2:25:47 hours).

The women were also really fast in the K20. First and foremost the marathon specialist and Olympic participant Anna Hahner. The Berlin native won her second trail run ever in 2:48:27 hours ahead of Isabell Bichler (Austria, 2:51:26 hours) and Lena Laukner (Innsbruck, 2:56:53 hours).

Head-to-head race on the pure mountain running distance

The STUBAI K8 (8 kilometres, 1,446 m elevation gain) was only decided in the photo finish. The South Tyrolean Ivan Paulmichl stormed up the steep slope in 1:18:36 hours, Christoph Steinmüller (Allgäu Outlet Raceteam) sprinted across the finish line a hundredth of a second behind. It was impossible to tell the difference with the naked eye. Philipp Plunger (Italy) finished third in 1:21:39 hours. In the women's race, the gaps were slightly larger. Victory went to Susanne Mair (Scott Running Austria, 1:38:29 hours) ahead of Lisa Spötzl (TSV Oberstdorf, 1:46:10 hours) and Julia Walser (Ötztal Trailrunning, 1:48:09 hours).

Click here for all results of the Stubai Ultratrail 2021!