Agnes Tschurtschenthaler at the Erdäpflllauf. © Sportissimus

The Pustertal is looking forward to its summer classic

When the starting signal for the 26th edition of the South Tyrolean Erdäpfllauf is fired on Saturday, August 17th at 24 p.m. in Bruneck, hundreds of running enthusiasts from all parts of the world will once again be there and tackle the extremely flat and therefore extremely fast route . Almost a month before the big showdown, preparations for the seventh stage of the Top7 race series are going according to plan - and of course in full swing.

August 02, 2023

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More than 400 participants have already registered for the classic run from Bruneck's town hall square across the Puster valley floor to the festival site in Sand in Taufers. “Numerous new registrations come in every day,” says OK President Rudi Stolzlechner from the ASV Pustertal Running Club, which organizes the 17,6 kilometer long run with only 60 meters of elevation gain together with the SSV Taufers.

Among the 400 runners who have already registered there are numerous big names from the South Tyrolean scene, all of whom are aiming for the big coup. When it comes to women, you should keep an eye on Agnes Tschurtschenthaler. The Sesto native has won the last two editions, has a total of six successes in the Erdäpfllauf and could draw level with record winner Renate Rungger this year with her seventh triumph. Agnes Tschurtschenthaler also holds the course record of 1:02.15 hours, which she achieved in 2015. With Sarah Giomi from Bolzano and overall Top7 leader, Natalie Mitterutzner from Brixen and Julia Kuen from Pusteria, the defending champion already knows that she will face several strong competitors on Saturday, August 26th.

Last year's winner Michael Hofer in pole position

For men, it is also an exhibition run by the South Tyrolean running stars. First and foremost is last year's winner Michael Hofer, who has already won the Kaltererseelauf and the Seiser Alm Half Marathon in this year's Top7 running series. The athlete from Deutschnofen has to prove himself against, among others, the current overall leader of the running series, Khalid Jbari from Bolzano. Last year's overall winner David Andersag from ASC Berg, Klausner Luca Clara, Hannes Rungger from Sarner - he won the Erdäpfllauf in 2011 and 2012 - as well as the Puster local heroes Fabian Fronthaler, Martin Plankensteiner and Matthias Kirchler will also be at the start.

The organizers are particularly pleased about Manfred Feichter's commitment. “He is the only athlete who has been here for all 23 editions of the South Tyrolean Erdäpfllauf. And we will be able to welcome him to the starting field again this year,” adds Stolzlechner.

In addition to the competitive Erdäpflllauf, the Just-for-Fun run is now being offered on the same route. The hobby run can also be done as a relay team of two, covering 8,8 kilometers each. In the afternoon there will also be children's runs for six different age groups on the festival site in Sand in Taufers. Anyone interested can register for this on race day from 13.30:15 p.m., and the starting signal will be fired at 300 p.m. for distances ranging from 1,6 meters to XNUMX kilometers.