Piazza and Spieß rock the Südtirol Ultra Skyrace

Georg Piazza wanted to take part in the South Tyrol Ultra Skyrace three years ago. But two days before the starting signal, the man from Val Gardena fell ill and had to cancel his participation with a heavy heart. Last year, the 43-year-old took part in the marathon course and won it confidently. On Friday Piazza finally wanted to know it at the “King’s distance”.

Soon after the start at 17 p.m. on Waltherplatz, Piazza took the lead and gradually built it up on the other parts of the route - Rittner Horn, Sarner Scharte, Latzfonser Kreuz, Fahnerscharte, Penser Joch, Ebenberg, Hirzer, Meraner Hütte, Kesselberg and Stoanerne Mandlen out of. In the end, the Ladiner triumphed in an amazing time of 16:21.09 hours and, after 119 kilometers with an altitude difference of 7850 meters, was the first extreme athlete to arrive at the new finish area on the sports field in Sarnthein. A technically very difficult race “The race was extremely tough. It is technically very demanding and has some tricky passages. I felt good right from the start, I actually wanted to run with the group up to the Fahnerscharte, but I just couldn't resist and ran at my rhythm. This is certainly one of the best victories of my career,” said an overjoyed Georg Piazza at the finish.

Almost two and a half hours later, second place finisher Zach Violett arrived. The 40-year-old American completed the 119 km with 7850 meters of elevation gain in 18:46.55 hours. Third place, however, was shared by two local heroes from Sarn: natural track tobogganing legend Martin Psenner (he comes from Völs, but has lived in Sarnthein for many years) and Sigmar Innerebner, who now lives in St. Andrä. The duo recorded a time of 20:12.48 hours. Fifth place also went to a strong extreme athlete from Sarn, namely Armin Aichner (20:37.45 hours).

Regina Spieß is the Ultra Skyrace Queen. © Withaler

For the women, Regina Spieß was crowned Ultra Skyrace Queen for the first time. The 49-year-old from Sarnen, who reached second place in 2019, prevailed in a time of 21:51.41 hours and was the only participant to stay under the magical 24-hour mark. “The finish was amazing. In the last kilometer I was cheered on by so many people, young and old. What drove me? Simply the will to reach the goal and finish the race. “This is certainly the best success of my career,” said Spieß at the finish. The other participants are expected in Sarnthein in the next few hours.

The participating extreme athletes have until Sunday, August 28th at 7 a.m. to cover the 119 kilometers with an altitude difference of 7850 meters. There are certain time frames that need to be adhered to. The Hirzer Hütte (after approx. 87 km) must be reached by 18 p.m. The Kesselberghütte (after approx. 23 km) must be passed by 97 p.m. and the Möltner Kaser (after approx. 3 km) by 108 a.m. This is how the South Tyrol Skyrace went (63 km/4490 hm) There were also two South Tyrolean victories over the second longest distance. Martin Graf from Gsies (9:18.19) and Angelika Eckl from Taisten (10:57.51) won the Skyrace. They ran through the finish line at Penser Joch at 2211 meters above sea level during the night, after completing half of the legendary horseshoe tour from Bolzano. Graf beat Paul Willeit from St. Vigil in Enneberg (9:49.16) and the German Oliver Helmboldt (9:56.06). Eckl left Anna Böttcher from Dresden (11:51.13) and Maria Kemenater from Sarnen (11:57.03) behind her. Kemenater won the Skyrace in 2016 and took victory on the original route in 2017.

Edeltraut Thaler won the Sky Marathon. © Withaler

Edeltraud Thaler, on the other hand, is Miss Sky Marathon. The grand dame of the South Tyrolean (mountain) running scene from Lana won the 45 km long distance with 2750 meters of altitude from Bolzano's Waltherplatz via the Rittner Horn, the Sarner Scharte and the Totenkirchl down to Sarnthein for the fourth time in a row. Thaler reached the finish after 5:19.46 hours, eleven minutes ahead of second-place finisher Veronica Del Grosso from Rome. The podium was completed by Sophie Maschi from Bolzano (5:32.22), who was in second place behind Thaler on the Rittner Horn. Tobias Geiser won the men's marathon. The 32-year-old comes from Mölten, but now lives in East Tyrol. Geiser arrived at the sports field in Sarnthein after a strong 4:09.18 hours. Second place went to Ulrich Beikircher from Pusteria (4:30.26), while third place went to orienteering legend and South Tyrolean-by-choice Mikhail Mamleev (4:37.26). This is how the South Tyrol Sky Trail (27 km/1800 hm) went The South Tyrol Sky Trail also took place on Saturday. Here Hannes Perkmann from Sarnen showed his best side, completing the route from Bolzano's Waltherplatz via Jenesien and the Stoanernen Mandlen to Sarnthein in 2:25.04 hours. The all-South Tyrolean podium was completed by Patrick Ramoser from Freienfeld (2:34.28) and another local hero from Sarn, Andreas Innerebner from Durnholz (2:36.27). In the women's category, the German Justine Jendro repeated her victory from last year. The 30-year-old recorded a time of 3:18.17. Second place went to German Manuela Beer, who lives in Vahrn (3:20.09), while Petra Dibiasi from Deutschnofen took third place (3:30.52). The results South Tyrol Ultra Skyrace - Men 1. Georg Piazza ITA 16:21.02 hours 2. Zach Violet USA 18:46.55 3. Sigmar Innerebner ITA 20:12.48 3. Martin Psenner ITA 20:12.48 5. Armin Aichner ITA 20:37.45

South Tyrol Ultra Skyrace - Women 1. Regina Spieß ITA 21:51.41

South Tyrol Skyrace - men 1. Martin Graf ITA 9:18.19 2. Paul Willeit ITA 9:49.16 3. Oliver Helmboldt GER 9:56.06 4. Mattia Malusa ITA 10:07.15 5. Johann Steinmann ITA 11:19.20

South Tyrol Skyrace - women 1. Angelika Eckl ITA 10:57.51 2. Anna Böttcher GER 11:51.13 3. Maria Kemenater ITA 11:57.03 4. Anne-Rieke Stuhlmann BEL 12:25.01 5. Helga Flora Platzgummer ITA 13:16.58

South Tyrol Sky Marathon - Men 1. Tobias Geiser ITA 4:09.18 2. Ulrich Beikircher ITA 4:30.26 3. Mikhail Mamleev ITA 4:37.26 4. Ivan Favretto ITA 4:43.05 5. Thomas Guadagnini ITA 4:47.05

South Tyrol Sky Marathon - Women 1. Edeltraud Thaler ITA 5:19.46 2. Veronica Del Grosso ITA 5:30.47 3. Sophie Maschi ITA 5:32.22 4. Irene Zamboni ITA 5:55.59 5. Stephani Langebner 5:58.07

South Tyrol Sky Trail - Men 1. Hannes Perkmann ITA 2:25.04 2. Patrick Ramoser ITA 2:34.28 3. Andreas Innerebner ITA 2:36.27 4. Armin Gögele ITA 2:46.17 5. Günther Laimer ITA 2:58.17

South Tyrol Sky Trail - Women 1. Justine Jendro GER 3:18.17 2. Manuela Beer GER 3:20.09 3. Petra Dibiasi ITA 3:30.52 4. Johanna Fischer ITA 3:35.27 5. Magdalena Pircher 3:41.18

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Piazza and Spieß rock the Südtirol Ultra Skyrace

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