Top performances are expected from amateur athletes. © Newspower.it

Horn Attack: Duathlon from Bolzano to the Rittner Horn

20 kilometers, 2.000 meters of elevation gain, and two disciplines: On Saturday, the Horn Attacke will once again challenge trail runners and ski mountaineers. Top athletes such as Andreas Reiterer, Annelise Felderer, and the relay duo Samuel Demetz/Matthäus Berger will be among the participants.

March 05, 2026

From: pm

Only a few hours until the seventh edition of the Horn Attack: On Saturday, March 7th, the route from Bolzano to the Rittner Horn will once again be transformed into a spectacular stage for one of South Tyrol's most extraordinary sporting competitions. The duathlon combines trail running and ski mountaineering, taking participants over approximately 20 kilometers and 2.000 meters of elevation gain to an altitude of 2.260 meters.

The race starts in the center of Bolzano on Zwölfmalgreienstraße. The first leg is a 13,4-kilometer run to the transition zone in Pemmern. From there, the athletes continue on touring skis for 6,5 kilometers uphill to the finish line at Rittner Horn.

The competition can be contested either as an individual event (starting at 9:00 AM) or in two- or three-person relays (starting at 9:15 AM). There are men's, women's, and mixed categories.

This year's Horn Attacke race boasts another top-class field of participants. Among the favorites is South Tyrolean trail running star Andreas Reiterer, 2023 Vice World Champion and three-time winner of the race. Also competing is Andreas Innerebner, who has finished on the podium in the past two years.

Andreas Reiterer is one of the favorites to win. © Newspower.it

Among the women, Annelise Felderer is once again one of the big names. The South Tyrolean hasn't missed a single event so far and boasts an impressive record: five wins and one second place. Tanja Plaikner, who finished second last year, is also among the contenders for a top spot.

Special attention is also given to the "Individual Mountaineering Competition." In this category, athletes start in Bolzano with ski equipment on their backs and complete the entire course alone. The winner receives the "Ulli Seebacher Prize," named in memory of the mountaineer Ulrich Seebacher, who passed away in 2016. Patrick Gross and Priska Gasser have dominated this category in the past two years – both are aiming for their third consecutive victory this year.

In the relay race, the duo of Samuel Demetz and Matthäus Berger are among the favorites for a top spot. Demetz, from Val Gardena, will handle the running leg from Bolzano to Pemmern, while Berger will take on the ski mountaineering portion. The team knows the race well: they finished second in 2024 and won last year.

“This route is special to me,” says Demetz. “I used to run it often with my father during training – sometimes even as far as the Rittner Horn. The first part on asphalt is challenging, after which it becomes more runnable. I enjoy running in nature the most.”

The motivation is certainly high: "Our goal is to win again and improve on last year's time. But the competition is strong, it certainly won't be easy."

Everything is ready from an organizational standpoint for the seventh edition. After the race, the after-race party awaits from 17 pm – the traditional conclusion to a day of competition that promises to be a highlight both athletically and atmospherically.