Red Bull X-Alps
The X-Alps Adventure Begins
Press Release / 20.06.2021
A start gun fired in the center of Salzburg at 11:30am today, officially launching the world’s toughest adventure race, the Red Bull X-Alps.
Under the watchful eye of a statue of Mozart, the city’s most famous resident, a field of 29 athletes from 15 countries ran through the city’s streets on the first leg of a 12-day journey around the Alps.
Their first goal was the 1,288m summit of Gaisberg, overlooking the city. But the ultimate goal is the lakeside mountain resort of Zell am See. To get there, they must hike, run and fly 1,238km to Mont Blanc, France and back via 12 Turnpoints in five countries.
The excitement was at fever pitch as the athletes set off through Salzburg’s historic streets under a blazing sun. From Mozartplatz they charged through the old quarter, crossed the river Salzach and began the first of many brutal ascents on foot.
The first to reach the top of the Gaisberg was Austrian rookie, 20-year-old Thomas Friedrich (AUT3) in just over one hour. Second was Michal Gierlach (POL) while Maxime Pinot (FRA1) came in third.
With winds gusting over 40kph, athletes arrived to be told it was unsafe to fly with the safe limit being 30kph. But as the wind dropped, race director Christoph Weber gave the go-ahead and athletes wasted no time in pulling out their wings, strapped-up and launched into the air. With the first Turnpoint tagged, their next destination is Wagrain-Kleinarl, 65km to the south. From there they head west to Kitzbühel, where they must sign a board at the top of the famous Hahnenkamm ski race. The first athletes are expected to reach it by the end of the day.
Ulrich Grill, race founder and organizer said: “After all that’s happened globally in the last 18 months, we are delighted to be able to put on this race and demonstrate that elite sporting events can take place safely. We have worked very hard to make this happen. This year is special, it’s the 10th edition of the race, which launched in 2003. We have a new route, it’s the longest ever and it’s the toughest. It’s going to be an incredible adventure for all the athletes taking part and I wish them a safe and successful race.”
Athletes range from Japan’s 61-year-old Kaoru Ogisawa, competing for the 6th time, to 20-year-old Thomas Friedrich, who despite being a race rookie, came third in Thursday’s Prologue in Wagrain-Kleinarl. All eyes however are on the six-time champion, Christian Maurer, who is hoping for a seventh consecutive win – and the French athlete Maxime Pinot, 29, who is looking to break that reign of dominance.
No Nightpasses were pulled, meaning athletes will keep the strategic weapon for later on in the race.
Follow all the action via Live Tracking on redbullxalps.com.
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