World Mountain and Trail Running Championships Innsbruck-Stubai set new standards

Last updated on 11.06.2023

A World Champion from Austria, great praise from international guests for the event’s perfect organization and execution, spectacular routes, radiant athletes and enthusiastic spectators – that’s the impressive record of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2023 (WMTRC) in Innsbruck-Stubai. The quality of the live streams in particular has defined a new standard.

Vice Chancellor and Sports Minister Werner Kogler is delighted: “The Opening Ceremony has provided fans with a taste of what to expect in terms of professionalism, atmosphere and international flair. Unfortunately I couldn’t be there to follow the races along the routes but the images that were sent around the globe via live stream were extraordinary and of great value for Austria. I would like to congratulate all athletes, especially our very own Gold medal winner, Andrea Mayr, who was able to win her 7th World Champion title in an impressive manner. It would be worthwhile to have the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships back in Innsbruck-Stubai in a few years’ time.”

Already early on during the event, it felt like everyone in Tyrol had been infected by mountain running and trail running fever, with people lining the route of the Vertical up to the Elfer peak, literally carrying the athletes up the mountain on the first race day. The highlight on the last race day was the competition up to the legendary “Höll”, which translates to “Hell”. Anton Mattle, governor of Tyrol, draws a first summary: “Lots of sunshine, exciting races, the best atmosphere one could wish for, and a perfectly organized event, including live streams at the highest level: Tyrol has significantly contributed to the popularity of the trend sport and, with the WMTRC, has manifested its reputation as not only a a cycling but also a mountain running and trail running region. A big thank you to the population, the organizing team, the emergency services and the volunteers. We all experienced World Championships of superlatives, which was topped off by Austrian Andrea Mayr taking home the title of World Champion in the Vertical.” 

The WMTRC made an appearance with a bang

World Cup organizer Alexander Pittl says the WMTRC were a success across the board: “During the preparations, I often said that I wanted the World Championships to cause a bang. And they did – they caused a bang. I would like to congratulate all athletes on their achievements. For me, each and every one is a winner. At the same time, I would like to thank all the great volunteers who completed a total of 25.000 working hours during the World Championships and without whose help and support an event of such magnitude and scale would not be possible.”

Great praise for the excellent overall organization and execution

Alessio Punzi, Head of Running, Competitions & Events at the World Athletics, highlights the fact that Tyrol is an ideal venue for the WMTRC: “The World Championships in Innsbruck-Stubai will be remembered by athletes and spectators forever. Athletes, coaches and officials – we only get positive feedback on the excellent overall organization and execution, the perfect conditions, the flair of the event and the sensational live streams in six different languages. Tyrol clearly has what it takes to host events like this and we hope that more athletic competitions and running events will be hosted here in the future.”

Karin Seiler, Tirol Werbung CEO, agrees: “Tyrol, and in particular the two host regions of Innsbruck and Stubai, have put their best foot forward with these World Championships. Exciting races, an inspiring atmosphere and a perfectly organized and executed event made for an all-round successful running festival. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this success. The World Championships provided the world with great images from Tyrol and gave further impetus to the sport. Even though the WMTRC are history now, we will continue to offer a variety of routes and trail running events for all abilities and levels across the region.”

WMTRC is part of the sporting history of Innsbruck

Barbara Plattner, Managing Director of Innsbruck Tourism: “What an event these World Championships were! The past four days have been simply sensational. The performances shown by the athletes, the atmosphere on and off the trails and the fringe events made the World Championships a more than successful event. The World Mountain and Trail Running Championships follow the cycling and climbing world championships in Innsbruck’s sporting history.”

Not only in Innsbruck, but also in the Stubaital valley, the organizers are extremely satisfied with the way the World Championships went. Roland Volderauer, Managing Director of the Stubai Tirol Tourist Association: “The participants of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships will remember the spectacular trails and thousands of enthusiastic spectators in the Stubaital valley forever. Our range of trails has proven to be worthy of World Championship status. The enthusiastic feedback from the athletes regarding training conditions, race courses and hospitality in the Stubaital valley encourages us to further pursue our goal of becoming the No. 1 hiking destination in the Alps. Now, we look forward to being able to host the Stubai Ultratrail from Innsbruck to the Stubai Glacier on July 1, 2023.”