Mayrhofen Ultraks Zillertal

Mayrhofen Ultraks Zillertal Z101 is a 101 km trail race held in September in Tyrol, Austria. The course gains 7,600 m over 101 km (75.2 m/km), starting Friday at 5:00 pm from Mayrhofen and running overnight through the Zillertal and Tux Alps. Entry costs €215 (from January 1, 2026), equivalent to €2.13 per kilometre. The 2026 edition is sold out with no waiting list offered.

The race's final descent drops 2,134 m back to Mayrhofen — the 3rd largest single descent of 386 European trail distances in the DTR database. At 75.2 m per kilometre, Z101 is the 33rd most elevation-dense of 389 European distances with GPS data. Maximum field size is exactly 101 runners — one of the smallest caps on any 100 km race in Europe. The course is not additionally marked; runners navigate by GPS on signposted hiking trails. Nearest airport is Innsbruck (INN), approximately 65 minutes by car.

Founded in 2019 and now in its seventh edition, Z101 carries 5 ITRA points — the maximum. Historical finish rates have been below 50%; the 2025 edition was cancelled mid-race due to snow at 2,000 m+. It suits elite-experienced trail runners seeking a technically demanding, low-numbers alpine challenge with genuine attrition risk.

Q: What does self-navigation mean for the Z101? A: The Z101 route runs on signposted hiking trails but is not additionally marked for the race. Runners must navigate independently using GPS and a downloaded GPX file — at night, over block fields, and above 3,000m. A mandatory race briefing on Thursday evening covers navigation specifics. Rescue insurance with Austrian coverage and a GPS tracker (provided by the organiser) are both compulsory.

Q: Is the Z101 sold out for 2026? A: Yes. The 2026 Z101 sold out with no waiting list offered. Maximum field size is exactly 101 runners — matching the race name — making it one of the smallest-cap 100km races in Europe. Entry requires proof of a completed ultra of at least 80km in the last three years. Check mayrhofen.ultraks.com for future edition registration windows.

Q: What happened at the 2025 Z101? A: The 2025 edition was cancelled mid-race at the Friesenberghaus hut (approximately km 35–40) due to deteriorating snow and weather conditions. The Schönbichler Horn summit (3,123m) had already been rerouted before the start due to snow. The race was delayed one hour due to torrential rain at the start. Mountain rescue coordination was efficient; all runners descended safely. Weather cancellation risk is real at this altitude in early September — the mandatory cold weather kit requirement reflects it.