Hochkönig Ultraks: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The HK-Vertical-Race is not a run in the usual sense, it is one single climb. 5.9 kilometres, around 1,080 metres of ascent, averaging a good 18 percent, from the village centre of Dienten up to the Lauskopf at over 2,100 metres. There is virtually no descending, and there is no cut-off.
Course & Elevation
This race opens the Hochkoenig Ultraks weekend at 5 p.m. on the Friday and is the only one not held in Maria Alm: it starts in the village centre of Dienten and finishes high up on the Lauskopf in the alpine zone.
The profile is one continuous climb from 1,055 to 2,132 metres. More than 71 percent of the distance is classified as steep uphill, and just 1.3 percent is flat. The average gradient is 18.3 percent, the steepest ramps reach 48 percent, and there running inevitably becomes climbing. At 183 metres of vertical per kilometre this is by a wide margin the steepest course of the whole event.
There is a single aid point on the way, at Pichlam, and it serves drinks only: water, iso and warm tea, no solid food. The race is designed as a compact, intense experience and, as part of the international Ultraks series, traditionally draws the uphill specialists.
Pacing Strategy
A vertical is run like an uphill time trial. You settle on an intensity from the gun that you can hold for fifty to a hundred minutes and you never back off, because there is no section in which too hard a start could be evened out.
The classic mistake is an explosive opening on the still moderate first kilometre. Hold back there deliberately: the climb steepens as it goes, and the 40 percent ramps in the upper third forgive nothing. Switch early and without hesitation into economical power hiking with your hands on your thighs as soon as the gradient passes roughly 25 percent.
The race is decided in the final third above 1,700 metres, where gradient and altitude come together. Anyone who has metered the effort cleanly to that point gains minutes here on everyone who went too fast lower down.
Training plan for Hochkönig Ultraks: 12-week build
For most age-group runners the vertical takes between fifty and a hundred minutes. It is a continuous effort at or just under threshold with no recovery at all, and only one quality counts: sustaining as much vertical gain per minute as possible for around an hour.
The demand is steadier than the gradient figures suggest. Unlike rolling trails there are no changes of pace, just a constant high aerobic load. The core of the preparation is therefore threshold intervals uphill, say three to five repetitions of ten to fifteen minutes on a steep climb, with the total vertical per session rising across the weeks.
The decisive sections are the ones above 40 percent. There technique beats pace: strong rhythmic hiking, hands on the thighs and, where permitted, poles all need practising, because every transition between running and hiking costs the untrained. Add strength work for calves, glutes and the posterior chain. And since the finish sits above 2,100 metres, at least one session at comparable altitude is worth the trip.
Course Map
Profile Parameters
Slope Distribution
Climbs on Route
| Start (km) | Length | Ø Gradient | Max Gradient | Elev Gain | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KM 0.1 | 5.9 km | 18.3% | 48.1% | +1076m | HC |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
Course as GPX
Download the HK-Vertical-Race course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Adaptive race preparation
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Hochkönig Ultraks dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Hochkönig Ultraks?
Hochkönig Ultraks is 5.9 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Hochkönig Ultraks have?
Hochkönig Ultraks has around 1,080 m of elevation gain over 5.9 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Hochkönig Ultraks?
Hochkönig Ultraks is classified as Mountainous, averaging 182.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 1% of the route is flat, 25% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 71% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Hochkönig Ultraks have?
The hardest climb of Hochkönig Ultraks starts at kilometre 0.1, runs for 5.9 km at an average of 18.3% and gains 1,076 metres. Cycling-convention rating: HC.
Is Hochkönig Ultraks a loop course?
No, Hochkönig Ultraks is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Hochkönig Ultraks course?
Yes. The Hochkönig Ultraks course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Hochkönig Ultraks?
Preparation for Hochkönig Ultraks should account for 5.9 km, 1,080 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Hochkönig Ultraks?
The pacing strategy for Hochkönig Ultraks should reflect 5.9 km, 1,080 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Hochkönig Ultraks take place?
Hochkönig Ultraks takes place on June 4, 2027.
Where does Hochkönig Ultraks take place?
Hochkönig Ultraks takes place in Maria Alm, Austria.
Editions
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