Spectator at adidas INFINITE TRAILS

Whether you’re a night owl or an early bird – visiting the Alpen Arena in Bad Hofgastein at 3:00 am on Sunday, 24 June, will really pay off, because this place will be turned into the adidas INFINITE TRAILS Arena, a stellar setting with video screens, LED walls and colourful illumination.

Between 4:00 am and 5:00 am the Loop 1 runners of the relay teams will be sent off with a pursuit start. Time intervals are determined by the team result during the Prologue up Stubnerkogel Mountain on Friday. For all those who want to join in the excitement at this event, it’s a great opportunity to get close to international superstars, support the athletes and inhale the World Championship atmosphere. Not only will you be pumped up by the infotainment team of Sebastian Hempfling, Liam Lonsdale and DJ Chainsaw to cheer on the athletes but knowing that so many people need a cup of coffee in the morning to get going, Gastein will also invite all spectators at the adidas INFINITE TRAILS Arena for coffee, tea and croissants between 3:30 am and 6:30 am. So, the theme of the day is: Rise and shine! You can sleep anytime – this spectacle happens only once a year!

At 6:30 am, the crowd will prepare for the first transition of the fastest team. All Loop 1 runners will have until 10:00 am to finish, otherwise their team will no longer be kept in the ranking. However, the teammates can still run their individual loops. Around 12:15 pm the fastest team is expected back for the second transition. At 3:45 pm the adidas INFINITE TRAILS Arena will prepare to cheer on the World Champions. The teams that follow also expect an enthusiastic finish line – so cheering is a full-day job in Bad Hofgastein. Right after the award ceremony, which takes place at 9:00 pm, the “Celebrate the Champions” finish line party kicks off. All heroes that arrive now in the arena will have fought and suffered, so they deserve a memorable reception.

In Bad Gastein, you can also follow the race action live at various hot spots. Between 6:45 am and 10:00 am, sports announcer Holger Schröder together with DJ Sven N, will inform the crowds at the Congress Center next to the famous Bad Gastein Waterfall and welcome the runners of the 57km long Loop 2. The leaders are expected around 7:00 am.

At Graukogel mountain station the day will start with a traditional alpine breakfast and folk music while Papa Joe & Co. Sports announcer, Andreas Groß, feeds the crowd with race updates so nobody misses the leaders while enjoying a morning pint. At 8:30 am, DJ Sambucca will take over the tunes to pump up the crowds for the first runners. After 21km these guys and girls need support and cheers. Around noon the live band, ‘Take 3’ steps onto the stage. Benny Sabanovic, Martin Guggenbichler (acoustic guitars), Gitti Böck and Heidi Vogl (vocals) cover the top hits of the last five decades from Sweet Home Alabama and Bloody Sunday to Highway to Hell. At Graukogel Mountain Station, you’ll be entertained and can enjoy a relaxed afternoon until the last athletes have passed by. The chair lift operates non-stop until 5:00 pm.

The Stubnerkogel cable car operates non-stop between 8:00 am and 6:30 pm. At this mountain station you can also enjoy a relaxed start to the day and listen to singer and acoustic guitarist, Javier Rodaro,  play between 9:00 am and 11:00 am. Then sports announcer Holger Schröder and DJ Sven N take over because the leaders are getting closer and closer. At this hot spot the runners have already completed a marathon and climbed 3,200 meters, so any moral support is welcome. Little fans, who are getting bored, can enjoy tinkering or face painting.

At 2:00 pm, the motivation zone at the community park Dorfgastein starts its program. At this hot spot the athletes will be supported far into the night because it’s also the last cut-off point on Loop 3 (11:00 pm). The local sports club Bein.hoat invites everyone to a Weißwurst (veal sausage) party since cheering and eating go well together. After all, you also need energy and endurance as a spectator. DJ Nudi is in charge of intoxicating beats, announcer Markus Ehrensperger for the infotainment. The first Loop 3 runners are expected between 2:45 and 3:00 pm. Children will be spoilt for choice with a bouncing castle, face painting and a climbing tower.