mozart 100 by UTMB
mozart 100 by UTMB – mozart Half Marathon
Koppl → Fuschl Am See
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The mozart Half Marathon is the shorter trail distance in the mozart 100 by UTMB weekend, set in the lakes and hills east of Salzburg, Austria. Covering 28 km with 969 m of climbing and a high point of 1,112 m, it takes runners from the village of Koppl over the Gaisberg and down to a finish on the shore of Fuschl am See. It is a point-to-point course that front-loads its major climb and then trends downhill toward the lake. This is an approachable distance in a beautiful setting, but the early climb to Gaisberg gives it real character. Runners who warm into the first few kilometres and then settle onto the long descent to Fuschl will enjoy the day; those who chase the fast early gradient risk arriving at the lake with nothing left to run the flatter finish.
The course and terrain
The mozart Half Marathon runs 28 km from Koppl to Fuschl am See, with 969 m of ascent and a high point of 1,112 m. The route starts at Koppl (734 m), climbs quickly to Gaisberg at 4.6 km (981 m), passes Hof at 17.9 km (756 m), and finishes at Fuschl am See at 27.2 km (661 m). The net direction of travel is gently downhill, from 734 m at the start to 661 m at the line, but that masks the sharp climb in the opening kilometres. Underfoot this is classic Salzkammergut terrain: forest paths, alpine meadow tracks and rolling trail linking the villages and lakes. The defining structural feature is that the biggest climb comes almost immediately, up to the Gaisberg, after which the course spends its remaining distance shedding altitude and rolling toward Fuschl am See.
Where the race is decided
For a 28 km race, the shape here is unusual: the day's decisive climb is over almost before it begins. From the start at Koppl (734 m) the course gains close to 250 m in the first 4.6 km up to Gaisberg (981 m), the steepest sustained effort of the day. How you manage that opening climb sets up everything that follows, because there is no comparable ascent later to make up ground. Beyond Gaisberg the route trends down and rolling toward Hof at 17.9 km (756 m) and on to Fuschl am See at 27.2 km (661 m). This long descending middle and finish is where a strong, relaxed downhill runner can carry momentum all the way to the lake. The final kilometres into Fuschl are the least technical, so the runners who paced the Gaisberg climb sensibly can finish fast while others simply hang on.
Pacing and fuelling
The grounding data lists no intermediate cut-offs for this distance, which reflects its status as the accessible race of the weekend — but that is no reason to start recklessly. The single most important pacing decision is to hold back on the climb to Gaisberg in the first 4.6 km. Spend too much there and the long descent that should be your reward becomes a grind. Treat the top of Gaisberg as the point where your race really begins. Plan your fuelling around the checkpoints at Gaisberg (4.6 km) and Hof (17.9 km). The longest gap is the roughly 13 km from Gaisberg to Hof, so carry enough fluid and calories to stay topped up across that descending stretch, and again for the final 9 km from Hof to the finish. For a race of under 30 km, steady sipping and a gel or snack every half hour will comfortably cover the effort.
Conditions to expect
The mozart 100 weekend takes place in the hills east of Salzburg in early summer, so expect the changeable weather of the Austrian pre-Alps: warm, humid valleys and cooler, breezier ground on the Gaisberg at 981 m and the 1,112 m high point. Mornings can start cool before the day warms, and mountain showers are always possible, so a light layer is worth carrying. Because so much of the course is descending or rolling after Gaisberg, the trail down toward Hof and Fuschl am See can be fast when dry and slick when wet. Shoes with reliable grip and a controlled downhill technique will keep the long descent enjoyable rather than treacherous. Respect the early Gaisberg climb, then relax into the descent and let the scenery of the lakes carry you to the finish at Fuschl am See.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 734 m · —
4.6 km · 981 m · —
17.9 km · 756 m · —
27.2 km · 661 m · —
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