The Prologue: The race before the race
The Prologue is a one-day battle that takes place in the mountains surrounding Wagrain-Kleinarl on Thursday June 17, three days before the main race starts. Athletes have to hike and fly a 30km course around three Turnpoints (Mooskopf, Grafenberg and Hochgründeck).
The prize for the first three athletes is an additional Night Pass which allows them to hike through the night while the rest of the field is forced to stay where they are. It’s a valuable strategic tool to have in the back pocket. The results also impact the starting order of Day 2. It has a staggered start – the Prologue winner sets off at 5am and athletes follow according to the time they finished behind. So if an athlete crosses the line an hour behind the winner, they set off at 6am on Day 2.
Wagrain-Kleinarl is a beautiful mountain resort 60km to the south of Salzburg. It hosted the Prologue in 2019, but this year the route is different – the start and finish will be in Kleinarl, not Wagrain. For fans and media, it’s the perfect opportunity to see the action unfold up close.
