Nordkette Vertical Run 2026

The Nordkette Vertical Run covers 6.7 km in Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria, ascending the Nordkette range above the city. This September event begins at 10:00 AM with a straightforward format: participants run steeply uphill on a course described as reaching the “roof of Innsbruck.” The gradient is significant, peaking at 78%. The race is also recognized within the ITRA Cup. The course combines a short distance with substantial elevation gain, positioning it as a vertical mountain challenge rather than a standard road race. Participants find themselves with the city below and the steep Nordkette slopes above, a characteristic that distinguishes it from typical alpine village races. Established in the late 2010s, the event is now a fixture in Innsbruck. It is organized by Verein zur Förderung der Bewe, with its official site at nordkette-vertical-run.at.