Dolomiten Lauf

// paid content by Osttirol //

When the international cross-country skiing elite and thousands of enthusiastic amateur athletes gather in Obertilliach in Osttirol from 22 to 24 January 2027, it will once again be time for the Dolomitenlauf – Austria’s most important mass-participation cross-country skiing event and one of the most traditional races in the Worldloppet series.

Since its first edition in 1970, the Dolomitenlauf has been built on three pillars that continue to define this special event to this day:

1. The combination of elite and grassroots sport
2. The idea that ‘everyone is a winner over themselves’
3. The landscape of Osttirol and the Lienz Dolomites

The combination of elite and grassroots sport

A distinctive feature of the Dolomitenlauf since its inception has been the combination of elite and grassroots sport. The race offers a shared platform for both internationally successful cross-country skiers and amateur and recreational athletes. For both elite cross-country skiers and amateur athletes, one challenge takes centre stage when taking part in the Dolomitenlauf: covering a specific distance, which continues to define the character of the event to this day. Alongside internationally renowned athletes, participants of very different ability levels take part. This also gives rise to a variety of personal goals amongst the participants. For the professional, it’s all about the placing; for the amateur runner, perhaps a personal best; and for the beginner, simply about completing the course. Whilst top athletes compete for victory and fast times, for many amateur runners the personal experience takes centre stage: the challenge of covering a certain distance, improving one’s own performance, or taking part alongside friends and family.

This is essentially the idea that Robert Steiner associated with the Dolomitenlauf as far back as 1970, and which is still evident even after more than five decades. This blend continues to shape the character of the Dolomitenlauf to this day. It creates a special atmosphere in which competitive sport and recreational sport come face to face.

This philosophy is particularly evident in the Dolomitenlauf’s motto:

‘Everyone is a winner over themselves.’

This means that sporting success is not measured solely by one’s finishing position. For a world-class athlete, victory may be the goal; for a recreational runner, simply completing the 21 or 42 kilometres can be a personal achievement in itself. The introduction of the Easyrace also reflects this philosophy. This easy, 5-kilometre route is aimed at participants who wish to experience cross-country skiing without the pressure to perform associated with a traditional ski marathon.

In this way, the Dolomitenlauf combines competition, personal challenge and a shared sporting experience – and it is precisely this combination that is one of the main reasons for its long-standing tradition.

The landscape of Osttirol and the Lienz Dolomites

The landscape around the Lienz Dolomites is an integral part of the Dolomitenlauf’s identity. The race combines sporting challenge with a stunning alpine landscape and has thus played a key role in putting Osttirol on the map as a cross-country skiing destination. The Lienz Dolomites, with their striking rock formations, provide a distinctive backdrop. At the same time, Osttirol, with its high valleys, snow-covered forests and extensive cross-country trails, offers a variety of conditions for cross-country skiing. 

Obertilliach, in particular, plays an important role in this regard. Situated at an altitude of around 1,450 metres, this mountain village enjoys particularly favourable snow conditions and is home to a major cross-country skiing and biathlon centre with infrastructure meeting the highest international sporting standards. The combination of challenging cross-country trails, guaranteed snow cover in the higher-altitude areas and the panoramic views of the Lienz Dolomites creates a unique setting that makes cross-country skiing a central part of the region’s winter tourism. The Dolomitenlauf is therefore also of significance to the region in terms of tourism. Participants, accompanying persons and spectators come to Osttirol from numerous countries. The competition not only offers a sporting experience but also allows visitors to experience the region as a whole: its mountainous landscape, its winter sports facilities and its typical Tyrolean villages and cultural landscape. The Dolomitenlauf is thus more than just a single sporting event. It acts as an ambassador for Osttirol as a cross-country skiing region.