Ultimate Tsaigu: Highlight on China's trail calendar!
Ultimate Tsaigu has become one of China’s leading trail running events and the 6th edition is set for 11/12 April 2020. Despite its tendency to have quite wet weather for at least a part of the race, Tsaigu has continued to grow in popularity on the Asian and international scene. The whole event set-up in the old town of Linhai (Zhejiang Province) is impressive to say the least, and it is obvious the event organisation spares no expense to please all participants. For the fifth time, the two longest race categories of 115k and 85k will also be included in the Asia Trail Master Championship and Grandmaster Quest calendar.
Ultimate Tsaigu is a tough one, though, so you need to come prepared. The 115k and 85k courses have 7000hm and 5000hm respectively and the terrain is technical in parts. Runners will go on along Mount Kuocang (Kwotsang) on pure nature and forest trails - including bamboo forest. Linhai is located roughly 300km south of Shanghai, and is easily accessible by high speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao airport or Hangzhou as well.
When you sign up, be aware of the mandatory gear and the race timetable. The start of the 115k is at 4 am on Saturday morning and cut-off time is 32 hours. For the 85k it’s 6 am start and 24 hours.
While Chinese trail running is known to be competitive, In the last two years the podium of the long distance categories have seen several familiar faces on the ATM tour. Last year Veronika Vadovicova won the 80k race ahead of Thailand’s Cartoon Wipawee and Singapore-based Paulina Svoboda was fourth. Philippines’ Majo Liao made the podium in 2018.
Registration in English can be done via Ultrasignup. More details can also be found via the ATM cover page.
ATM Champion Veronika Vadovicova won the 80K race in Tsaigu last year, showing she can handle more technical trail as well
American Hayden Hawks was one of the international stars who soldiered on in the horrendous weather conditions last year to win the men’s 80k and gained respect for that.