2026 Ötztal Cycle Marathon: Toni Palzer to compete in Sölden for the first time

In 2025, Anton Palzer provided commentary as a co-commentator on the live stream of the Ötztal Cycle Marathon and hinted at the possibility of taking part. He has now confirmed his plans. On 30 August, he intends to be on the starting line in Sölden – “Goschn polieren” in Tyrol. This automatically makes him one of the favourites for the race. Coverage begins early: the finisher’s jersey will be unveiled on 15 July.

Media services and TV programme

ÖRM TV will broadcast the first episode on 15 July at 6.00 pm. Ok boss Dominic Kuen will present this year’s finisher’s jersey and hopes the design will appeal to all participants. The second programme on the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon will follow on 12 August at 6.00 pm. On 28 August, another programme will be broadcast from 6.30 pm, featuring the Bike4Help Prologue prize-giving ceremony. The riders’ briefing will be broadcast on 29 August from 6.00 pm.

The live broadcast of the Ötztal Cycle Marathon on race day will feature riders setting off from the Alpine passes, interviews with participants and studio discussions. Cameras along the route capture moments which participants receive free of charge as a personalised video. The footage can be shared on social media, regardless of whether the finish line was reached.

Ötztaler Cycle Marathon Podcast

The “Ride Hard & Dream On” podcast features more than 25 episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Professionals, coaches and experienced finishers discuss training, nutrition, kit and race strategy. The ÖRM app provides up-to-date information, push notifications for any changes, live leaderboards and GPS tracking of the cyclists. Friends and fellow travellers can track the participants’ positions in real time.

Organisation and team of volunteers

More than 1,300 volunteers are working behind the scenes at the event. Organising Committee Chair Heike Klotz emphasises their importance to the success of the cycle marathon. The team includes cake bakers, marshals, representatives from the emergency services and staff at refreshment stations.

Women at the Ötztal Cycle Marathon

The proportion of women taking part in the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon recently reached a new high. Heike Klotz explains that many women are still daunted by the prospect of taking part. The aim is to further increase the visibility of women at the cycle marathon. Same-sex entry transfers ensure that reserved places are filled by women. Klotz urges women to have the confidence to take part.

​The athlete and his career

Before his cycling career, Anton Palzer competed at world-class level in several mountain sports. “Goschn polieren” is “Doni’s” trademark. From 2021 to 2025, Palzer rode as a professional cyclist for the UCI WorldTour team Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. He competed in the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. In ski mountaineering, he was runner-up in the World Championships and secured several World Cup victories. In 2026, he won the Tour du Rutor.

In mountain running, Palzer has held the record time for the Watzmann crossing since 26 June 2020. The record stands at 2 hours and 47 minutes. The combination of endurance, technical off-road skills and cycling experience is what sets his sporting versatility apart. Palzer had been planning the Munich–Zugspitze project since 2023 and was waiting for the right moment after the end of his professional cycling career.