Anton Palzer’s incredible duathlon: From Marienplatz to the summit of the Zugspitze in 4 hours and 43 minutes

The former professional cyclist with Team Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is putting the fitness he built up during his cycling career to good use in a sporting challenge: cycling from Marienplatz in Munich to the foot of the Zugspitze, and then running to the summit. At 3 am on 23 June, Anton Palzer pressed the start button on his sports watch at Munich’s Marienplatz. The route took him south via Sendling, Baierbrunn, Schäftlarn and Wolfratshausen. From Penzberg onwards, it began to get light and the mountains came into view. After 2 hours and 17 minutes, Palzer reached the Olympic Ski Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen just as the sun was rising.

“Cycling under my own steam from the state capital to the summit of the Zugspitze – that idea really fascinated me. I simply wanted to see how long it would take me to complete the journey. It’s a route where I can really put my skills and passions to the test. I’d had this idea in the back of my mind since 2023. During my last few years as a professional cyclist, my schedule didn’t allow for it, but I also wanted to capitalise on my good form on the bike for this project – so now was the perfect time,” explains Palzer at the summit of the Zugspitze.

Anton Palzer’s cycling route

The 100-kilometre cycling route, with 1,086 metres of elevation gain, made up the first stage. Palzer battled against a headwind, which made it difficult to stay on schedule. The steep climb via the Hornschlittenbahn to the Partnachalm really put his legs to the test. “There was more headwind on the cycle route than expected. It was really tough to stay within my target time. The section via the Hornschlittenbahn to the Partnachalm was quite painful – there are some brutal gradients up there. I was then able to use the final few metres along the forest road to the transfer point in the Reintal to loosen up my legs a little before the mountain run,” said the athlete, describing the rigours of the race.

At 5.41 am, Anton Palzer reached his equipment depot in the Reintal. He completed the cycling section, with 1,086 metres of elevation gain, at an average speed of 37.3 km/h. An extraordinary average speed for such a distance. The transition from cycling to mountain running took just three minutes. Alpine guidebooks normally estimate 9 hours for the subsequent route. Palzer had 15 kilometres and 1,950 metres of elevation gain ahead of him to reach the summit.

“Setting off early was crucial in many ways. There’s less traffic in Munich and Garmisch, making the journey more relaxed and quicker. It’s also a privilege to be able to enjoy the moment on Germany’s highest mountain all to yourself. So I definitely had to be at the top before the first gondola,” says Palzer, explaining the early start time.

The mountain run to the summit

The running route begins along the Partnach. The path leads past the Bockhütte and the Reintalangerhütte to the end of the valley. At Reintalanger, Palzer experienced a special moment. “At Reintalanger, I finally saw the first rays of sunshine. The mountain grass glistened in the morning dew; I was completely alone in this vast valley basin – that moment really gave me a boost of energy,” he says, describing his impressions.

Steep hairpin bends lead up to the Knorrhütte. This is followed by the moraine terrain of the Zugspitzplatt. At 7.26 am, Palzer passed the Schneefernerhaus. The final metres of ascent over the south-west ridge to the Münchner Haus proved to be the greatest challenge. “The ‘camel humps’ between the Knorrhütte and the Schneefernerhaus are quite a slog; you feel rather small in these imposing surroundings. Things then got tough on the south-west ridge. I was already pretty knackered; I even had to tackle the steps up to the Münchner Haus on all fours for a bit,” reports the 33-year-old.

Anton Palzer’s arrival at the summit cross

At 7.43 am, Anton Palzer reached the summit cross of the 2,962-metre-high Zugspitze. Fog was rolling in from the west, whilst the sun was shining from the east. The athlete made his way along the steel cables and stopped his watch: 4 hours, 43 minutes and 46 seconds. “That really took it out of me – I was constantly in the red zone today. But pushing myself to the limit time and again, whether on the bike or in the mountains, is pure bliss for me,” says Palzer, summing up the exertion.

When asked about a record, the Berchtesgaden native is cautious. “My aim was a time under five hours. I managed that and I really gave it my all. Whether we call it a record or not isn’t really that important to me. I’m satisfied and am now looking forward to a second breakfast,” he explained at the summit.

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.