PICTURED: APA/AFP/POOL/RICHARD HEATHCOTE
Peter Herzog, Valentin Pfeil, Kevin Kamenschak, Christian Steinhammer – these are extremely well-known names in Austria’s running scene. And on April 16th they will do something together in Linz. They form the “Hyundai Elite Squadron” of the competition sponsor, who recently extended his contract with the Linz organizers, and are aiming for an absolute top time.
“Ever since I’ve been allowed to be an ambassador for the brand, there’s been the idea of winning the competition as a team in Linz,” says Herzog. The man from Salzburg holds Austria’s marathon record in 2:10:06 hours and has been a regular guest in Upper Austria’s provincial capital in recent years.
The up-and-coming talented runner from Linz, Kamenschak, will be the first to start the race on this Sunday. After Herzog, two equally fast people, the Steyrer Pfeil and Steinhammer, do their running work. With the two and Lemawork Ketema, he sensationally won team bronze in the marathon at the European Athletics Championships in Berlin in 2018.
An entire Hyundai electric fleet will drive ahead of them and the rest of the elite field. The game changer IONIQ 5 and the new IONIQ 6 will also be used, and the hydrogen-electric pioneer NEXO will also be taking part as an advance car.
Different distances
The relay competition has been one of the most popular competitions in Linz from the very beginning. Different distances have to be covered. The starting runner is 9.7 kilometers from the start on the Vöest Bridge in Linz to the Untere Donaulände (former tobacco factory). Runner number two runs to the promenade (11.3 kilometers), and the third athlete has to complete a 14.3-kilometer route to Wiener Strasse (near the fire station). The shortest distance of 6.9 kilometers awaits the final runner and, in addition, the finish with his colleagues in front of tens of thousands of spectators on the main square.
If you still want to take part with friends and training colleagues, it’s not too late. Late registrations for the 21st edition have recently been possible.
Fur friends watch out: The Hyundai bear will also take part in the mascot run in Linz.
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