BOclassic - From the start...

BOclassic Raiffeisen New Year’s Eve Run in Bozen.

How it all began…

What can one do to make the winter period shorter and more interesting in terms of sport events? This is the question the Runners Club Bolzano tried to answer in 1974. So far, many cross competitions have been organised, but no middle distance running races or meetings at all.
Then, a small group headed by Dr. Josef Mulser, Hans Pircher and Dr. Günther Andergassen organised the first New Year's Eve Run in Bozen. The idea for this event, the first in Europe of its kind, was inspired by the famous New Year’s Eve Run in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The first event was very successful and organised for male athletes only. Subsequently, a few events later, women were also involved.
At first, approximately 100 participants came from Europe alone. Today, athletes come from all over the place, including Africa and Russia, and join the European elite. At the start, there was no prize money involved, but athletes received free accommodation in town. As the event grew larger, South Tyrolean sponsors such as Seebacher, Reinstadler, the Oberdorfer family and various wine cellars, began to support the event. The costs have increased consistently each year, and so did the needs of the entire organisation of the event, which originally was managed by only three people: Dr. Günther Andergassen, Dr. Gerhard Brandstätter and Toni Stampfer. At a later stage, a special committee had to be created for this purpose.
The original 15 km route was reduced to 10 km, although maintaining the same characteristics. Start and finish line have always been in the main Waltherplatz. Only a few times, changes had been made due to road works.
Time records have also improved over the years. The first winners were European athletes like Putemanns from Belgium, as well as Cova, Panetta and Antibo from Italy. The best South Tyrolean runner is still Christian Leuprecht, having gained the third position.
In the meantime, things have changed! Hans Pircher, the coach of the Bozen Runners’ Club says, that in the old days, the New Year’s Eve athletes would run up to the Seiser Alm and dash through the snow on bare feet. It’s hardly imaginable that something like this would happen today….

The original 15 km route was reduced to 10 km, although maintaining the same characteristics. Start and finish line have always been in the main Waltherplatz. Only a few times, changes had been made due to road works.

Time records have also improved over the years. The first winners were European athletes like Putemanns from Belgium, as well as Cova, Panetta and Antibo from Italy. The best South Tyrolean runner is still Christian Leuprecht, having gained the third position.

In the meantime, things have changed! Hans Pircher, the coach of the Bozen Runners’ Club says, that in the old days, the New Year’s Eve athletes would run up to the Seiser Alm and dash through the snow on bare feet. It’s hardly imaginable that something like this would happen today….