Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc

Last updated
Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc
UTMB 2015.jpg
Finish line in 2015
Dateend of August
Location Flag of France.svg Chamonix, France
Event type Ultramarathon trail run
Distance174-kilometre (108 mi)
Established2003
Course recordsMen: Jim Walmsley 19:37:43 (2023)
Women: Katie Schide 22:09:31 (2024)
Official site https://montblanc.utmb.world/

The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) is a mountain ultramarathon race, first held in 2003, that follows the route of the Tour du Mont Blanc. It has been regarded as the most competitive trail ultramarathon in the world. [1]

Contents

Renamed in 2023 as UTMB World Series Finals, it is the final event of the UTMB World Series qualification races held throughout the world. [2]

Description

The race takes place once a year on either the last weekend in August or the first weekend of September in the Alps. It follows the route of the Tour du Mont Blanc through France, Italy and Switzerland. It has a distance of approximately 171 kilometres (106 mi), and a total elevation gain of around 10,040 metres (32,940 ft). It is widely regarded as one of the most difficult foot races in the world, and one of the largest with more than 2,500 starters. [3] It is one of several races during a week-long festival based around Chamonix in France, and is a race of the Ultra-Trail World Tour. The races have strict entry and qualification requirements attained by accumulating enough race points through qualifying trail races over the previous two-year period. In 2016 and 2017, 42% and 35% of runners did not finish the UTMB race. [3]

While the best runners complete the loop in slightly more than 20 hours, most runners take 32 to 46 hours to reach the finish line. Most runners will have to run through two nights to complete the race.

Since 2006, a second race Courmayeur - Champex - Chamonix (half-loop) has also been organised, and a third race was added in 2009: "Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie". A fourth shorter "running" event - Orsières - Champex - Chamonix - was added in 2014.

La Petite Trotte à Léon is a non-competitive team event started in 2011. Each team is made of two or three members for safety. The route and direction of the course change every year. In 2015, it was run counterclockwise.

Today, the races consist of the following;

Route

The route follows the Tour du Mont Blanc hiking path that is usually completed in 7 to 9 days by hikers. This is a loop around Mont Blanc.

It starts from Chamonix (1,035 m) and goes up to the Col de Voza (1,653 m) to reach Les Contamines (1,150 m), which is the first life base. It then climbs to the Croix du Bonhomme (2,479 m) before going back down to Les Chapieux (1,549 m). The path then runs up to the Col de la Seigne (2,516 m) to enter Italy, and follows the ridge of the Mont-Favre (2,435 m) before going down to Courmayeur (1,190 m), the second life base. It climbs again to the Refuge Bertone (1,989 m) and Arnuva (1,769 m) before reaching its highest point, the Grand Col Ferret (2,537 m), which also marks the border with Switzerland. The path goes down again to Praz de Fort (1,151 m) via La Fouly (1,593 m) before reaching the third life base, Champex d'en Bas (1,391 m). The last part includes two rather low cols: Bovine (1,987 m) and Les Tseppes (1,932 m), separated by Trient (1,300 m). On the descent to Vallorcine (1,260 m), the path re-enters France and crosses Argentière (1,260 m) before finishing at Chamonix, its starting point.

The route varies slightly every year, sometimes for safety reasons. In 2010, the route was 166 km long with a total elevation gain of 9500m.

Race profile UTMB profile.png
Race profile

A more detailed profile can be found on the official website: UTMB profile.

Participation and results

Vincent Delebarre at Champex during the UTMB 2005 UTMB 2005 Vincent Delebarre.jpg
Vincent Delebarre at Champex during the UTMB 2005

The race's popularity and its entry rate grew significantly since it was first held. The number of entrants doubled from 700 in 2003 to 1,400 in 2004. In 2005, the limit of 5,000 runners was reached 7 months after registration opened. In 2006, the organisers decided to create the CCC to allow more runners to take part. The registrations were sold out in only 2 weeks. In 2007, it was decided that runners must qualify, by running qualifying races beforehand and gaining points. That year the limit of 5,000 runners was reached less than 24 hours after registration opened. For the 2008 event, 6,000 runners registered in only 8 minutes, 5 months before the race. For the 2009 event, the qualifying criteria were tightened to limit the number of qualifying runners, and a draw was introduced to make entry fairer, giving an equal chance to all qualifiers, and making registration more orderly. Despite the stricter criteria, 10% of qualifying entrants were still denied a place, so the organisers raised entry standards still further for the 2010 event so that selection would be based more on capability and experience than luck of the draw.

The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants automatically receiving a 55% refund and given the option of reserving a spot for 2021, 2022, or 2023. [4]

UTMB World Series and UTMB World Series Final

Overview

On May 6, 2021, UTMB Group made a strategic alliance with famous Triathlon race operator IRONMAN Group, and launched a brand new series of Trail Running races: UTMB World Series, with Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc to be renamed as UTMB World Series Finals. The annual final competition of this series [2] replaced the Ultra Trail World Tour (UTWT).

As of 2022, the UTMB World Series will integrate four levels of events:

  • UTMB World Series Finals (Final race held in Chamonix, France, held in last week of each August)
  • UTMB World Series Majors (One major race from UTMB World Series Events for each continent, with double the number of Running Stones for finishers)
  • UTMB World Series Events (The only way for obtaining Running Stones for UTMB World Series Finals ballot)
  • UTMB World Series Qualifiers (Runners can obtain UTMB Index but not Running Stones)

From the Year 2023, access for qualification of UTMB World Series Finals will have substantial changes, with obtaining Running Stones as the sole way of lottery entry, replacing ITRA Points. To enter the lottery, they need to: [5]

  • Have at least one Running Stone acquired in the previous two years
  • Have a valid UTMB Index in the category corresponding to the Final.

A Running Stone provides one entry in the lottery to participate in the UTMB World Series Finals. Running Stones can be collected by finishing a 20K, 50K, 100K or 100M race of the UTMB World Series circuit. Running Stones are recorded on the runner’s account and each Running Stone improves the odds in the lottery. A valid UTMB Index is achieved by completing at least one UTMB World Series Major, Event, or Qualifier race in the relevant category within the previous 24 months.

List of events

Below is a list of 2022 and 2023 UTMB World Series events. [6]

DateEventLocation (start)CountryWebsite
2022 July 1Ultra-Trail Snowdonia Llanberis Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Website
2022 July 9Trail Verbier St Bernard Liddes Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Website
2022 September 16-17 Julian Alps Trail Run Upper Carniola: Radovljica; Žirovnica; Kranjska Gora Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia Website
2022 October 28 Puerto Vallarta México San Sebastián del Oeste, Jalisco Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Website
2022 November 4-6Kullamannen Båstad; Ängelholm; Mölle Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Website
2022 November 5Translantau 飛越大嶼 Mui Wo, Lantau Island Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong Website
2022 December 9-11Doi Inthanon Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai province Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Website
2022 December 15-16Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko Thredbo, New South Wales Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Website
2023 February 11 Tarawera Ultramarathon Rotorua Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Website
2023 February 17-19Amazean Jungle Thailand Betong, Yala province Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Website
2023 April 14-16Istria 100 Istria: Labin; Buzet; Motovun; Grožnjan Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Website
2023 April 14-16Ultra Trail Ninghai Ninghai, Ningbo Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Website
2023 April 28-29The Canyons Endurance Runs Auburn, California Flag of the United States.svg  United States Website
2023 May 5-6 Transvulcania La Palma Island La Palma Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Website
2023 May 12-13Ultra-Trail Snowdonia Llanberis Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Website
2023 May 12-14Valhöll Ultra Trail Calamuchita Valley: La Cumbrecita; Villa General Belgrano Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Website
2023 May 12-13Ultra-Trail Australia Katoomba, New South Wales Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Website
2023 May 19-21Trail Alsace Grand Est Grand Est: Colmar; Barr; Orschwiller Flag of France.svg  France Website
2023 May 26-27Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) Outeniqua Nature Reserve; George Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Website
2023 June 3Trail du Saint-Jacques Haute-Loire: Saugues; Monistrol-d'Allier; Saint-Privat-d'Allier; Solignac-sur-Loire Flag of France.svg  France Website
2023 June 17Mozart 100 Salzburg; Fuschl am See; St. Gilgen; Koppl Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Website
2023 June 22-24 Lavaredo Ultra Trail Cortina d'Ampezzo; San Vito di Cadore Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Website
2023 June 23-25Trail 100 Andorra Ordino Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra Website
2023 June 24Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run Olympic Valley, California Flag of the United States.svg  United States Website
2023 July 6-9Val d'Aran Val d'Aran: Salardú; Vielha; Les; Pla-de-Beret Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Website
2023 July 6-8 Restonica Trail Corte, Haute-Corse, Corsica Flag of France.svg  France Website
2023 July 7-9Trail Verbier St Bernard La Fouly; Verbier Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Website
2023 July 12, 15 Eiger Ultra-Trail Grindelwald Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Website
2023 July 21-22 Speedgoat Snowbird, Utah Flag of the United States.svg  United States Website
2023 August 3, 5KAT100 Fieberbrunn Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Website
2023 August 31-September 1UTMB Mont Blanc Chamonix Flag of France.svg  France Website
2023 September 15-17Wildstrubel Wildstrubel: Crans-Montana; Kandersteg; Adelboden Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Website
2023 September 22-23Paraty Trail Paraty Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Website
2023 September 29-October 1Nice Côte d'Azur Côte d'Azur: Auron; Roubion; Menton; Villefranche-sur-Mer Flag of France.svg  France Website
2023 October 7-8TransJeju [7] Jeju Island Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Website
2023 November 10-12Translantau 飛越大嶼 Mui Wo, Lantau Island Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong Website
2023 December 8-10Doi Inthanon Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai province Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Website

Ultra-Trail du Tour du Mont-Blanc

YearDistanceRunnersFinishersWinner MaleTimeWinner FemaleTimeNotes
2003153 km72267 Dachhiri Dawa Sherpa Flag of Nepal.svg 20:05:59 Kristin Moehl Flag of the United States.svg 29:38:24 2003 full results
2004155 km1383420 Vincent Delebarre Flag of France.svg 21:06:18 Colette Borcard Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 26:08:54 2004 full results
2005155 km2000773 Christophe Jaquerod Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 21:11:07 Elizabeth Hawker Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 26:53:51 2005 full results
2006158 km25351152 Marco Olmo Flag of Italy.svg 21:06:06 Karine Herry Flag of France.svg 25:22:20 2006 full results
2007163 km23191437 Marco Olmo Flag of Italy.svg 21:31:58 Nikki Kimball Flag of the United States.svg 25:23:45 2007 full results
2008166 km25001268 Kilian Jornet Flag of Spain.svg 20:56:59 Elizabeth Hawker Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 25:19:41 2008 full results
2009166 km25001383 Kilian Jornet Flag of Spain.svg 21:33:18 Kristin Moehl Flag of the United States.svg 24:56:01 2009 full results
2010 [lower-alpha 1] 88 km24001127 Jez Bragg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 10:30:37 [lower-alpha 1] Elizabeth Hawker Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 11:47:30 [lower-alpha 1] 2010 full results
2011170 km23611133 Kilian Jornet Flag of Spain.svg 20:36:43 Elizabeth Hawker Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 25:02:00 2011 full results
2012 [lower-alpha 1] 103 km24832122 François D'Haene Flag of France.svg 10:32:36 [lower-alpha 1] Elizabeth Hawker Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 12:32:13 [lower-alpha 1] 2012 full results
2013168 km24691686 Xavier Thevenard Flag of France.svg 20:34:57 Rory Bosio Flag of the United States.svg 22:37:26 2013 full results
2014167 km24341582 François D'Haene Flag of France.svg 20:11:44 Rory Bosio Flag of the United States.svg 23:23:20 2014 full results
2015170 km25611631 Xavier Thevenard Flag of France.svg 21:09:15 Nathalie Mauclair Flag of France.svg 25:15:33 2015 full results
2016170 km25551468 Ludovic Pommeret Flag of France.svg 22:00:02 Caroline Chaverot Flag of France.svg 25:15:40 2016 full results
2017 [lower-alpha 1] 167 km25371687 François D'Haene Flag of France.svg 19:01:54 [lower-alpha 1] Núria Picas Flag of Spain.svg 25:46:43 [lower-alpha 1] 2017 full results
2018170 km25611778 Xavier Thevenard Flag of France.svg 20:44:16 Francesca Canepa Flag of Italy.svg 26:03:48 2018 full results
2019170 km25431556Pau Capell Flag of Spain.svg 20:19:07 Courtney Dauwalter Flag of the United States.svg 24:34:26 2019 full results
2020cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic [4]
2021170 km23461521 François D'Haene Flag of France.svg 20:45:59 Courtney Dauwalter Flag of the United States.svg 22:30:54 2021 full results
2022170 km27951789 Kilian Jornet Flag of Spain.svg 19:49:30 Katie Schide Flag of the United States.svg 23:15:12 2022 full results
2023172 km26931757 Jim Walmsley Flag of the United States.svg 19:37:43 Courtney Dauwalter Flag of the United States.svg 23:29:14 2023 full results
2024176.4 km27611760 Vincent Bouillard Flag of France.svg 19:54:23 Katie Schide Flag of the United States.svg 22:09:31 2024 full results

Ultra-Trail Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix

YearDistanceRunnersFinishersWinner MaleTimeWinner FemaleTimeNotes
200686 km1054854 Alun Powell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 10:53:17 Corinne Favre Flag of France.svg 10:35:55 2006 full results
200786 km16091332 Julien Chorier Flag of France.svg 10:19:46 Andréa Zimmermann Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 12:28:05 2007 full results
200898 km20321318 Guillaume Le Normand Flag of France.svg 12:26:04 Lucy Colquhoun Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 14:33:37 2008 full results
200998 km18651266 Jean-Yves Rey Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 11:40:47 Chantal Begue Flag of France.svg 16:51:00 2009 full results
201098 km20041677 Xavier Thevenard Flag of France.svg 11:57:13 Maud Giraud Flag of France.svg 14:07:38 2010 full results
201198 km19071591 Emmanuel Gault Flag of France.svg 10:10:25 Virginie Govignon Flag of France.svg 12:47:11 2011 full results
2012 [lower-alpha 1] 86 km19131585 Tofol Castañer Bernat Flag of Spain.svg 08:57:04 [lower-alpha 1] Ellie Greenwood Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 11:17:24 [lower-alpha 1] 2012 full results
2013101 km19101320Jordi Bes Flag of Spain.svg 11:23:01 Caroline Chaverot Flag of France.svg 14:12:00 2013 full results
2014101 km19451423 Pau Bartolo Flag of Spain.svg 11:21:16 Anne Lise Rousett Flag of France.svg 14:28:48 2014 full results
2015101 km21271470 Zach Miller Flag of the United States.svg 11:53:32 Ruth Croft Flag of New Zealand.svg 12:54:53 2015 full results
2016101 km21231386 Michel Lanne Flag of France.svg 12:10:04 Mimmi Kotka Flag of Sweden.svg 13:42:46 2016 full results
201799 km21551742 Hayden Hawks Flag of the United States.svg 10:24:30 Clare Gallagher Flag of the United States.svg 12:13:57 2017 full results
2018101 km21471622 Thomas Evans Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 10:44:32 Miao Yao Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 11:57:46 2018 full results
2019101 km21321578 Luis Alberto Hernando Flag of Spain.svg 10:28:49 Ragna Debats Flag of the Netherlands.svg 12:10:33 2019 full results
2020cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic [4]
2021101 km20091578 Thibaut Garrivier Flag of France.svg 10:23:26 Marta Molist Codina Flag of Spain.svg 12:50:48 2021 full results
2022101 km17271341 Petter Engdahl Flag of Sweden.svg 09:53:02 Blandine L'Hirondel Flag of France.svg 11:40:55 2022 full results
2023101 km22281650 Jonathan Albon Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 10:14:25 Yngvild Kaspersen Flag of Norway.svg 11:51:22

Ultra-Trail Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie

YearDistanceRunnersFinishersWinner MaleTimeWinner FemaleTimeNotes
2009105 km632480 Patrick Bohard Flag of France.svg 14:01:48 Fernanda Maciel Flag of Brazil.svg 17:17:43 2009 full results
2010105 kmcancelled
2011110 km1180781 Franck Bussiere Flag of France.svg 15:51:37 Jolanda Linschooten Flag of the Netherlands.svg 20:57:32 2011 full results
2012114 km1464633 Dachhiri Dawa Sherpa Flag of Nepal.svg 14:37:07 Agnès Herve Flag of France.svg 19:07:00 2012 full results
2013119 km15281022 Arnau Julià Bonmatí Flag of Spain.svg 15:09:59 Nathalie Mauclair Flag of France.svg 17:36:41 2013 full results
2014119 km15881076 Xavier Thevenard Flag of France.svg 14:10:37 Teresa Nimes Perez Flag of Spain.svg 18:41:12 2014 full results
2015119 km18071214 Pau Bartolo Flag of Spain.svg 14:26:40 Andrea Huser Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 16:35:29 2015 full results
2016119 km17941060 Pau Capell Flag of Spain.svg 14:45:44 Delphine Avenier Flag of France.svg 18:46:24 2016 full results
2017119 km18181251 Michel Lanne Flag of France.svg 14:33:09 Mimmi Kotka Flag of Sweden.svg 15:47:07 2017 full results
2018121 km17991329 Marcin Świerc Flag of Poland.svg 13:24:00 Audrey Tanguy Flag of France.svg 16:05:22 2018 full results
2019145 km17851091 Pablo Villa Gonzalez Flag of Spain.svg 18:03:06 Audrey Tanguy Flag of France.svg 21:36:15 2019 full results
2020cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic [4]
2021145 km433212 Erik-Sebastian Krogvig Flag of Norway.svg 18:49:58 Manon Bohard Flag of France.svg 23:11:14 2021 full results
2022145 km17741072 Ludovic Pommeret Flag of France.svg 18:37:04 Martina Valmassoi Flag of Italy.svg 22:42:47 2022 full results
2023145 km1649998 Christian Meier Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 19:36:35 Maryline Nakache Flag of France.svg 23:37:57 2023 full results

Orsières-Champex-Chamonix

YearDistanceRunnersFinishersWinner MaleTimeWinner FemaleTimeNotes
201453 km12001109 Nicolas Martin Flag of France.svg 5:07:45 Sonia Glarey Flag of Italy.svg 6:37:40 2014 full results
201553 km14421317 Marc Pinsach Rubirola Flag of Spain.svg 5:21:38 Celia Chiron Flag of France.svg 6:41:53 2015 full results
201655 km14131232 Xavier Thevenard Flag of France.svg 5:28:37 Mercedes Arcos Zafras Flag of Spain.svg 6:54:13 2016 full results
201755 km15651468 Marc Lauenstein Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 5:19:34 Eli Gordon Rodriguez Flag of Spain.svg 6:12:16 2017 full results
201855 km15721478 Erenjia Jia Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 5:28:44 Ruth Croft Flag of New Zealand.svg 5:53:09 2018 full results
201955 km16051474 Stian Angermund-Vik Flag of Norway.svg 5:19:24 Ruth Croft Flag of New Zealand.svg 5:50:14 2019 full results
2020cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic [4]
202155 km14641359 Jonathan Albon Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 5:02:57 Blandine L'Hirondel Flag of France.svg 5:45:08 2021 full results
202255 km15111190 Manuel Merillas Flag of Spain.svg 5:18:29 Sheila Avilés Castaño Flag of Spain.svg 6:10:16 2022 full results
202355 km17291643 Stian Angermund Flag of Norway.svg 4:42:40 Toni McCann Flag of South Africa.svg 5:18:21 2023 full results

Results by nation

UTMB

UTMB Males
#Nation1st2nd3rdPodium
1 Flag of France.svg France105520
2 Flag of Spain.svg Spain56718
3 Flag of Italy.svg Italy2013
4 Flag of the United States.svg USA1449
5 Flag of Nepal.svg Nepal1203
6 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland1012
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1012
8 Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary0101
8 Flag of Germany.svg Germany0101
8 Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden0101
8 Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania0101
8 Flag of Romania.svg Romania0101
9 Flag of Japan.svg Japan0011
9 Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand0011
9 Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador0011
UTMB Females
#Nation1st2nd3rdPodium
1 Flag of the United States.svg USA90211
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom5106
3 Flag of France.svg France33915
4 Flag of Spain.svg Spain17513
5 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland1214
6 Flag of Italy.svg Italy1102
7 Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg0213
8 Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden0112
8 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada0112
9 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech0101
9 Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand0101

CCC

CCC Males
#Nation1st2nd3rdPodium
1 Flag of France.svg France67720
2 Flag of Spain.svg Spain3025
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom2114
4 Flag of the United States.svg USA2103
5 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland1001
5 Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden1001
6 Flag of Greece.svg Greece0123
7 Flag of Poland.svg Poland0101
7 Flag of Japan.svg Japan0101
7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada0101
7 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China0101
7 Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand0101
8 Flag of Italy.svg Italy0033
CCC Females
#Nation1st2nd3rdPodiums
1 Flag of France.svg France74516
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom2316
3 Flag of Spain.svg Spain1348
4 Flag of the United States.svg USA1326
5 Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden1102
6 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands1001
6 Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand1001
6 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland1001
6 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China1001
7 Flag of Italy.svg Italy0112
7 Flag of Nepal.svg Nepal0101
9 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic0011

TDS

TDS Males
#Nation1st2nd3rdPodiums
1 Flag of France.svg France57719
2 Flag of Spain.svg Spain4116
3 Flag of Nepal.svg Nepal1102
4 Flag of Poland.svg Poland1001
4 Flag of Norway.svg Norway1001
5 Flag of Russia.svg Russia0112
6 Flag of the United States.svg United States0101
6 Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador0101
7 Flag of Italy.svg Italy0022
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom0011
TDS Females
#Nation1st2nd3rdPodiums
1 Flag of France.svg France63413
2 Flag of Italy.svg Italy1326
3 Flag of Spain.svg Spain1315
4 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland1012
5 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands1001
5 Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil1001
5 Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden1001
6 Flag of the United States.svg United States0314
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom0101
8 Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary0022
9 Flag of Germany.svg Germany0011
Runners by night during the UTMB 2005 UTMB 2005 run by night.jpg
Runners by night during the UTMB 2005

Logistics

A check point on the UTMB 2005 UTMB 2005 check point.jpg
A check point on the UTMB 2005

Controversies

The expansion of the World Series through the UTMB Whistler race has caused controversy over allegations that it has forced out a locally organised race from Coast Mountain Trail Running. [8] The announcement by UTMB and Vail Resorts was met with public backlash and fears that UTMB is attempting to create a monopoly by taking over current community based races and turning them into a profit-centred event. [9] [10] [11] [12] UTMB later issued a response stating that the CMTR race organisers had stated they were leaving Whistler prior to the setup of the new UTMB race. [13]

In 2023, U.S. ultrarunner Corrinne Malcolm reported that she had been fired from her role as a UTMB commentator after four years, and claimed she had been told she was "too outspoken." [14] Malcolm, who is also a commentator for the Western States Endurance Run, had previously expressed criticism of UTMB partner Ironman.

In January 2024, elite trail runners Kilian Jornet and Zach Miller sparked further controversy in the ultra-running community when a private email they sent to fellow professional athletes was leaked. [15] The email suggested finding an alternative race to the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) for 2024, which some interpreted as a call for boycott. Following public backlash, Jornet clarified that their intention was not to organize a boycott but to raise awareness about concerns within the sport. [16] On January 23, 2024, Jornet and Miller met with UTMB Group representatives to discuss issues such as the rapid expansion of the UTMB World Series, sporting rules, and community engagement. [17] While the meeting was described as productive, with both parties expressing a desire for continued dialogue, it was notable that Kilian Jornet did not participate in the 2024 UTMB edition. [18]

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Skyline Scotland is a set of annual skyrunning races which take place on consecutive days in the mountains around Kinlochleven in Lochaber. The main races are the Mamores VK, the Ring of Steall Skyrace, the Ben Nevis Ultra and the Glen Coe Skyline.

Kieren D'Souza is an Indian ultramarathon runner and endurance athlete. In 2016, he became the first Indian to qualify for and finish the Spartathlon, a 246 kilometre footrace from Athens to Sparta held annually in Greece. Kieren, then aged 23, completed the race in 33 hours, 2 minutes and 25 seconds, standing 85th among 370 participants. Up to 2016, only 29 athletes under the age of 25 had completed the race that has been held annually since 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">François D'Haene</span> French trail runner

François D'Haene is a French elite athlete who specializes in ultra running and mountain running.

Speedgoat 50k is an international skyrunning competition held for the first time in 2008. It is run every year in Little Cottonwood Canyon in July and includes a marquee 50K race and typically one or more other distances/challenges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol Morgan</span> Irish ultrarunner

Carol Morgan is an Irish ultrarunner, who specialises in non-stop mountain ultramarathons 100 km and longer, often in challenging conditions with significant ascents / descents. Born in Dublin in 1973, where she trained as a nurse, she is an advanced practitioner in emergency medicine. Morgan holds the course record for endurance ultra event, the Kerry Way Ultra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtney Dauwalter</span> American ultramarathon runner

Courtney Dauwalter is an American ultramarathon runner and former teacher. Widely regarded as one of the world's best trailrunners, Dauwalter became in 2023 the first person ever to win Western States 100, Hardrock 100 and the UTMB in the same year.

Yuri Yoshizumi is a Japanese ultra runner and skyrunner. She won the Asian Vertical Kilometre Skyrunning Championship in 2016, placed second in the Vertical Kilometer World Circuit in 2019 and won a number of individual events including the 2019 Transvulcania Marathon and the Fuji Mountain Race in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Tom Evans is a British long-distance runner and a former British Army Captain. In 2020, he competed in the men's race at the 2020 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships held in Gdynia, Poland. In 2021, he underwent knee surgery, causing him to not participate in the UTMB. After his recovery, he finished third in his Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) 2022, and won the 2023 Western States Endurance Run.

The Golden Trail Series is a series of international trail races.

Adam Peterman is an American professional ultra-distance and marathon runner sponsored by Hoka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zach Miller (runner)</span> American ultramarathon runner

Zach Miller is a professional American ultramarathon runner.

References

  1. iRunFar: 2022 UTMB Men’s Preview.
  2. 1 2 UTMB. "UTMB GROUP AND THE IRONMAN GROUP PARTNER TO LAUNCH THE GROUND-BREAKING UTMB WORLD SERIES". utmbmontblanc.com. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  3. 1 2 UTMB. "UTMB Results Page". utmbmontblanc.com. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "UTMB Mag - UTMB Mont-Blanc: The announcement you have all been waiting for".
  5. UTMB. "UTMB CCC OCC REGISTRATION (2023 Edition)". utmbmontblanc.com. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  6. "UTMB World Series Events". UTMB World Series. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  7. "Tao Lu And Wenrong Zheng Take Top Spot At TransJeju 100k By UTMB World Series". 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  8. https://garyrobbinsrun.com/blog/2023/10/what-really-went-down-in-whistler
  9. https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/new-utmb-whistler-race-causes-uproar-in-trail-community/?fbclid=IwAR3PSg-wbySusYk2ERnQPO0TihdQxhHPM49c1rr7lV87ne1sjoYLlx_vJNU_aem_AY87JiLBG_iAp-cFurw3XDYO54QAC81M5R_H1BweuL6Thv80DA1D9IYSdZOToA2JXnA
  10. https://www.irunfar.com/whistler-alpine-meadows-ultra-trail-whistler-by-utmb-trail-race-conflict
  11. https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/local-sports/newly-announced-ultra-trail-whistler-race-met-with-heavy-local-backlash-7764939
  12. https://marathonhandbook.com/utmb-whistler/
  13. https://whistler.utmb.world/community-letter
  14. "UTMB fires livestream commentator Corrine Malcolm". December 2023.
  15. Francis, Anne (2024-01-20). "Should elites boycott UTMB in 2024?". Canadian Running Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  16. Land, Tomos (2024-01-25). "Kilian Jornet clarifies 'boycott' rumours after holding talks with UTMB Board". RUN247. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  17. Metzler, Brian (2024-01-24). "After Months of Tension, Kilian Jornet and UTMB Seem to Find Path Forward". Trail Runner Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  18. "Jim Walmsley eyes back-to-back UTMB victories with Jornet out". www.insidethegames.biz. 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 The races in 2010, 2012, and 2017 were shorter due to bad weather conditions (though only about 5km shorter in 2017).