Wikipedia

Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc

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]

Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc
Finish line in 2015
Dateend of August
LocationChamonix
Event typeUltramarathon trail run
Distance108-mile (174 km)
Established2003
Course recordsMen: Jim Walmsley 19:37:43 (2023)
Women: Courtney Dauwalter 22:30:54 (2021)
Official sitehttps://montblanc.utmb.world/

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]

The expansion of the World Series has caused controversy in the ultra community with their announcement of UTMB Whistler with Whistler Blackcomb owners Vail Resorts, which forced out the locally organised race from Coast Mountain Trail Running [1]. The announcement by UTMB and Vail was met with outrage by the North American trail community, it has been seen as a corporate takeover of the existing race that was built up by the local organiser Gary Robbins, with fears it is attempting to create a monopoly by taking over current community based races and turning them into a profit centred event which is not inline with the values of the community. [2] [3] [4] [5]


Description edit

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;

  • UTMB: Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (171 km +10,040 m)
  • CCC: Courmayeur - Champex - Chamonix (101 km +6,100 m)
  • TDS: Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie (145 km +9,100 m)
  • OCC: Orsières - Champex - Chamonix (56 km +3,460 m)
  • PTL: La Petite Trotte à Léon (approx. 300 km +30,000 m)
  • MCC: De Martigny-Combe à Chamonix (40 km +2,300 m)
  • YCC: Youth Chamonix Courmayeur (15 km +1,100 m)

Route edit

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

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

Participation and results edit

 
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 edit

Overview edit

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 edit

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

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

Ultra-Trail du Tour du Mont-Blanc edit

Year Distance Runners Finishers Winner Male Time Winner Female Time Notes
2003 153 km 722 67 Dachhiri Dawa Sherpa   20:05:59 Kristin Moehl   29:38:24 2003 full results
2004 155 km 1383 420 Vincent Delebarre   21:06:18 Colette Borcard   26:08:54 2004 full results
2005 155 km 2000 773 Christophe Jaquerod   21:11:07 Elizabeth Hawker   26:53:51 2005 full results
2006 158 km 2535 1152 Marco Olmo   21:06:06 Karine Herry   25:22:20 2006 full results
2007 163 km 2319 1437 Marco Olmo   21:31:58 Nikki Kimball   25:23:45 2007 full results
2008 166 km 2500 1268 Kilian Jornet   20:56:59 Elizabeth Hawker   25:19:41 2008 full results
2009 166 km 2500 1383 Kilian Jornet   21:33:18 Kristin Moehl   24:56:01 2009 full results
2010[a] 88 km 2400 1127 Jez Bragg   10:30:37[a] Elizabeth Hawker   11:47:30[a] 2010 full results
2011 170 km 2361 1133 Kilian Jornet   20:36:43 Elizabeth Hawker   25:02:00 2011 full results
2012[a] 103 km 2483 2122 François D'Haene   10:32:36[a] Elizabeth Hawker   12:32:13[a] 2012 full results
2013 168 km 2469 1686 Xavier Thevenard   20:34:57 Rory Bosio   22:37:26 2013 full results
2014 167 km 2434 1582 François D'Haene   20:11:44 Rory Bosio   23:23:20 2014 full results
2015 170 km 2561 1631 Xavier Thevenard   21:09:15 Nathalie Mauclair   25:15:33 2015 full results
2016 170 km 2555 1468 Ludovic Pommeret   22:00:02 Caroline Chaverot   25:15:40 2016 full results
2017[a] 167 km 2537 1687 François D'Haene   19:01:54[a] Núria Picas   25:46:43[a] 2017 full results
2018 170 km 2561 1778 Xavier Thevenard   20:44:16 Francesca Canepa   26:03:48 2018 full results
2019 170 km 2543 1556 Pau Capell   20:19:07 Courtney Dauwalter   24:34:26 2019 full results
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[4]
2021 170 km 2346 1521 François D'Haene   20:45:59 Courtney Dauwalter   22:30:54 2021 full results
2022 170 km 2795 1789 Kilian Jornet   19:49:30 Katie Schide   23:15:12 2022 full results
2023 172 km 2693 1757 Jim Walmsley   19:37:43 Courtney Dauwalter   23:29:14 2023 full results

Ultra-Trail Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix edit

Year Distance Runners Finishers Winner Male Time Winner Female Time Notes
2006 86 km 1054 854 Alun Powell   10:53:17 Corinne Favre   10:35:55 2006 full results
2007 86 km 1609 1332 Julien Chorier   10:19:46 Andréa Zimmermann   12:28:05 2007 full results
2008 98 km 2032 1318 Guillaume Le Normand   12:26:04 Lucy Colquhoun   14:33:37 2008 full results
2009 98 km 1865 1266 Jean-Yves Rey   11:40:47 Chantal Begue   16:51:00 2009 full results
2010 98 km 2004 1677 Xavier Thevenard   11:57:13 Maud Giraud   14:07:38 2010 full results
2011 98 km 1907 1591 Emmanuel Gault   10:10:25 Virginie Govignon   12:47:11 2011 full results
2012[a] 86 km 1913 1585 Tofol Castañer Bernat   08:57:04[a] Ellie Greenwood   11:17:24[a] 2012 full results
2013 101 km 1910 1320 Jordi Bes   11:23:01 Caroline Chaverot   14:12:00 2013 full results
2014 101 km 1945 1423 Pau Bartolo   11:21:16 Anne Lise Rousett   14:28:48 2014 full results
2015 101 km 2127 1470 Zach Miller   11:53:32 Ruth Croft   12:54:53 2015 full results
2016 101 km 2123 1386 Michel Lanne   12:10:04 Mimmi Kotka   13:42:46 2016 full results
2017 99 km 2155 1742 Hayden Hawks   10:24:30 Clare Gallagher   12:13:57 2017 full results
2018 101 km 2147 1622 Thomas Evans   10:44:32 Miao Yao   11:57:46 2018 full results
2019 101 km 2132 1578 Luis Alberto Hernando   10:28:49 Ragna Debats   12:10:33 2019 full results
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[4]
2021 101 km 2009 1578 Thibaut Garrivier   10:23:26 Marta Molist Codina   12:50:48 2021 full results
2022 101 km 1727 1341 Petter Engdahl   09:53:02 Blandine L'Hirondel   11:40:55 2022 full results
2023 101 km 2228 1650 Jonathan Albon   10:14:25 Yngvild Kaspersen   11:51:22

Ultra-Trail Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie edit

Year Distance Runners Finishers Winner Male Time Winner Female Time Notes
2009 105 km 632 480 Patrick Bohard   14:01:48 Fernanda Maciel   17:17:43 2009 full results
2010 105 km cancelled
2011 110 km 1180 781 Franck Bussiere   15:51:37 Jolanda Linschooten   20:57:32 2011 full results
2012 114 km 1464 633 Dachhiri Dawa Sherpa   14:37:07 Agnès Herve   19:07:00 2012 full results
2013 119 km 1528 1022 Arnau Julià Bonmatí   15:09:59 Nathalie Mauclair   17:36:41 2013 full results
2014 119 km 1588 1076 Xavier Thevenard   14:10:37 Teresa Nimes Perez   18:41:12 2014 full results
2015 119 km 1807 1214 Pau Bartolo   14:26:40 Andrea Huser   16:35:29 2015 full results
2016 119 km 1794 1060 Pau Capell   14:45:44 Delphine Avenier   18:46:24 2016 full results
2017 119 km 1818 1251 Michel Lanne   14:33:09 Mimmi Kotka   15:47:07 2017 full results
2018 121 km 1799 1329 Marcin Świerc   13:24:00 Audrey Tanguy   16:05:22 2018 full results
2019 145 km 1785 1091 Pablo Villa Gonzalez   18:03:06 Audrey Tanguy   21:36:15 2019 full results
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[4]
2021 145 km 433 212 Erik-Sebastian Krogvig   18:49:58 Manon Bohard   23:11:14 2021 full results
2022 145 km 1774 1072 Ludovic Pommeret   18:37:04 Martina Valmassoi   22:42:47 2022 full results
2023 145 km 1649 998 Christian Meier   19:36:35 Maryline Nakache   23:37:57 2023 full results

Orsières-Champex-Chamonix edit

Year Distance Runners Finishers Winner Male Time Winner Female Time Notes
2014 53 km 1200 1109 Nicolas Martin   5:07:45 Sonia Glarey   6:37:40 2014 full results
2015 53 km 1442 1317 Marc Pinsach Rubirola   5:21:38 Celia Chiron   6:41:53 2015 full results
2016 55 km 1413 1232 Xavier Thevenard   5:28:37 Mercedes Arcos Zafras   6:54:13 2016 full results
2017 55 km 1565 1468 Marc Lauenstein   5:19:34 Eli Gordon Rodriguez   6:12:16 2017 full results
2018 55 km 1572 1478 Erenjia Jia   5:28:44 Ruth Croft   5:53:09 2018 full results
2019 55 km 1605 1474 Stian Angermund-Vik   5:19:24 Ruth Croft   5:50:14 2019 full results
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[4]
2021 55 km 1464 1359 Jonathan Albon   5:02:57 Blandine L'Hirondel   5:45:08 2021 full results
2022 55 km 1511 1190 Manuel Merillas   5:18:29 Sheila Avilés Castaño   6:10:16 2022 full results
2023 55 km 1729 1643 Stian Angermund   4:42:40 Toni McCann   5:18:21 2023 full results

Results by nation edit

UTMB edit

UTMB Males
# Nation 1st 2nd 3rd Podium
1   France 9 4 5 18
2   Spain 5 6 7 18
3   Italy 2 0 1 3
4   USA 1 4 4 7
5   Nepal 1 2 0 3
6   Switzerland 1 0 1 2
6   United Kingdom 1 0 1 2
8   Hungary 0 1 0 1
8   Germany 0 1 0 1
8   Sweden 0 1 0 1
8   Lithuania 0 1 0 1
8   Romania 0 1 0 1
9   Japan 0 0 1 1
9   New Zealand 0 0 1 1
UTMB Females
# Nation 1st 2nd 3rd Podium
1   USA 8 0 2 10
2   United Kingdom 5 1 0 6
3   France 3 3 9 15
4   Spain 1 7 5 13
5   Switzerland 1 2 1 4
6   Italy 1 1 0 2
7   Luxembourg 0 2 1 3
8   Sweden 0 1 1 2
9   Czech 0 1 0 1
9   Canada 0 1 0 1

CCC edit

CCC Males
# Nation 1st 2nd 3rd Podium
1   France 6 7 7 20
2   Spain 3 0 2 5
3   United Kingdom 2 1 1 4
4   USA 2 1 0 3
5   Switzerland 1 0 0 1
5   Sweden 1 0 0 1
6   Greece 0 1 2 3
7   Poland 0 1 0 1
7   Japan 0 1 0 1
7   Canada 0 1 0 1
7   China 0 1 0 1
7   New Zealand 0 1 0 1
8   Italy 0 0 3 3
CCC Females
# Nation 1st 2nd 3rd Podiums
1   France 7 4 5 16
2   United Kingdom 2 3 1 6
3   Spain 1 3 4 8
4   USA 1 3 2 6
5   Sweden 1 1 0 2
6   Netherlands 1 0 0 1
6   New Zealand 1 0 0 1
6   Switzerland 1 0 0 1
6   China 1 0 0 1
7   Italy 0 1 1 2
7   Nepal 0 1 0 1
9   Czech Republic 0 0 1 1

TDS edit

TDS Males
# Nation 1st 2nd 3rd Podiums
1   France 5 7 7 19
2   Spain 4 1 1 6
3   Nepal 1 1 0 2
4   Poland 1 0 0 1
4   Norway 1 0 0 1
5   Russia 0 1 1 2
6   United States 0 1 0 1
6   Ecuador 0 1 0 1
7   Italy 0 0 2 2
8   United Kingdom 0 0 1 1
TDS Females
# Nation 1st 2nd 3rd Podiums
1   France 6 3 4 13
2   Italy 1 3 2 6
3   Spain 1 3 1 5
4   Switzerland 1 0 1 2
5   Netherlands 1 0 0 1
5   Brazil 1 0 0 1
5   Sweden 1 0 0 1
6   United States 0 3 1 4
7   United Kingdom 0 1 0 1
8   Hungary 0 0 2 2
9   Germany 0 0 1 1
 
Runners by night during the UTMB 2005

Logistics edit

 
A check point on the UTMB 2005
  • 15000 volunteers were involved in 2015.
  • North Face Ltd was the main sponsor from 2006 to 2014. Columbia was the main sponsor from 2015 to 2021. HOKA is the current main sponsor of both the UTMB and the UTMB World Series.
  • Kuala4k is the secondary environmental sponsor since 2014
  • Runners must carry a minimum of equipment for safety reasons. This includes a waterproof jacket, warm clothing, food and water, whistle, mobile telephone, survival blanket and two head lamps.[citation needed]
  • There are food and drink points along the route, every 10 to 15 km. In addition, four big "life bases" provide hot meals, beds and massages: Chamonix (France), Les Chapieux (France), Courmayeur (Italy) and Champex (Switzerland).
  • At Courmayeur for UTMB and at Cormet de Roselend for TDS, runners can collect a drop bag they previously left at Chamonix or at Courmayeur.
  • Runners' race numbers contain a magnetic badge that is read at approximately 50 check points. Timings and rankings are available online and by text message in real-time.
  • It is conducted under the regulations of the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), the governing body for trail races in the Mont Blanc and Alpine region.
  • PTL is a mostly self-supported run without course markings or aid stations. Runners rely on a limited number of support points, mountain huts, local stores and restaurants for food and sleep. The course should be followed by GPS, maps, and the road book. It goes as high as 3300 meters (11,000 feet) and must be completed in about 6 days. Each team of two or three people carries a satellite beacon for safety. The course is modified every year and there are no official winners.

References edit

  1. ^ iRunFar: 2022 UTMB Men’s Preview.
  2. ^ a b UTMB. "UTMB GROUP AND THE IRONMAN GROUP PARTNER TO LAUNCH THE GROUND-BREAKING UTMB WORLD SERIES". utmbmontblanc.com. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  3. ^ a b UTMB. "UTMB Results Page". utmbmontblanc.com. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  4. ^ a b c d e "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.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l The races in 2010, 2012, and 2017 were shorter due to bad weather conditions (though only about 5km shorter in 2017).

External links edit

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