Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc

Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc
Finish line in 2015
Date	end of August
Location	Chamonix, France
Event type	Ultramarathon trail run
Distance	174-kilometre (108 mi)
Established	2003
Course records	Men: 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.

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

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. 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.

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

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

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.

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 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:

• 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.

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	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

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	88 km	2400	1127	Jez Bragg	10:30:37	Elizabeth Hawker	11:47:30	2010 full results
2011	170 km	2361	1133	Kilian Jornet	20:36:43	Elizabeth Hawker	25:02:00	2011 full results
2012	103 km	2483	2122	François D'Haene	10:32:36	Elizabeth Hawker	12:32:13	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	167 km	2537	1687	François D'Haene	19:01:54	Núria Picas	25:46:43	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
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
2024	176.4 km	2761	1760	Vincent Bouillard	19:54:23	Katie Schide	22:09:31	2024 full results

Ultra-Trail Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix

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	86 km	1913	1585	Tofol Castañer Bernat	08:57:04	Ellie Greenwood	11:17:24	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
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

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
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

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
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

UTMB

UTMB Males

#	Nation	1st	2nd	3rd	Podium
1	France	10	5	5	20
2	Spain	5	6	7	18
3	Italy	2	0	1	3
4	USA	1	4	4	9
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
9	Ecuador	0	0	1	1

UTMB Females

#	Nation	1st	2nd	3rd	Podium
1	USA	9	0	2	11
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
8	Canada	0	1	1	2
9	Czech	0	1	0	1
9	New Zealand	0	1	0	1

CCC

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

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

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.
• 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.

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. 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. 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.

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." 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. 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. 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. 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.

External links

• Official web site - (main language: French, but also English, Spanish, Italian and German)
• Press kit on the official web site (PDF)
• UFO Les fous de l'UltraFOnd (French ultra runner web site)