Any other travel across the solar is whole, and UTMB is again! At 6 p.m. native time (CEST) on August 30, 2024, some 2,500 hopefuls will start their circuit of Mont Blanc from Chamonix, France. They are going to have 46.5 hours to make it again to Chamonix, however some will want not up to part that. Beneath, we have now detailed who will perhaps be the quickest males taking at the giant loop.
Returning champion Jim Walmsley (U.S.) is tricky to argue towards as the favourite. It took him a couple of years to crack UTMB, but if he did, he did so in impressive style, profitable ultimate 12 months’s race in a course-record time of nineteen:37. Additionally in competition are fresh podium finishers Mathieu Blanchard (France), Germain Grangier (France), and Tom Evans (U.Okay.). Each and every of those males can be hoping to climb a step or two upper at the podium this 12 months. Additionally within the combine is fresh Hardrock 100 winner Ludovic Pommeret (France).
For many who are new right here, UTMB kind of follows the long-lasting Excursion de Mont Blanc path — a 176-kilometer (greater than 109-mile) loop overlaying just about 10,000 meters (32,700 toes) of elevation achieve and taking in 3 international locations — France, Italy, and Switzerland. It’s noticed through many as the top tournament in path working, a bucket checklist race for leisure ultrarunners, and without equal showdown for elites.
A distinct because of HOKA for making our protection of UTMB conceivable!
Music in to our UTMB reside race protection beginning at 6 p.m. CEST (10 a.m. MDT within the U.S.) on Friday, August 30, appropriate right here on iRunFar. Keep tuned!
Additionally, make certain to take a look at our preview of the 2024 UTMB girls’s race, which publishes the next day to come!
The beginning of the 2022 UTMB. Photograph: iRunFar/Kirsten Kortebein
2024 UTMB Males’s Favorites for the Win
Jim Walmsley
Ultrarunning enthusiasts all over the place will satisfaction at seeing reigning UTMB males’s champion Jim Walmsley again at the get started checklist for 2024. Having lately gained the 2024 Western States 100, his fourth win on the respected 100 miler the place he holds the path listing, the American seems like a robust contender to be the primary guy in 13 years to win each Western States and UTMB in a single season. From what we will inform, Walmsley has gained virtually each and every extremely he’s began since 2021, with the one exception being the 2022 UTMB, the place he positioned fourth and the 2021 UTMB, which he didn’t end. Having spent two years dwelling in France to specify his coaching for the UTMB path, we predict it’s extremely most probably he may double down on ultimate 12 months’s win and convey every other showstopper.
Frenchman Mathieu Blanchard placed on a impressive show on the 2022 UTMB when he challenged Kilian Jornet to a duel, in the end hanging moment after working neck-and-neck till past due within the race. His 2023 season — despite the fact that cast, with a sixth-place end at Western States 100 and fourth at UTMB — didn’t moderately reside as much as the expectancies set through that 2022 UTMB run. He has, alternatively, been working neatly in 2024, with a win on the 94k Maxi-Race Annecy in June. If he can reflect a few of what we noticed in 2022, he gained’t be a long way off the entrance.
Germain Grangier
France’s Germain Grangier outdid himself on the 2023 UTMB, the place he positioned 0.33, making use of force to height two — Jim Walmsley and Zach Miller — the entire technique to the end. He did that when an outstanding win on the 2023 Mont Blanc Marathon 90k. Grangier additionally positioned 5th and 9th, respectively, on the 2021 and 2019 UTMB races and has proven himself to be on an upward curve.
Having positioned 0.33 on the 2022 UTMB, whilst nonetheless making his comeback following knee surgical procedure, and happening to win the 2023 Western States 100, the U.Okay.’s Tom Evans was once one of the vital favorites to win the 2023 UTMB. It wasn’t to be, despite the fact that, and he was once pressured to withdraw on the midway mark with abdomen problems. Evans, who gained CCC in 2018, has been polishing up this 12 months through racing go nation at house in England. So far in 2024, he’s positioned 0.33 within the Transvulcania Ultramarathon and moment on the Lavaredo Extremely Path.
Hannes Namberger
Germany’s Hannes Namberger has had two top-10 finishes at UTMB — 6th in 2021 and 8th in 2023 — with a DNF sandwiched within the center. He had a couple of below-par races in 2023 jumbled together with a win on the Eiger Extremely Path 100k, and has proven himself to be again on shape this 12 months — logging his 0.33 win at Lavaredo, forward of Tom Evans, and only a minute over his 2022 path listing. He additionally gained the 2021 Madeira Island Extremely-Path.
Frenchman Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz has been crushing 100 milers during the last few years and must be within the tussle for a podium spot at this 12 months’s UTMB. Whilst he didn’t end the 2022 UTMB, he positioned moment in 2021, having gained that 12 months’s Transgrancanaria, after which gained each Hardrock 100 and Diagonale des Fous in an excellent 2023 season. His best possible run this 12 months up to now was once 0.33 on the 94k Maxi-Race Annecy, in the back of Mathieu Blanchard and Thibaut Garrivier, and he completed twelfth on the Mont Blanc 90k, however previous performances would counsel he’s higher fitted to the 100-mile distance.
Ludovic Pommeret
Ludovic Pommeret of France dazzled on the 2024 Hardrock 100, the place he gained through greater than 3 hours, surroundings an total males’s path listing. It was once his first time racing the path, however his fourth time working on it, as he paced compatriot Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz to victory within the 2023 tournament and ran the path two times forward of race day. The 49-year-old Pommeret has a intensity of enjoy at the UTMB path with 3 top-10 finishes, together with 5th ultimate 12 months and a win in 2016. He additionally gained the 2022 TDS, the 2021 Diagonale des Fous, and positioned 6th on the 2022 Western States 100. It’s a decent turnaround from Hardrock to UTMB, however assuming he’s sufficiently recovered, he must be in competition for a height spot.
The 2023 UTMB males’s podium (left-to-right): 2. Zach Miller, 1. Jim Walmsley, 3. Germain Grangier. Photograph: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Different Most sensible Males on the 2024 UTMB
Dmitry Mityaev
Dmitry Mityaev has been working neatly in ultras for a lot of years and appears to be on an upward trajectory in recent times. He gained the 2024 Mont Blanc 90k, up from fourth in 2023, and taking 19 mins off his time. In one in all path working’s aww moments, he shared the celebrations along with his spouse, Ekaterina Mityaeva, who gained the ladies’s race. Additionally in 2024, Mityaev positioned moment at Transvulcania. He gained the 2023 Extremely-Path Cape The town 100k, having shared the win with Hannes Namberger on the 2022 tournament. In 2021, he positioned moment on the Madeira Island Extremely-Path (MIUT). He additionally positioned moment in TDS in 2019 however failed to complete UTMB on his first strive in 2021.
France’s Thibaut Garrivier positioned 6th within the 2023 UTMB after a robust fourth-place end on the 2023 Path International Championships Lengthy Path and a win at MIUT 85k. His shape has been cast this 12 months, with a second-place end in the back of Mathieu Blanchard at Maxi-Race Annecy and a fifth-place end at Lavaredo, and he must be in competition for every other top-10 hanging at UTMB this 12 months.
Drew Holmen
Apparently that Drew Holmen of the U.S. has handiest carried out two 100 milers to this point, however he’s made them rely, completing 0.33 and 5th within the 2021 and 2022 Western States 100, respectively. In 2023, he gained the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile and took 5th in each CCC and the Path International Championships Lengthy Path within the Austrian Alps. All that implies a extra mountainous 100 miler gained’t be an issue for him, and he may simply run right into a top-10 spot or higher.
Thibaut Baronian makes his 100-mile debut on the 2024 UTMB, however the Frenchman can’t be discounted because of this. He comes with years of enjoy competing on the easiest degree over shorter distances and positioned 0.33 within the 2021 CCC, which was once his first 100k. Previous to that, he positioned moment on the 2017 OCC and 0.33 in 2016. He additionally positioned fourth within the 2023 Path International Championships Brief Path. Extra lately, he took moment within the 2024 Mont Blanc 90k.
Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon
Frenchman Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon took 9th on the 2023 UTMB, working simply 4 mins faster than his seventh-place end in 2022 — albeit on a reasonably altered path. His UTMB-specific resume additionally features a ninth-place end in CCC in 2018, and 0.33 in TDS in 2021. Arguably, the most efficient runs of his occupation were at those occasions. Thus far this 12 months, he’s positioned 9th at Lavaredo among a aggressive box, and he must be in with a just right shot at every other UTMB top-10 hanging.
Jia-Sheng Shen of China is one in all ultrarunning’s emerging stars. He earned a reputation for himself through profitable the Hong Kong 100k in 2019 on the gentle age of 23. Since then, he’s gained over a spread of distances at house in China, together with The North Face 100 Problem Moganshan 100k in 2021. He’s had two top-10 finishes on the Western States 100 — fourth in 2023 and 8th in 2024. Final 12 months, he took moment at CCC, handiest shedding touch with the winner at the ultimate climb. His shape means that stepping as much as the whole loop can be no bother to him, and he must be a contender for a top hanging.
Miguel Heras
Miguel Heras took moment in a height box on the 2024 Transgrancanaria, not up to a part hour slower than his profitable time from the similar race 14 years prior (despite the fact that the path has modified time and again), and in more difficult prerequisites. The 49-year-old Spaniard has a intensity of enjoy in extremely racing. He has a tendency to choose racing at house in Spain and has gained the celebrated Extremely Pirineu 100k two times — in 2016 and 2022 — and podiumed there in 2015 and 2023 additionally. Out of doors of Spain, wins come with the 2016 Les Templiers 80k. He positioned moment in UTMB again in 2013, and because that has failed to complete on two additional makes an attempt — in 2017 and 2023.
Jonas Russi of Switzerland took 8th within the 2022 UTMB however failed to complete upon go back the next 12 months. The 2023 Lavaredo winner DNFed the Path Alsace Grand Est 100 Mile in Would possibly of this 12 months, which he put right down to an damage sustained in coaching. He should have shaken it off temporarily sufficient, as he was once again the next month with a robust fourth-place run at Lavaredo and was once no longer a long way off his profitable time from 2023. If his good fortune is in, he may well be within the combine for every other top-ten end at UTMB.
Beñat Marmissolle
France’s Beñat Marmissolle took 6th on the 2022 UTMB and went directly to position moment in the back of Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz on the 2023 Hardrock 100. Whilst he’s raced a spread of distances, his best possible effects appear to be at occasions over 100 miles, with a win on the 2022 Diagonale des Fous and a third-place end there in 2021. On the other hand, he’s had a rocky 12 months up to now in 2024. Following a DNF at MIUT, he withdrew his title from Lavaredo, mentioning excessive fatigue. It is still noticed if he’ll toe the road at UTMB, however we’re crossing our hands for him to go back to complete well being.
Final 12 months’s TDS winner, Canada’s Christian Meier, makes his 100-mile debut on the 2024 UTMB. The technical 145k TDS seems to be his longest day trip to this point, however he has a number of enjoy on the 100k distance and must be neatly able to degree up. Among his best possible effects are fourth within the 2022 Doi Inthanon 100k and a win on the 2023 Path Andorra 50k.
Baptiste Chassagne of France has been within the height 10 at a UTMB Mont Blanc pageant race for each and every of the ultimate 5 editions. In 2018, he took fourth at MCC, adopted through 6th in OCC the next 12 months. In 2021 and 2022, he stepped as much as CCC, hanging 9th and tenth respectively. The 2023 UTMB was once his first strive at 100 miles, and he once more positioned tenth. It’s exhausting to wager towards him for every other top-10 end this 12 months.
Joaquin Lopez of Ecuador has baggage of shape at UTMB races and seems like a robust longing for a top-10 spot. He simply ignored out on one ultimate 12 months, coming eleventh. Place-wise, this was once again from 6th in 2019, however an hour quicker than his earlier time whilst on an extended path and in a extra aggressive box. He’s additionally positioned moment within the 2022 TDS, the place he was once tenth again in 2016. Extra lately, he took 0.33 within the Path Andorra 105k.
China’s Ji Duo positioned 14th on the 2023 UTMB and went directly to win that 12 months’s Doi Inthanon 100 Mile through virtually an hour and a part — and just about two hours transparent of giant names like Beñat Marmissolle of France and Robert Hajnal of Romania, who he’ll be lining up along once more for the 2024 UTMB. Thus far this 12 months, he’s gained on the Mount Yun 100k in China, and positioned twelfth on the Western States 100, a path that’s arguably a little bit too runnable for his talent set.
Scott Hawker
New Zealand’s Scott Hawker has had one of the vital best possible runs of his occupation at UTMB occasions, hanging fifteenth in ultimate 12 months’s UTMB and 0.33 in 2019. He additionally took moment position within the 2021 CCC. Different height effects come with moment on the 2022 Extremely-Path Australia 100k.
Italy’s Daniel Jung has shape in giant mountain 100 milers, having positioned fourth within the 2022 Hardrock 100 and gained the 2021 Diagonale des Fous. He hasn’t raced UTMB ahead of, however he did come 6th within the 2017 TDS. He additionally positioned 0.33 within the 2022 Lavaredo, and this 12 months gained the Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100k and the KAT 100 83k.
Miguel Arsénio
Miguel Arsénio has had a stack of wins at house in Portugal and a couple of standout world effects, too. Those come with a second-place end on the 2023 Transgrancanaria, a win on the 2023 Maxi-Race Annecy, and every other on the 2023 Extremely Pirineu 100k. Extra lately, he gained the Swiss Canyon Path 110k in June of this 12 months in course-record time.
Switzerland’s Jean-Philippe Tschumi failed to complete the 2023 UTMB however bounced again to take 0.33 in Diagonale des Fous the next month — a race he positioned moment in 2022. His height effects come with profitable the Eiger Extremely Path 100k in 2019 and the 50k on the similar tournament in 2021. He additionally has two consecutive third-place finishes at MIUT in 2021 and 2022. Whilst he’s most certainly not going to threaten the rostrum at UTMB, he can be a top-10 contender.
Pablo Villa
Spain’s Pablo Villa didn’t end on his ultimate day trip at UTMB in 2021, however he gained the 2019 TDS after two DNFs on that path, so a robust comeback is conceivable. He has a background in Skyrunning and gained Transgrancanaria in 2020 and 2022. He has been making ready in a coaching camp at altitude in Spain’s Sierra Nevada and appears able to move all in in this 12 months’s UTMB.
Tom Joly of the U.Okay. had a robust 12 months in 2023. He positioned 0.33 within the Transgrancanaria 85k, completed eleventh in Path International Championships Lengthy Path, gained the Extremely Sierra Nevada 59k, took sixteenth at UTMB, and adopted that up through profitable the Translantau 129k through greater than an hour. Thus far this 12 months, he’s had a unprecedented DNF at Transgrancanaria however proven just right shape in some shorter races. He’s going to perhaps be having a look to fortify on ultimate 12 months’s place at UTMB.
Raul Butaci of Romania positioned 18th on the 2023 UTMB, however his different effects counsel he’s succesful of a better hanging. He gained Transgrancanaria in 2024, up from fourth in 2023, and likewise positioned 8th within the 2022 CCC. Whilst he’s been racing ultras for a couple of years now, the 2023 UTMB was once his first step as much as the 100-mile distance, and he’ll most probably be supplied to construct on that have on this 12 months’s race.
Yan-Qiao Yun of China completed simply within the height 20 — in nineteenth position — finally 12 months’s UTMB. He’s gained the Hong Kong 100k two times — in 2013 and 2017 — and positioned 5th in 2012. He additionally positioned 6th and tenth, respectively, within the 2019 and 2018 TDS. He had a few robust leads to the later a part of 2023, together with a win on the China100 Mountain Go-Nation Race 100k and a second-place on the Translantau 129k. He must be in with a just right shot at every other top-20 hanging.
Seb Spehler
Frenchman Sébastien Spehler has a long resume over a spread of distances however is slightly new to 100 miles. He failed to complete his first strive on the distance — the 2022 Western States 100 — however were given it appropriate subsequent time, profitable the 2024 Path Alsace Grand Est 100 Mile through just about an hour. Previous to that, achievements come with wins on the 2017 and 2018 Les Templiers, the place he additionally took moment in 2021 and 2022. At the different aspect of the pond, he was once moment within the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile in 2019, and gained The North Face Staying power Problem 50 Mile that very same 12 months.
Ben Dhiman, an American who lives in France, suffered unhappiness within the type of a DNF finally 12 months’s UTMB, however seems to be construction neatly towards a greater result this 12 months. He bounced again from defeat to take 0.33 on the 2023 Les Templiers, gained this 12 months’s MIUT, and positioned moment on the Path Andorra 100k. His present coaching flooring at altitude within the Pyrenees must assist him to duplicate the type of shape that noticed him win the 2023 Penyagolosa Trails 100k and the 2023 Path Andorra 100k. He additionally took 0.33 within the 2022 Diagonale des Fous, appearing a robust outcome over 100 miles is definitely inside his scope.
China’s Jia-Ju Zhao is hoping it’s 0.33 time fortunate at the UTMB path. He completed eleventh in CCC again in 2019, however failed to complete both of his UTMB begins in 2022 and 2023. He has robust shape somewhere else over the 100-mile distance, having gained the 2022 Doi Inthanon 100 Mile, and positioned moment within the 2020 Panda Path 100 Mile. Extra lately, he gained the 2024 Chongli 100 Mile in China, and if he can keep away from no matter pitfalls took him out at the ultimate two events, this may well be his 12 months at UTMB.
Frenchman Yannick Noël took 0.33 at this 12 months’s Lavaredo. If the UTMB Efficiency Index may also be handled as a cheap relative metric, this was once the most efficient run of his lifestyles. He additionally took 0.33 within the 2023 TDS — up from twelfth in 2019 — and positioned eleventh within the 2021 UTMB. His bettering shape since then would no doubt counsel he may well be upper up the placings.
Josh Wade has been making waves at house within the U.Okay. the previous few years, profitable Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100 Mile in 2023 through a large margin and taking fourth within the 50k on the similar tournament this 12 months. He failed to complete finally 12 months’s UTMB, however bounced again to take 8th on the 2024 Transgrancanaria. He’s additionally made it 9th within the 2022 Transvulcania and 0.33 within the 2023 Eiger Extremely Path 100k. He’s most certainly a robust top-20 candidate going into this 12 months’s UTMB.
Robert Hajnal
Romania’s Robert Hajnal has had shape at UTMB previously, hanging 9th in 2022 and moment in 2018 — one of the vital worst climate years for the development in fresh reminiscence. He additionally took 8th position at CCC in 2015. He failed to complete ultimate 12 months’s UTMB, and ran an off-the-boil Western States 100 in 2024, the place he completed twenty fourth. On the other hand, in between the ones, he ran a super race to complete fourth on the 2023 Doi Inthanon 100 Mile and lately gained the Bucovina Extremely Rocks 88k at house in Romania.
Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz runs at midnight all through the 2021 UTMB. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Nonetheless Extra Rapid Males on the 2024 UTMB
- Manuel Anguita (Spain) – fifth 2024 Mont Blanc 90k; seventh 2024 Transvulcania; 1st 2024 Tenerife Bluetrail 109k
- Pere Aurell (Spain) – tenth 2021 CCC; third 2022 & 2d 2021 Transgrancanaria
- Jhon Barrera (Colombia) — seventeenth 2022 UTMB; third 2023 Kodiak Extremely Marathons 100 Mile; fifteenth 2024 MIUT 115k
- Alexandre Boucheix (France) — twenty first 2023 & 18th 2022 UTMB; 1st 2022 Kullamannen 100 Mile
- Pau Capell (Spain) – 1st 2019 & sixth 2017 UTMB; third 2018 & sixth 2015 CCC; 1st 2016 TDS
- Sylvain Court docket (France) — 1st 2024 Path du Saint-Jacques 130k; 2d 2023 Staying power Path des Templiers 100k
- Gregoire Curmer (France) — seventh 2021 UTMB; thirteenth 2023 TDS; 2d 2023 Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100 Mile
- Guillaume Deneffe (Belgium) — fifteenth 2022 UTMB; 2d 2022 Kullamannen 100 Mile; 4th Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100 Mile
- Guo-Min Deng (China) – 1st 2024 Mt Fuji 100 Mile; 14th 2024 Western States 100; 1st 2024 Chongli 51k; twentieth 2022 UTMB
- Jordi Gamito (Spain) — tenth 2017 & twelfth 2015; fifth 2016 TDS; 2d 2024 Tenerife Bluetrail 110k
- Gediminas Grinius (Lithuania) – 1st 2024 Amazean Jungle Thailand 147k; 2d 2023 Doi Inthanon 175k
- Remigio Huaman (Peru) — twelfth 2022 CCC; third 2022 MIUT
- Sebastian Krogvig (Norway) – seventh 2024 MIUT; 1st 2021 TDS; third 2021 & 2017 Lavaredo
- Cody Lind (U.S.) — sixteenth 2023, ninth 2022, & 4th 2021 Western States 100; fifteenth 2024 Canyons 100k
- Ionel Manole (Romania) — third 2024 Transgrancanaria; fifth 2024 Transvulcania; 4th Val d’Aran 50k
- Mike McMonagle (U.S.) — 1st 2023 Grindstone 100 Mile; third 2024 Swiss Alps 100 50k
- Jeff Mogavero (U.S.) — sixteenth 2022 UTMB; third 2021 & 2019 Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile; seventh 2023 Transvulcania
- Sergio Gustavo Pereyra (Argentina) – twentieth 2023 UTMB; nineteenth 2022 CCC; eighth 2021 Patagonia Run 100 Mile
- Gabriel Rueda (Argentina) – thirteenth 2023 UTMB; 1st 2024 Valhöll Argentina 125k; 1st 2024 Val d’Aran 65k
- Andy Symonds (U.Okay.) — eleventh 2022 UTMB; sixth 2024 Eiger Extremely Path 100k
- Tim Tollefson (U.S.) – third 2017 & 2016 UTMB; fifth 2021 Western States 100; 1st 2020 Javelina 100 Mile; 1st 2019 Lavaredo
- Canyon Woodward (U.S.) — twenty eighth 2023 & forty fifth 2022 UTMB; 1st 2024 Canyons 100 Mile
Pau Capell wins UTMB in 2019. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Males Prior to now Entered However No Longer Racing the 2024 UTMB
- Jon Albon (U.Okay., dwelling in Norway) – 1st 2021 OCC; 1st 2023 & 2d 2022 CCC; sixth 2024 Western States 100; 1st 2021 Les Templiers
- Tyler Inexperienced (U.S.) – seventh 2024, 2d 2023 & 2021, 4th 2022 Western States 100; third 2023 Transgrancanaria; 2d 2019 Javelina 100 Mile
Name for Feedback
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- Who’s going to have an surprising breakout efficiency?