2024 UTMB Ladies’s Preview – iRunFar

At 6 p.m. on August 30, greater than 2,500 runners will take to the streets of Chamonix, France, to start out their 176-kilometer (109-mile) loop round Mont Blanc, another way referred to as the 2024 UTMB.

Lots of the peak ladies have already completed a big 100-mile tournament this 12 months, with the highest 4 ladies from the 2024 Western States 100 lining up for UTMB — Katie Schide, Fu-Zhao Xiang, Eszter Csillag, and Emily Hawgood. Becoming a member of those 4 are a cadre of girls with a historical past of operating UTMB briefly — Marianne Hogan, Blandine L’Hirondel, and Maite Maiora — all of whom have completed within the peak 5 of UTMB up to now two years.

Becoming a member of those ladies are an entire host of others who’ve confirmed their velocity on mountainous classes however have by no means run UTMB sooner than, corresponding to Ruth Croft, and the ones, like Manon Bohard Cailler, who haven’t controlled to position in combination a cast lap of Mont Blanc but, however have proven the possible to run close to the entrance of the sector.

And with protecting champion and course-record holder Courtney Dauwalter and remaining 12 months’s second-place finisher Katharina Hartmuth now not on the starting point this 12 months, it sort of feels adore it’s somebody’s race to win. The intensity of skill on this 12 months’s ladies’s box is bound to create thrilling racing.

For the ones now not aware of the race, UTMB kind of follows the Excursion du Mont Blanc direction across the iconic Ecu mountain, beginning in Chamonix, France, and visiting Italy and Switzerland sooner than returning to Chamonix. Over the process the 176k race, runners duvet just about 10,000 meters (32,700 ft) of elevation acquire, see some unbelievable Alps surroundings, and enjoy probably the most maximum enthusiastic enhance within the ultrarunning global.

A different because of HOKA for making our protection of UTMB imaginable!

Track 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, correct right here on iRunFar. Keep tuned!

You should definitely learn our in-depth 2024 UTMB males’s preview for a have a look at the boys’s race.

The beginning of the 2021 UTMB. Picture: iRunFar/Ben Clark

2024 UTMB Ladies’s Favorites for the Win

Katie Schide

Katie Schide, an American residing in France and previous UTMB champion, is a overdue access to this 12 months’s race, and one may just argue a favourite to win the development. After a dominant win on the 2024 Western States 100, the place she completed moment in 2023, Schide now traces up for a fully other taste of racing from the net-downhill and scorching and dusty trails of California that she excelled on only some months in the past. Schide is not any stranger to UTMB, having completed it thrice, with a win in 2022 and a sixth-place end in 2019. Along with her win on the Western States 100, Schide additionally received the Canyons 100k previous in 2024. Her 2023 effects come with a win at Diagonale des Fous and a second-place end at OCC. The massive query can be whether or not she’s had sufficient time to get well from her huge Western States 100 effort on the finish of June.

Blandine L’Hirondel of France could also be thought to be the host nation’s favourite this 12 months after completing 1/3 at UTMB in 2023. She is the best possible positioned finisher from 2023 who’s returning this 12 months. Not like many different ladies lining up, she’s concerned about 50k and shorter occasions this 12 months, together with the Marathon du Mont Blanc 20k and the Ecu Off-Highway Championships 58k. She’s no stranger to the UTMB occasions, profitable the 2022 CCC and 2021 OCC, surroundings direction data at each occasions. In 2023, she positioned 5th on the Zegama Marathon, and in 2022, she received the Path International Championship Lengthy Path.

Ruth Croft

New Zealand’s Ruth Croft was once set to race her first UTMB remaining 12 months however was once compelled to withdraw sooner than the beginning because of sickness. Croft has been on a roll up to now 8 months, profitable the 2023 Extremely-Path Cape The city 100k, 2024 Tarawera Ultramarathon 100k, and 2024 Transvulcania Ultramarathon. Those effects point out that the Kiwi is on shape for her debut UTMB. She’s no stranger to racing within the house and received OCC in each 2018 and 2019. She additionally received the Western States 100 in 2022 and positioned moment in 2021. Her effects additionally come with a win on the 2021 Les Templiers.

One will have to by no means depend out Marianne Hogan of Canada relating to UTMB. She completed moment in 2022 in her debut on the tournament. Previous this 12 months, she received the Swiss Canyon Path 100k and positioned 6th at Transvulcania. As with many different ladies on this box, she’s had a robust appearing on the Western States 100 up to now, with a 1/3 position in 2022. In 2023, she completed moment on the Extremely-Path Cape The city 100k.

Fu-Zhao Xiang

Lining up for her 5th UTMB, China’s Fu-Zhao Xiang has numerous enjoy and direction wisdom to depend on. She’s additionally a part of the ladies’s contingent aiming for the Western States 100-UTMB double, coming off of a robust moment position on the California tournament. Xiang is the image of consistency and has come away with wins on the Mount Yun 50k and The North Face 100 Extremely Path Problem Moganshan 30k already this 12 months. As for her UTMB finishes, she positioned fourth, 7th, eleventh, and twentieth in 2023, 2022, 2019, and 2018, respectively. She was once additionally 5th on the Tarawera 100k and received the Doi Inthanon 50k and Translantau 130k in 2023. In 2020, she completed moment at Transgrancanaria.

Eszter Csillag may be taking a look to double up with the Western States 100 and UTMB. The Hungarian runner, now residing in Hong Kong, is coming off a robust 1/3 position on the 2024 Western States 100 and is taking a look to fortify on her 5th position on the 2022 UTMB. In 2023, she had a disappointing UTMB with a DNF and is without a doubt bringing classes from that have to the starting point this 12 months. Csillag was once additionally 1/3 on the 2023 Western States 100, and received the Translantau the similar 12 months. She was once fourth at 2021 CCC.

Maite Maiora

Spain’s Maite Maiora is lining up with the enjoy that comes from a third-place end at UTMB in 2019 and a fifth-place end in 2023. Whilst 2021 noticed her DNF the race, she’s positive to make use of the data won from two prior laps across the mountain for this go-around. So far in 2024, she’s completed 1/3 at each Val d’Aran 100k and Madeira Island Extremely-Path (MIUT), effects that observe up a robust 2023 season that incorporated a win on the Path Alsace Grand Est 100 Mile and fourth puts at Val d’Aran 100k, Istria 100k, and Transgrancanaria 50k.

Recognized for her ever-present smile, Emily Hawgood is again at UTMB after completing moment at CCC in 2023. The Zimbabwean residing within the U.S. is contemporary off a fourth-place end on the Western States 100 previous this 12 months and a win on the Chianti Extremely Path 74k. She’s completed UTMB two times sooner than, in 6th and tenth in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Her Western States 100 end this 12 months is at the tail of 2 fifth-place finishes on the tournament in 2022 and 2023, and a 7th in 2021.

Sabrina Stanley

Sabrina Stanley of the U.S. completed ninth within the 2023 UTMB after now not beginning the 2022 version because of a COVID-19 an infection. The 2-time Hardrock 100 winner, each in 2021 and 2018, is obviously at ease on mountainous 100-mile classes and is without a doubt taking a look to fortify on remaining 12 months’s consequence. Whilst she’s raced extra in the neighborhood in 2024, together with profitable the Silverton Alpine Marathon 50k, she has an entire host of excessive leads to Europe, together with a moment position on the 2023 Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100 Mile, a fourth within the 2021 MIUT, and a win on the 2019 Diagonale des Fous.

Different Most sensible Ladies on the 2024 UTMB

Manon Bohard Cailler

Manon Bohard Cailler has DNFed her previous two makes an attempt at UTMB in 2023 and 2022, however that doesn’t imply she will have to be counted out for the 2024 version. The Frenchwoman received TDS in 2021 and positioned 1/3 on the Path International Championships Lengthy Path in 2023. That 12 months, she additionally received MIUT by way of a 52-minute margin in a dominant efficiency. In June of 2024, she positioned moment on the Swiss Canyon Path 100k.

Ragna Debats, who’s Dutch however lives in Spain, had a string of robust effects to near out her 2023 season and get started 2024. She positioned moment on the Javelina 100 Mile and Doi Inthanon 100k on the tail finish of 2023 sooner than putting moment on the Desafio en las Nubes 50k and fourth on the Tenerife Bluetrail 72k in 2024. In prior years, she received the 2022 Transgrancanaria and positioned 1/3 on the 2021 Western States 100. She additionally received CCC in 2019. Then again, she has lately been identified with IMO (intestinal methane overgrowth,) which she talks about on her social media. She ran and completed the 2024 Western States 100 post-diagnosis, however now not competitively, and it is still observed if she’s going to run UTMB. We want her the entire very best for a go back to complete well being.

Anne-Lise Rousset Séguret

Anne-Lise Rousset Séguret began out her 2024 season with a couple of second-place finishes at MIUT and Top Path Vanoise 20k. The Frenchwoman had a a hit 2023 with a moment position on the Hardrock 100 and a win on the Wildstrubel 70k. In 2022, she positioned moment at Diagonale des Fous and was once fourth on the 2018 CCC.

Martina Valmassoi of Italy didn’t end UTMB in 2023, her first strive at 100 miles, however she had a robust win at TDS in 2022, which signifies her talent to do neatly on this race. Previous in 2023, she positioned fourth on the Path International Championships Lengthy Path and received Transvulcania. To start out off 2024, she received MIUT.

Jazmine Lowther

Recognized extra for her prowess on the shorter and extra technical races, Hillary Allen of the U.S. returns to UTMB to take a look at to fortify upon her 14th-place end in 2022. In 2019, she positioned moment at TDS and received the Lavaredo Extremely Path 50k. Then, in 2021, she received MIUT. Since then, she’s positioned moment on the 2022 Speedgoat 50k and received the 2022 Extremely-Path Cape The city 100 Mile.

Claire Bannwarth

France’s Claire Bannwarth is understood for her talent to run extremely lengthy distances and is without a doubt taking a look to fortify upon her sixteenth and twenty first placings at UTMB in 2023 and 2022, respectively. In the case of longer distances, there aren’t many higher than her, and he or she’s raced extra miles in 2024 than the opposite ladies within the box, profitable the 400k Montreux Path Pageant, the 185k Path Menorca Camí de Cavalls, and the Lake Zurich 100k. She additionally positioned fourth at MIUT, moment on the Tahoe 200 Mile, and 8th on the Hardrock 100. And the ones races have been after profitable the 420k Wintry weather Backbone Race to start out out 2024.

Abby Corridor of the U.S. is lining up for her first UTMB after 3 finishes of CCC, together with putting 1/3 in each 2023 and 2022 and moment in 2021. She was once moment on the 2022 Transgrancanaria and 6th on the 2023 MIUT.

Ekaterina Mityaeva

Ekaterina Mityaeva is racing as a impartial athlete on this 12 months’s UTMB and is coming to the development after a win on the Mont Blanc 90k, an growth over her fourth-place end on the tournament in 2023. She additionally positioned 1/3 on the Extremely-Path Cape The city 100k in 2023. Mityaeva is not any stranger to racing within the Mont Blanc house, with fourth-place finishes on the 2019 UTMB and 2021 TDS. She additionally positioned 1/3 on the 2021 MIUT.

After completing moment on the 2023 TDS, France’s Fiona Porte returns to Chamonix for her debut UTMB. Her a hit 2023 season additionally incorporated a win at Lavaredo and a win on the Maxi-Race Annecy, the place she positioned moment in 2024. In 2022, she positioned 1/3 at Les Templiers.

Aroa Sío

Aroa Sío of Spain returns to UTMB after an eighth-place end in 2022 and a DNF in 2023. She began her 2023 season with a couple of third-place finishes on the Canyons 100k and Tarawera 100k. This 12 months, she’s began the season with 5th position at MIUT.

Ahead of putting 6th at UTMB in 2023, Katarzyna Solińska of Poland will have been referred to as a shorter-distance specialist. She’d positioned 18th in her debut UTMB in 2022, which was once additionally her first 100-mile race, after putting moment at Lavaredo previous within the 12 months. She was once additionally 5th at CCC in 2021. Previous this 12 months, she received the Path Verbier St Bernard, a repeat of her efficiency from 2023.

Lucy Bartholomew

Lucy Bartholomew of Australia has expanded her focal point from simply operating lately, however that doesn’t imply that she will be able to’t put in combination a robust efficiency round Mont Blanc. In 2023, she positioned tenth on the tournament along with profitable the Bandera 50k and Tarawera 100 Mile. That 12 months, she additionally positioned moment on the Extremely-Path Australia, a consequence that she repeated in 2024.

Whilst Claudia Tremps of Spain will have had a DNF on the 2023 UTMB, she’s had a just right begin to her 2024 season that might level towards the potential for a robust efficiency this time round. Simply this 12 months, she’s positioned moment at Transgrancanaria, Istria 42k, and Path Andorra 100k. In 2022, she positioned moment at TDS, and the 12 months prior, in 2021, she was once 9th at UTMB.

Claire Heslop of Canada completed eleventh on the 2023 UTMB, a vital soar up within the placings from her 18th and nineteenth position finishes within the tournament in 2021 and 2022, respectively. This 12 months she’s appearing robust shape with a 3rd position on the Tenerife Bluetrail 110k and a tenth position on the Hardrock 100.

Kimino Miyazaki

Japan’s Kimino Miyazaki  is not any stranger to the UTMB direction, having positioned fifteenth in 2023 after a Twenty fourth-place end in 2022. She had a robust 2023 season with a win on the Istria 100 Mile and a moment position on the Tarawera 100 Mile. She was once additionally 8th on the Doi Inthanon 100 Mile in 2022. Whilst her 2024 season hasn’t began off slightly as robust, she positioned moment on the Restonica Path 110k in July, appearing that the shape is there.

Emily Vaudan of Switzerland completed thirteenth in UTMB in 2023 and twelfth in 2022 after a DNF at her debut on the tournament in 2021. Her consistency and dedication to the development level towards a possible top-10 end this time round. In 2022, she received the Path Verbier St Bernard 110k and was once 1/3 within the 2020 Swiss Peaks Path 315k, appearing that she’s happy with the 100-mile distance. She began off her 2024 season with a sixteenth at Transgrancanaria.

Blandine L’Hirondel completing 1/3 at UTMB in 2023. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks

Marta Molist

Marta Molist of Spain had breakout seasons in 2021 and 2022, profitable a number of high-profile occasions, together with the 2021 CCC, 2021 Tenerife Bluetrail 70k, 2022 Swiss Alps 50k, and 2022 Mozart 75k. Her 2023 season and get started of 2024 had been quite quiet, however a win on the 2023 Extremely Pirineu 100k displays she is again in just right shape.

After completing 6th on the 2021 UTMB, Maryline Nakache of France got here again to Chamonix to win TDS in 2023. That very same 12 months, she positioned moment at Lavaredo. To start out off 2024, she positioned a robust 1/3 within the Mozart 100k and received the Path Nivolet-Revard 58k and the Path Sainte-Victoire-Le Cézanne 40k.

This can be American Helen Mino Faukner’s first run at UTMB after two finishes at CCC, the place she positioned 1/3 in 2023 and thirteenth in 2022. She’s higher identified for her velocity over shorter distances, with wins on the 2023 Speedgoat 50k and Kodiak Extremely Marathon 21k, and a win on the 2024 Wasteland Rats 50k.

Slightly new to ultrarunning, Mari Klakegg Fenre of Norway had a robust 2023 season, completing 7th at CCC and 8th on the Path International Championships Lengthy Path. Her fourth position at Val d’Aran 50k previous this 12 months, in addition to her win on the Skogvokteren Extremely 90k, point out she’s on shape.

Núria Picas

Núria Picas of Spain first raced UTMB in 2013 and positioned moment. She was once additionally moment in 2014 and received the race in 2017. She returns to the development after completing 1/3 at Val d’Aran 110k in 2023, in addition to profitable the Extremely Pirineu 100k in 2022.

Whilst Emma Stuart of Eire, who lives within the U.Okay., is quite new to ultrarunning and can be new to UTMB, she’s discovered numerous good fortune within the 100-mile distance in her quite short while with the game. In 2023, in what turns out like simplest her 1/3 12 months of racing extremely distances, she received the Tor des Géants, Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100 Mile, and the Arc of Attrition 100 Mile and positioned 1/3 at Lavaredo.

Marianne Hogan taking moment on the 2022 UTMB. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

Nonetheless Extra Rapid Ladies on the 2024 UTMB

• Johanna Antila (Finland) – tenth 2022 CCC; second 2023 Transgrancanaria 85k; second 2022 Lavaredo 80k
• Amanda Basham (U.S.) – nineteenth 2023 UTMB; third 2023 Damaged Arrow Skyrace 46k; 1st 2023 Kodiak 100k
• Alessandra Boifava (Italy) – 1st 2024 Istria 100 Mile; fifth 2023 Lavaredo; seventh 2023 Transvulcania
• Alex Borsuk (U.S.) – 4th 2023 Canyons 100 Mile; eighth 2022 Gorge Waterfalls 100k; 1st 2020 Orcas Island 100 Mile
• Addie Bracy (U.S.) – 14th 2024 & fifth 2023 Canyons 100k; third 2023 & 1st 2022 Speedgoat 50k; 1st 2021 Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile
• Naomi Logo (South Africa) – sixth 2024 Extremely-Path Australia; second 2023 Extremely-Path Cape The city 100 Mile; sixth 2023 Lavaredo
• Lin Chen (China) – 1st 2023 Doi Inthanon 100 Mile; 1st 2023 Chongli 200k; second 2023 Trans Jeju 100k
• Rong-Rong Chen (China) – twenty first 2023 UTMB; 1st 2024 Chongli 100 Mile; fifth 2023 Doi Inthanon 100 Mile; second 2023 Amazean Jungle Thailand 100 Mile
• Alyssa Clark (U.S.) – 1st 2023 Val d’Aran 25k; 1st 2023 Canyons 100 Mile; 1st 2021 Ouray 100 Mile
• Alexis Crellin (U.S.) – twentieth 2023 UTMB; eighth 2024 & third 2019 Speedgoat 50k; second 2023 Canyons 100 Mile
• Mélanie Delasoie (Switzerland) – fifteenth 2022 UTMB; seventh 2024 Eiger Extremely Path 54k; sixth 2024 MIUT
• Lindsey Dwyer (U.S.) – 1st 2024 Miwok 100k; 4th 2024 Canyons 100 Mile; 1st 2024 Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile; fifth 2023 Canyons 100 Mile
• Ida-Sophie Hegemann (Germany) – second 2024 Istria 100 Mile; fifteenth 2023 Path International Championships Lengthy Path; third 2023 Istria 110k
• Keely Henninger (U.S.) – third 2024 Black Canyon 60k; 1st 2023 Black Canyon 100k; ninth 2021 Western States 100
• Stephanie Howe (U.S.) – 4th 2019 CCC; seventh 2024 Transgrancanaria 84k; sixth 2023 Val D’Aran 100k; sixth 2018 & third 2015 Western States 100
• Tara Fraga (U.S.) – ninth 2023 & eleventh 2022 CCC; 1st 2024 Gorge Waterfalls 50k; fifth 2023 Lake Sonoma 50 Mile
• Nancy Jiang (New Zealand) – eighth 2024 Lavaredo; 1st 2023 Tarawera 100k; eighth 2019 OCC
• Anna Li (China) – thirty fourth 2023 CCC; 1st 2024 Mount Yun 100k; third 2023 Extremely-Path Ninghai 100k
• Emilie Maroteaux (France) – third 2023 Doi Inthanon 100k; third 2023 Diagonale des Fous; second 2023 Swiss Canyon Path 115k; fifth 2023 MIUT
• Inês Marques (Portugal) – second 2024 Istria 110k; sixth 2021 Lavaredo 50k; third 2021 Transgrancanaria
• Oana Mihalcea (Romania) – third 2024 Wasteland Rats 100k; 4th 2023 Les Templiers; second 2023 Path Verbier St Bernard 140k
• Fiona Pascall (U.Okay.) – 1st 2024 Mozart 100k; 1st 2023 Julian Alps Path Run 100 Mile; third 2023 Extremely-Path Snowdonia 55k; 1st 2023 Arc of Attrition 82k
• Manuela Soccol (Belgium) – 1st 2023 Extremely-Path Kosciuszko 100 Mile; 1st 2020 Tarawera 100k
• Eva Maria Sperger (Germany) – tenth 2022 UTMB; second 2024 Eiger Extremely Path 100k; 1st 2024 Tenerife Bluetrail 110k
• Audrey Virgilio (Switzerland) – third 2024 & 1st 2023 Swiss Canyon Path 115k; 1st 2023 MIUT 85k
• Laura Van Vooren (Belgium) – 1st 2023 Great Côte d’Azur 100 Mile; third 2023 Mont-Blanc Marathon
• Katie Wright (U.Okay., lives in New Zealand) – 18th 2023 UTMB; fifth 2024 Tarawera 100k; 1st 2021, third 2023 & second 2019 Tarawera 100 Mile
• Yuan-Yuan Wu (China) – 4th 2024 Val d’Aran 110k; third 2024 Hong Kong 100k; third 2023 Doi Inthanon 100 Mile; 1st 2022 Chongli 132k

Ladies Up to now Entered However No Longer Racing the 2024 UTMB

• Katharina Hartmuth (Germany) – second 2023 UTMB; third 2024 Hardrock 100; 1st 2024 Path Andorra 100k; second 2023 Path International Championships Lengthy Path; 1st 2023 Eiger Extremely Path
• Jazmine Lowther (Canada) – 4th 2022 CCC; second 2022 Transgrancanaria; 1st 2024 Speedgoat 50k; 1st 2022 Canyons 100k
• Ida Nilsson (Sweden, lives in Norway) – third 2018 CCC; sixth 2024 & seventh 2023 Western States 100; 1st 2023 Canyons 100 Mile; second 2022 Path International Championships Lengthy Path
• Leah Yingling (U.S.) – eighth 2023 UTMB; tenth 2024, ninth 2023, & sixth 2022 Western States 100

Name for Feedback

• What predictions do you’ve got for this 12 months’s race?
• Did we leave out somebody who you suppose may just finally end up at the podium?

Fu-Zhao Xiang receives a wedding proposal after completing fourth on the 2023 UTMB. She mentioned sure! Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks