Chamonix, France, has remodeled right into a humming hub of pleasure as 1000’s of path runners and lovers converge for the twenty first version of the mythical 176K UTMB. We all know we are saying this once a year, however severely—this time it’s true: this yr’s race would be the maximum exciting but, with an elite box that’s deeper, quicker and extra aggressive than ever prior to, and we’re right here to inform you the entirety you want to grasp to cheer to your favorite athletes.
This isn’t simply any race—it’s the crown jewel of the ultratrail calendar and the top of the UTMB International Sequence Finals. With a staggering 10,000 metres of elevation achieve unfold over 176 kilometres (106 miles), UTMB calls for the most productive from its competition. The guts-pounding motion kicks off proper within the centre of Chamonix on Friday at midday ET.
2022 champion Katie Schide (who completed moment ultimate yr) is gearing as much as chase an extraordinary double victory, aiming so as to add the UTMB crown to her contemporary Western States 100 win, the place she clocked the second-fastest time ever. Like fellow American Jim Walmsley, Schide hopes to keep on with within the footsteps of the mythical Courtney Dauwalter. As race week kicks off, Schide took to Instagram to percentage her blended feelings: “So right here we’re: race week. And I’m actually excited/curious/apprehensive to peer the place I’m at, having ready particularly for this subsequent race in a miles shorter time period than previous years, however with extra self belief about what I used to believe my largest weak spot (the true operating).”
However Schide gained’t have it simple. She’ll be up in opposition to a powerhouse box, together with Hungary’s Eszter Csillag, who positioned 1/3 on the 2023 Western States 100 and 5th finally yr’s UTMB. France’s Blandine L’Hirondel, contemporary off a third-place end on the 2023 UTMB and a win at CCC in 2022, may be within the combine. And let’s no longer disregard Germany’s Katharina Harmuth, who secured moment position finally yr’s UTMB. This struggle of the elites guarantees to be as exciting as it’s unpredictable
Canadian ladies to observe
Quebec’s very personal Marianne Hogan is again and in a position to make her mark after a difficult struggle with accidents following her spectacular second-place end on the 2022 UTMB. Hogan, who additionally positioned 1/3 at WSER in 2022 and secured moment on the Extremely-Path Cape The town 100K in 2023, is raring to reclaim her podium spot. Becoming a member of her from Canada are emerging stars like Quebec’s Geneviève Asselin Demers, Kelsey Hogan of Newfoundland and Ontario’s Claire Heslop, all set to provide their absolute best in this international level.
However the pleasure doesn’t finish there. The listing of height feminine contenders reads like a who’s who of trail-running greatness. Australia’s Lucy Bartholomew, China’s Fu-Zhao Xiang—who positioned fourth on the 2023 UTMB and 7th in 2022—and Spain’s Maite Maiora, who completed 5th finally yr’s UTMB, are all lining as much as problem Schide. With such fierce pageant, this race is shaping as much as be a nail-biter from begin to end.
Males’s race
Closing yr, Walmsley after all seized the UTMB victory he’d been chasing, after two years of relentless coaching within the French Alps. Now, contemporary off a commanding win at WSER, he’s again to shield his identify—however the highway to a WSER-UTMB double is anything else however simple. Status in his means is Ludovic Pommeret of France, the 49-year-old who claimed victory at this yr’s Hardrock 100. Pommeret, who completed 5th in ultimate yr’s UTMB, turns out to just fortify with time and is hungry for redemption.
The U.Okay.’s Tom Evans, who gained the 2023 WSER and took 1/3 at UTMB in 2022, is gunning for a height spot. He’ll be toeing the road along French-Canadian Mathieu Blanchard, who secured moment at UTMB in 2022, and France’s Germain Grangier, who was once 1/3 ultimate yr. And let’s no longer forget Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz, some other French powerhouse, who ruled each the Hardrock 100 and Diagonale des Fous in 2023. With the sort of stacked box, Walmsley should combat teeth and nail to stick on height, making this yr’s UTMB one of the crucial thrilling but.
Canadian males to observe
Like the ladies’s race, the lads’s box at UTMB options a few of Canada’s best ability. Main the rate is former pro-cyclist Christian Meier, who’s making waves after a first-place end at each the 2023 TDS and Path 100 Andorra 50K. Meier is not only right here to take part; he’s right here to dominate. Along him is Ryan Atkins, an international champion in impediment direction racing, bringing his distinctive mix of velocity and toughness to the path.
Fernie, B.C.’s Ethan Peters returns for his moment UTMB, taking a look to fortify on his earlier efficiency, whilst ultra-champion Scott Cooper, who made historical past through profitable Western Canada’s first-ever 200-mile race in beneath 50 hours, may be within the combine. Together with his spectacular staying power, Cooper is a major contender. Different Canadians to observe come with Simon Widmann, Chris McNamara (Cooper’s coaching spouse), Kevin Biggs and Samuel Frigon. This Canadian contingent is able to make their mark at the international level, and so they’re no longer simply right here to observe from the sidelines.
Don’t omit a moment of the UTMB motion! Music in to the are living circulate beginning at midday ET, through clicking right here. For real-time updates, keep on with @canadiantrailrunning and @canadianrunning on X. If you happen to’re yearning extra pre-race insights, take a look at Freetrail’s “Trailgating” sequence on YouTube, co-created through extremely path professional Dylan Bowman, the place you’ll in finding top-notch interviews and must-follow storylines.