2024 UTMB Males’s Preview – iRunFar

One other journey across the solar is full, 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 may have 46.5 hours to make it again to Chamonix, however some will want lower than half that. Under, we’ve detailed who will probably be the quickest males taking up the large loop.

Returning champion Jim Walmsley (U.S.) is tough to argue towards as the favourite. It took him a number of years to crack UTMB, however when he did, he did so in spectacular style, successful final 12 months’s race in a course-record time of 19:37. Additionally in rivalry are latest podium finishers Mathieu Blanchard (France), Germain Grangier (France), and Tom Evans (U.Okay.). Every of those males will likely be hoping to climb a step or two greater on the rostrum this 12 months. Additionally within the combine is latest Hardrock 100 winner Ludovic Pommeret (France).

For many who are new right here, UTMB roughly follows the enduring Tour de Mont Blanc path — a 176-kilometer (greater than 109-mile) loop masking almost 10,000 meters (32,700 toes) of elevation achieve and taking in three international locations — France, Italy, and Switzerland. It’s seen by many as the top occasion in path operating, a bucket listing race for leisure ultrarunners, and the last word showdown for elites.

A particular because of HOKA for making our protection of UTMB doable!

Tune in to our UTMB stay race protection beginning at 6 p.m. CEST (10 a.m. MDT within the U.S.) on Friday, August 30, proper right here on iRunFar. Keep tuned!

Additionally, you should definitely try our preview of the 2024 UTMB ladies’s race, which publishes tomorrow!

2024 UTMB Males’s Favorites for the Win

Ultrarunning followers all over the place will delight at seeing reigning UTMB males’s champion Jim Walmsley again on the beginning listing for 2024. Having not too long ago received the 2024 Western States 100, his fourth win on the revered 100 miler the place he holds the course file, the American appears to be like like a robust contender to be the primary man in 13 years to win each Western States and UTMB in a single season. From what we will inform, Walmsley has received nearly each 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 residing in France to specify his coaching for the UTMB course, we expect it’s extremely probably he may double down on final 12 months’s win and produce one other showstopper.

Frenchman Mathieu Blanchard placed on a spectacular show on the 2022 UTMB when he challenged Kilian Jornet to a duel, ultimately putting second after operating neck-and-neck till late within the race. His 2023 season — though stable, with a sixth-place end at Western States 100 and fourth at UTMB — didn’t fairly stay as much as the expectations set by that 2022 UTMB run. He has, nevertheless, been operating nicely in 2024, with a win on the 94k Maxi-Race Annecy in June. If he can replicate a few of what we noticed in 2022, he received’t be far off the entrance.

France’s Germain Grangier outdid himself on the 2023 UTMB, the place he positioned third, making use of strain to prime two — Jim Walmsley and Zach Miller — the entire approach to the end. He did that after a powerful win on the 2023 Mont Blanc Marathon 90k. Grangier additionally positioned fifth and ninth, respectively, on the 2021 and 2019 UTMB races and has proven himself to be on an upward curve.

Having positioned third on the 2022 UTMB, whereas nonetheless making his comeback following knee surgical procedure, and occurring to win the 2023 Western States 100, the U.Okay.’s Tom Evans was one of many favorites to win the 2023 UTMB. It wasn’t to be, although, and he was pressured to withdraw on the midway mark with abdomen points. Evans, who received CCC in 2018, has been sharpening up this 12 months by racing cross nation at residence in England. So far in 2024, he’s positioned third within the Transvulcania Ultramarathon and second on the Lavaredo Extremely Path.

Germany’s Hannes Namberger has had two top-10 finishes at UTMB — sixth in 2021 and eighth in 2023 — with a DNF sandwiched within the center. He had a number of below-par races in 2023 combined in with a win on the Eiger Extremely Path 100k, and has proven himself to be again on type this 12 months — logging his third win at Lavaredo, forward of Tom Evans, and only a minute over his 2022 course file. He additionally received the 2021 Madeira Island Extremely-Path.

Frenchman Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz has been crushing 100 milers over the previous few years and needs to be within the tussle for a podium spot at this 12 months’s UTMB. Whereas he didn’t end the 2022 UTMB, he positioned second in 2021, having received that 12 months’s Transgrancanaria, after which received each Hardrock 100 and Diagonale des Fous in an excellent 2023 season. His greatest run this 12 months thus far was third on the 94k Maxi-Race Annecy, behind Mathieu Blanchard and Thibaut Garrivier, and he completed twelfth on the Mont Blanc 90k, however previous performances would counsel he’s higher suited to the 100-mile distance.

Ludovic Pommeret of France dazzled on the 2024 Hardrock 100, the place he received by greater than three hours, setting an total males’s course file. It was his first time racing the route, however his fourth time operating on it, as he paced compatriot Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz to victory within the 2023 occasion and ran the course twice forward of race day. The 49-year-old Pommeret has a depth of expertise on the UTMB course with three top-10 finishes, together with fifth final 12 months and a win in 2016. He additionally received the 2022 TDS, the 2021 Diagonale des Fous, and positioned sixth on the 2022 Western States 100. It’s a decent turnaround from Hardrock to UTMB, however assuming he’s sufficiently recovered, he needs to be in rivalry for a prime spot.

Different High Males on the 2024 UTMB

Dmitry Mityaev has been operating nicely in ultras for various years and appears to be on an upward trajectory recently. He received the 2024 Mont Blanc 90k, up from fourth in 2023, and taking 19 minutes off his time. In certainly one of path operating’s aww moments, he shared the celebrations together with his spouse, Ekaterina Mityaeva, who received the ladies’s race. Additionally in 2024, Mityaev positioned second at Transvulcania. He received the 2023 Extremely-Path Cape City 100k, having shared the win with Hannes Namberger on the 2022 occasion. In 2021, he positioned second on the Madeira Island Extremely-Path (MIUT). He additionally positioned second in TDS in 2019 however failed to complete UTMB on his first try in 2021.

France’s Thibaut Garrivier positioned sixth within the 2023 UTMB after a robust fourth-place end on the 2023 Path World Championships Lengthy Path and a win at MIUT 85k. His type has been stable this 12 months, with a second-place end behind Mathieu Blanchard at Maxi-Race Annecy and a fifth-place end at Lavaredo, and he needs to be in rivalry for an additional top-10 putting at UTMB this 12 months.

It seems that Drew Holmen of the U.S. has solely executed two 100 milers up to now, however he’s made them depend, ending third and fifth within the 2021 and 2022 Western States 100, respectively. In 2023, he received the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile and took fifth in each CCC and the Path World Championships Lengthy Path within the Austrian Alps. All that means a extra mountainous 100 miler received’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 for that cause. He comes with years of expertise competing on the highest stage over shorter distances and positioned third within the 2021 CCC, which was his first 100k. Previous to that, he positioned second on the 2017 OCC and third in 2016. He additionally positioned fourth within the 2023 Path World Championships Brief Path. Extra not too long ago, he took second within the 2024 Mont Blanc 90k.

Frenchman Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon took ninth on the 2023 UTMB, operating simply 4 minutes faster than his seventh-place end in 2022 — albeit on a barely altered course. His UTMB-specific resume additionally features a ninth-place end in CCC in 2018, and third in TDS in 2021. Arguably, the very best runs of his profession have been at these occasions. Up to now this 12 months, he’s positioned ninth at Lavaredo amongst a aggressive subject, and he needs to be in with an excellent shot at one other UTMB top-10 putting.

Jia-Sheng Shen of China is certainly one of ultrarunning’s rising stars. He earned a reputation for himself by successful the Hong Kong 100k in 2019 on the tender age of 23. Since then, he’s received over a spread of distances at residence 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 eighth in 2024. Final 12 months, he took second at CCC, solely dropping contact with the winner on the ultimate climb. His type means that stepping as much as the complete loop will likely be no bother to him, and he needs to be a contender for a excessive putting.

Miguel Heras took second in a prime subject on the 2024 Transgrancanaria, lower than a half hour slower than his successful time from the identical race 14 years prior (though the course has modified repeatedly), and in more difficult circumstances. The 49-year-old Spaniard has a depth of expertise in extremely racing. He tends to favor racing at residence in Spain and has received the distinguished Extremely Pirineu 100k twice — in 2016 and 2022 — and podiumed there in 2015 and 2023 additionally. Outdoors of Spain, wins embrace the 2016 Les Templiers. He positioned second in UTMB again in 2013, and since that has failed to complete on two additional makes an attempt — in 2017 and 2023.

Jonas Russi of Switzerland took eighth within the 2022 UTMB however failed to complete upon return the next 12 months. The 2023 Lavaredo winner DNFed the Path Alsace Grand Est 100 Mile in Might of this 12 months, which he put all the way down to an damage sustained in coaching. He should have shaken it off rapidly sufficient, as he was again the next month with a robust fourth-place run at Lavaredo and was not far off his successful time from 2023. If his luck is in, he may very well be within the combine for an additional top-ten end at UTMB.

France’s Beñat Marmissolle took sixth on the 2022 UTMB and went on to place second behind Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz on the 2023 Hardrock 100. Whereas he’s raced a spread of distances, his greatest outcomes 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. Nevertheless, he’s had a rocky 12 months thus far in 2024. Following a DNF at MIUT, he withdrew his title from Lavaredo, citing excessive fatigue. It stays to be seen if he’ll toe the road at UTMB, however we’re crossing our fingers for him to return to full 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 outing up to now, however he has loads of expertise on the 100k distance and needs to be nicely able to stage up. Amongst his greatest outcomes 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 prime 10 at a UTMB Mont Blanc competition race for every of the final 5 editions. In 2018, he took fourth at MCC, adopted by sixth in OCC the next 12 months. In 2021 and 2022, he stepped as much as CCC, putting ninth and tenth respectively. The 2023 UTMB was his first try at 100 miles, and he once more positioned tenth. It’s onerous to wager towards him for an additional top-10 end this 12 months.

Joaquin Lopez of Ecuador has baggage of type at UTMB races and appears like a robust longing for a top-10 spot. He simply missed out on one final 12 months, coming eleventh. Place-wise, this was again from sixth in 2019, however an hour quicker than his earlier time whereas on an extended course and in a extra aggressive subject. He’s additionally positioned second within the 2022 TDS, the place he was tenth again in 2016. Extra not too long ago, he took third within the Path Andorra 105k.

China’s Ji Duo positioned 14th on the 2023 UTMB and went on to win that 12 months’s Doi Inthanon 100 Mile by nearly an hour and a half — and almost two hours clear of huge names like Beñat Marmissolle of France and Robert Hajnal of Romania, who he will likely be lining up alongside once more for the 2024 UTMB. Up to now this 12 months, he’s received on the Mount Yun 100k in China, and positioned twelfth on the Western States 100, a course that’s arguably a bit too runnable for his talent set.

New Zealand’s Scott Hawker has had a number of the greatest runs of his profession at UTMB occasions, putting fifteenth in final 12 months’s UTMB and third in 2019. He additionally took second place within the 2021 CCC. Different prime outcomes embrace second on the 2022 Extremely-Path Australia 100k.

Italy’s Daniel Jung has type in massive mountain 100 milers, having positioned fourth within the 2022 Hardrock 100 and received the 2021 Diagonale des Fous. He hasn’t raced UTMB earlier than, however he did come sixth within the 2017 TDS. He additionally positioned third within the 2022 Lavaredo, and this 12 months received the Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100k and the KAT 100 83k.

Miguel Arsénio has had a stack of wins at residence in Portugal and some standout worldwide outcomes, too. These embrace a second-place end on the 2023 Transgrancanaria, a win on the 2023 Maxi-Race Annecy, and one other on the 2023 Extremely Pirineu 100k. Extra not too long ago, he received the Swiss Canyon Path 110k in June of this 12 months in course-record time.

Spain’s Pablo Villa didn’t end on his final outing at UTMB in 2021, however he received the 2019 TDS after two DNFs on that route, so a robust comeback is feasible. He has a background in Skyrunning and received 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 go all in on this 12 months’s UTMB.

Tom Joly of the U.Okay. had a robust 12 months in 2023. He positioned third within the Transgrancanaria 85k, completed eleventh in Path World Championships Lengthy Path, received the Extremely Sierra Nevada 59k, took sixteenth at UTMB, and adopted that up by successful the Translantau 129k by greater than an hour. Up to now this 12 months, he’s had a uncommon DNF at Transgrancanaria however proven good type in some shorter races. He’ll probably be trying to enhance on final 12 months’s place at UTMB.

Raul Butaci of Romania positioned 18th on the 2023 UTMB, however his different outcomes counsel he’s succesful of a better putting. He received Transgrancanaria in 2024, up from fourth in 2023, and likewise positioned eighth within the 2022 CCC. Whereas he’s been racing ultras for a number of years now, the 2023 UTMB was his first step as much as the 100-mile distance, and he’ll probably be outfitted to construct on that have on this 12 months’s race.

Yan-Qiao Yun of China completed simply inside the highest 20 — in nineteenth place — eventually 12 months’s UTMB. He’s received the Hong Kong 100k twice — in 2013 and 2017 — and positioned fifth in 2012. He additionally positioned sixth and tenth, respectively, within the 2019 and 2018 TDS. He had a few sturdy leads to the later a part of 2023, together with a win on the China100 Mountain Cross-Nation Race 100k and a second-place on the Translantau 129k. He needs to be in with an excellent shot at one other top-20 putting.

Frenchman Sébastien Spehler has a prolonged resume over a spread of distances however is pretty new to 100 miles. He failed to complete his first try on the distance — the 2022 Western States 100 — however acquired it proper subsequent time, successful the 2024 Path Alsace Grand Est 100 Mile by almost an hour. Previous to that, achievements embrace wins on the 2017 and 2018 Les Templiers, the place he additionally took second in 2021 and 2022. On the opposite facet of the pond, he was second within the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile in 2019, and received The North Face Endurance Problem 50 Mile that very same 12 months.

Ben Dhiman, an American who lives in France, suffered disappointment within the type of a DNF eventually 12 months’s UTMB, however seems to be constructing nicely towards a greater final result this 12 months. He bounced again from defeat to take third on the 2023 Les Templiers, received this 12 months’s MIUT, and positioned second on the Path Andorra 100k. His present coaching floor at altitude within the Pyrenees ought to assist him to copy the type of type that noticed him win the 2023 Penyagolosa Trails 100k and the 2023 Path Andorra 100k. He additionally took third within the 2022 Diagonale des Fous, displaying a robust end result over 100 miles is nicely inside his scope.

China’s Jia-Ju Zhao is hoping it’s third time fortunate on the UTMB course. He completed eleventh in CCC again in 2019, however failed to complete both of his UTMB begins in 2022 and 2023. He has sturdy type elsewhere over the 100-mile distance, having received the 2022 Doi Inthanon 100 Mile, and positioned second within the 2020 Panda Path 100 Mile. Extra not too long ago, he received the 2024 Chongli 100 Mile in China, and if he can keep away from no matter pitfalls took him out on the final two events, this may very well be his 12 months at UTMB.

Frenchman Yannick Noël took third at this 12 months’s Lavaredo. If the UTMB Efficiency Index could be handled as an affordable relative metric, this was the very best run of his life. He additionally took third within the 2023 TDS — up from twelfth in 2019 — and positioned eleventh within the 2021 UTMB. His enhancing type since then will surely counsel he may very well be greater up the placings.

Josh Wade has been making waves at residence within the U.Okay. the previous few years, successful Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100 Mile in 2023 by a giant margin and taking fourth within the 50k on the similar occasion this 12 months. He failed to complete eventually 12 months’s UTMB, however bounced again to take eighth on the 2024 Transgrancanaria. He’s additionally made it ninth within the 2022 Transvulcania and third within the 2023 Eiger Extremely Path 100k. He’s in all probability a robust top-20 candidate going into this 12 months’s UTMB.

Romania’s Robert Hajnal has had type at UTMB up to now, putting ninth in 2022 and second in 2018 — one of many worst climate years for the occasion in latest reminiscence. He additionally took eighth place at CCC in 2015. He failed to complete final 12 months’s UTMB, and ran an off-the-boil Western States 100 in 2024, the place he completed twenty fourth. Nevertheless, in between these, he ran a terrific race to complete fourth on the 2023 Doi Inthanon 100 Mile and not too long ago received the Bucovina Extremely Rocks 88k at residence in Romania.

Nonetheless Extra Quick 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 & 2nd 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 Courtroom (France) – 1st 2024 Path du Saint-Jacques 130k; 2nd 2023 Endurance Path des Templiers 100k
• Gregoire Curmer (France) – seventh 2021 UTMB; thirteenth 2023 TDS; 2nd 2023 Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100 Mile
• Guillaume Deneffe (Belgium) – fifteenth 2022 UTMB; 4th 2024 Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100 Mile; 2nd 2022 Kullamannen 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; 2nd 2024 Tenerife Bluetrail 110k
• Gediminas Grinius (Lithuania) – 1st 2024 Amazean Jungle Thailand 147k; 2nd 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; 4th 2024 Val d’Aran 50k; fifth 2024 Transvulcania
• Mike McMonagle (U.S.) – 1st 2023 Grindstone 100 Mile; third 2024 Swiss Alps 100 50k
• Jeff Mogavero (U.S.) – sixteenth 2022 UTMB; seventh 2023 Transvulcania; third 2021 & 2019 Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile
• 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

Males Beforehand Entered However No Longer Racing the 2024 UTMB

• Jon Albon (U.Okay., residing in Norway) – 1st 2021 OCC; 1st 2023 & 2nd 2022 CCC; sixth 2024 Western States 100; 1st 2021 Les Templiers
• Tyler Inexperienced (U.S.) – seventh 2024, 2nd 2023 & 2021, 4th 2022 Western States 100; third 2023 Transgrancanaria; 2nd 2019 Javelina 100 Mile
• Jean-Philippe Tschumi (Switzerland) – third 2023 & 2nd 2022 Diagonale des Fous

Name for Feedback

• Who do you suppose will pull off the win?
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• Who’s going to have an surprising breakout efficiency?