Chamonix, France, has reworked right into a buzzing hub of pleasure as 1000’s of path runners and followers converge for the twenty first version of the legendary 176K UTMB (Extremely-Path du Mont-Blanc). We all know we are saying this yearly, however severely—this time it’s true: this yr’s race would be the most thrilling but, with an elite area that’s deeper, quicker and extra aggressive than ever earlier than, and we’re right here to let you know every thing you must know to cheer in your favorite athletes.
This isn’t simply any race—it’s the crown jewel of the ultratrail calendar and the head of the UTMB World Sequence Finals. With a staggering 10,000 metres of elevation achieve unfold over 176 kilometres (106 miles), UTMB calls for the perfect from its rivals. The center-pounding motion kicks off proper within the centre of Chamonix on Friday at midday ET.
Girls’s race
2022 champion Katie Schide (who completed second final yr) is gearing as much as chase a uncommon double victory, aiming so as to add the UTMB crown to her latest Western States 100 (WSER) win, the place she clocked the second-fastest time ever. Like fellow American Jim Walmsley, Schide hopes to observe within the footsteps of the legendary Courtney Dauwalter. As race week kicks off, Schide took to Instagram to share her combined feelings: “So right here we’re: race week. And I’m really excited/curious/nervous to see the place I’m at, having ready particularly for this subsequent race in a a lot shorter time-frame than previous years, however with extra confidence about what I used to contemplate my greatest weak point (the precise operating).”
However Schide received’t have it straightforward. She’ll be up towards a powerhouse area, together with Hungary’s Eszter Csillag, who positioned third on the 2023 WSER and fifth eventually 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, can be within the combine. And let’s not overlook Germany’s Katharina Harmuth, who secured second place eventually yr’s UTMB. This battle of the elites guarantees to be as thrilling as it’s unpredictable
Canadian girls to observe
Quebec’s very personal Marianne Hogan is again and able to make her mark after a difficult battle with accidents following her spectacular second-place end on the 2022 UTMB. Hogan, who additionally positioned third at WSER in 2022 and secured second on the Extremely-Path Cape City 100K in 2023, is keen to reclaim her podium spot. Becoming a member of her from Canada are rising stars like Quebec’s Geneviève Asselin Demers, Kelsey Hogan of Newfoundland and Ontario’s Claire Heslop, all set to offer their finest on this world stage.
However the pleasure doesn’t finish there. The record of prime 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 seventh in 2022—and Spain’s Maite Maiora, who completed fifth eventually yr’s UTMB, are all lining as much as problem Schide. With such fierce competitors, this race is shaping as much as be a nail-biter from begin to end.
Males’s race
Final yr, Walmsley lastly 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 defend his title—however the street to a WSER-UTMB double is something however easy. Standing in his approach is Ludovic Pommeret of France, the 49-year-old who claimed victory at this yr’s Hardrock 100. Pommeret, who completed fifth in final yr’s UTMB, appears to solely enhance with time and is hungry for redemption.
The U.Okay.’s Tom Evans, who received the 2023 WSER and took third at UTMB in 2022, is gunning for a prime spot. He’ll be toeing the road alongside French-Canadian Mathieu Blanchard, who secured second at UTMB in 2022, and France’s Germain Grangier, who was third final yr. And let’s not overlook Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz, one other French powerhouse, who dominated each the Hardrock 100 and Diagonale des Fous in 2023. With such a stacked area, Walmsley should struggle tooth and nail to remain on prime, making this yr’s UTMB one of the thrilling but.
Canadian males to observe
Like the ladies’s race, the boys’s area at UTMB options a few of Canada’s most interesting expertise. Main the cost 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 isn’t just right here to take part; he’s right here to dominate. Alongside him is Ryan Atkins, a world champion in impediment course racing, bringing his distinctive mix of velocity and toughness to the path.
Fernie, B.C.’s Ethan Peters returns for his second UTMB, trying to enhance on his earlier efficiency, whereas ultra-champion Scott Cooper, who made historical past by successful Western Canada’s first-ever 200-mile race in below 50 hours, can be within the combine. Together with his spectacular endurance, Cooper is a severe contender. Different Canadians to observe embrace Simon Widmann, Chris McNamara (Cooper’s coaching companion), Kevin Biggs and Samuel Frigon. This Canadian contingent is able to make their mark on the world stage, they usually’re not simply right here to observe from the sidelines.
Don’t miss a second of the UTMB motion! Tune in to the dwell stream beginning Friday, August thirtieth at midday ET, by clicking right here. For real-time updates, observe @canadiantrailrunning and @canadianrunning on X. Should you’re craving extra pre-race insights, take a look at Freetrail’s “Trailgating” sequence on YouTube, co-created by extremely path professional Dylan Bowman, the place you’ll discover top-notch interviews and must-follow storylines.