The world’s best ultra runners descend on Chamonix in the Alps this week, writes Adrian Stott
For one week in late August or early September each year, the French mountain resort of Chamonix becomes a global hub for trail running as runners gather from around the world to take part in the annual Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB). .
Opinions remain divided among runners about the impact of the UTMB operation and its growing global reach, which now includes 48 events across the planet.
The self-titled “UTMB World Series” has evolved to include distances of around 100 miles, 100 km and 50 km at each location, with the addition of shorter mountain and junior races at many locations.
The Chamonix event hosts the UTMB World Series Finals. Put simply, you qualify for the finals by collecting points or “stones” to participate in other UTMB World Series events.
Chamonix’s blue ribbon is the UTMB race, over 171 km/105 miles, with 9,963 meters of ascent.
The route loops from Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France, traveling through Italy and Switzerland before returning to Chamonix.
The other two classic races are its sister races, the CCC over 101 km and the OCC over 57 km, which are also World Series final races.
What can’t be denied is that some of the world’s best trail and mountain runners will be in Chamonix this week fighting for the podiums, with several thousand other runners of all standards joining them on the start line.
With such a large field, it’s impossible to name all the contenders, but we’ve highlighted a few to look out for, along with the leading GB interest in each race.
Jim Walmsley (UTMB)
UTMB – August 30, 18:00 (176 km, 9900 m)
Men’s World Challengers
- Jim Walmsley USA. 2023 UTMB Champion and 2024 Western States Champion.
- Mathieu Blanchard FRA. 4th 2023 at UTMB. 1st Lac de Annecy in May 2024.
- Hannes Namberger GER. 1 at Lavaredo this year where he beat Tom Evans by three and a half minutes. 8th 2023 at UTMB.
British interest
- Tom Evans: 3rd 2022 at UTMB. He seems ready to challenge the podium. GB International was 2nd at Lavaredo in June 2024 and 3rd at Transvulcania in May 2024. First in the Western States in 2023.
- Tom Jolly. 16, 2023 UTMB. 11th World Long Trail 2023 at TransLantau 2023. 3rd UTMB 2022
- Josh Wade: 8th TGC 2024. DNF UTMB 2023.
- Andy Symonds. Extremely experienced on the European circuit. GB International Trail Team and 11th at UTMB in 2022 and 5th in 2019.
- Keith Wigley. A DNF in 2023. Second in Ultra Sierra Nevada behind Joly 2024.4th in May’s Ultra Tour Snowdonia.
Evans, who has become one of the world’s leading professional runners, is known for meticulous planning. He recently launched his own Ultra Sound Podcast and has been telling his many followers about the creation of UTMB.
Jolie spent time at altitude in Tigues, near Chamonix, along with Evans, Wigley, Wade and others.
Tom Jolly (WMTRC)
“My own preparation has been much better this year, with six weeks of heat training in Spain, followed by four weeks in Tiges at altitude,” says Jolie. “My goal is to run 21 hours, which I think I’m capable of with last year’s experience. If all goes according to plan, you won’t be seeing much of me in coverage until after the race.”
Wade also says he’s put in a good, solid training block.
Women’s World Challengers
- Kathy Sheed USA. 2nd 2023 UTMB 1st 2022 UTMB.
- Fuzhao Xiang CHN 4th 2023 UTMB.
- Eszter Csillag HUN. 5th 2022 UTMB.
- Emily Hawgood ZIM. 6th 2022 UTMB 2nd 2023 CCC.
They are also the top four of June’s Western States 100. Time will tell who is best rehabilitated for the various rigors of the UTMB.
- Home favorite Blandine L’Hirondel, 3rd in the 2023 UTMB and former Long Trail World Champion from Thailand in 2022, is running shorter races this year and is confident of contention. is
British interest
- Fiona Pascal. 1st Mozart 100km2023 1st Julian alps 170km 2023. 18th World Long Trail Innsbruck 2023. Lake District 24 hour record 2022.
- Emma Stewart is from Ireland but lives in the lakes and has won the Lakeland 100, Ultra Trail Snowdonia 100 and Arc of Attrition 100 in the past.
Pascal also enjoyed a shorter period in the Alps. “It’s been a rocky road since Mozart in early June,” he says. “I injured my achilles two weeks after the race and had to take four weeks off completely, even off the bike.
“I almost didn’t come to France, but I decided to go for it and I’ve had a good few weeks of training here. I’m hoping the enforced rest time has left me better rested rather than undertrained, but that remains to be seen. It helped my attitude. I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform this year, but now, although I still want to do my best, I’m just thankful to be here.”
CCC – Friday August 30, 09:00 (101 km, 6050 m)
Men’s World Challengers
- Peter Engdahl. SWE winner in CCC 2022.
- Adam Peterman. 2022 US Western States Champion and 2022 World Long Track Champion in Thailand.
- Andreas Reiterer. ATA. 1st Eiger Trail 2024
British interest
- Harry Jones. 1st X-terra 60km Snowdonia, July 2024. GB trail team member.
- Luke Grenfall-Shaw. 1st recently in Val D’Arran 100km. Team GB European Off-Road Champions June 2024.
- Ronnie Spark has a number of podium finishes in Australia including 1st place at the 2023 Tarawera 53km. He was 21st in the 2023 CCC.
- Hugh Chatfield. 4th place in both Ultra Tour Snowdonia and Transgrancanaria in 2024.
Women’s World Challengers
- Jazmine Lowther CAN. in the 4th CCC in 2022
- Emkay Sullivan USA. April 2nd in the USA 100km Canyons ultra.
- Hau Ha Thi VNM. 4th in CCC in 2023 and multiple wins in Asia at various distances.
British interest
- Holly Page. Suffers from injury for two or three years, but finds himself in good form again in 2024 with wins at the Kaieserkrone Sky Race and the 55km Eiger Ultra Trail.
- Julia Davis. GB trail and 100km international.
- Eva Moore.
Holly Page
Page is looking forward to the race, saying: “I had a terrible experience with a stomach virus the last time I did it (2019), so hopefully it won’t be any worse than that. I don’t have performance-based goals because I can’t control what anyone else does, but I feel strong and even though it’s been quite a while since I’ve run this distance, I’m confident that the years of mountain experience in my body will pay. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be at the end of the race.
“It’s not a course that’s particularly suited to my greatest strengths (I’d like steeper technical sections), but I’ve had an incredible number of setbacks over the last few years, with many periods where I wondered if I’d ever run again. just happy to be on the starting line feeling healthy, ready to see what I can do with what I have. The course is beautiful, I know there will be some friendly faces cheering and I can’t wait to get started.”
Davis is mixing trails with roads this year and says: I’ve never done a UTMB final, still so excited to learn so much and have a great time on those trails. I’m hoping to start nice and easy and see where I can go.”
John Albon (UTMB)
OCC – Thursday, August 29, 8.15 (57 km, 3500 m)
Men’s World Challengers
- Francesco Pupi, ITA 2nd in OCC in 2023, 2nd Templier 80 km 20238th 2024 Marathon Mont Blanc.
- Remi Bonnet. Former SUI Gold Trail Series Champion, 1st Mont Blanc Marathon 2023 and 2nd 2024.
British interest
- John Albon. The famous British international and former world champion was 1st in the CCC 2023, 2nd in the CCC in 2022 and the 2021 OCC winner ahead of Simpson. Also 6th at Western States in his first 100 mile race in June. Need to re-challenge the podium.
- Robbie Simpson. The Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medalist celebrated victories in this year’s 50km Eiger Trail and 50km Siannt Trail.
- Chris Jones. GB International is versatile on all surfaces. 1 on the recent Copper Trail in Snowdonia and in the top 10 on the World Short Trail in 2022 and 2023.
- Brennan Townsend
- James Tilley
Albon has proven his ability as an ultimate competitor over the years and should challenge for the podium if he recovers from Western States.
Simpson, who like Albon (and Evans) are full-time athletes, should also be with the leaders.
Jones, who has a full-time job, hasn’t had a chance to spend time in the Alps, but says: “The preparation went well. I am fit, healthy and excited to compete in a top field. It’s a tough course and I’m looking forward to testing myself.”
Clementine Jeffrey (David Gontier)
Women’s World Challengers
- Clementine Geoffray FRA. June 2024 European 50km Championships and Innsbruck 2023 World Short Course Championships.
- Judith Wyder SUI. 2nd World Short Course Championships Innsbruck 2023 1st 2024 Mont Blanc Marathon 42 km.
- Dani Moreno USA. 3rd 2022 OCC, DNF at OCC 2023, 1st Canyons 50km April 2024.
British interest
- Kate Avery, a former GB track international, is currently based in Australia. Enjoying the trails now and hoping to improve on last year’s 23rd place. More about Avery here.
- Holly Wootton, recent Helvellyn Sky Ultra winner.
Other events
TDS – Monday August 26 (145km/90 miles, 9100m)
British interest
- Mark Darbyshire. Probably GB’s most consistent 100 miler at the moment with multiple wins including Lakeland 100 and Arc of Attrition 100. Winner of the Lakeland 50 in July.
- Saki Nakamura, Japanese runner based in Glasgow, 2nd in Scotland’s 95-mile West Highland Way in 2022 and 4th in 2023.
ETC – Tuesday August 27, 14:00 (20 km, 1200 m)
British and Irish interests
- Alice Goodall, 2023 European Under-23 10,000m champion and top 10 downhill finisher at the 2023 Mountain and Trail World Championships in Innsbruck.
- Zak Hanna, Ireland’s leading mountain runner.
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