UTMB Group – a major player in trail running that has led the sport’s development for the last 18 years – has joined forces with The IRONMAN Group to boost the sport’s international development. Together the two race organisers will launch ‘the world’s ultimate trail-running circuit’: the UTMB World Series.
From as early as 2022, the UTMB World Series will bring together many of the best international events on the planet which will provide exclusive access to the sport’s pinnacle event, UTMB Mont-Blanc. Runners across the globe are invited to be part of it and to ‘meet their extraordinary’.
Billed as ‘an extraordinary adventure for all runners’… the new series is seen as ‘a revolution for the sport, that will bring the trail running community together through a new, integrated sports system that is open to all.’
The organisers note that, inspired by the high standards of UTMB, runners will be able to take part in the most beautiful events on the planet, and the UTMB World Series will be the only place where runners can begin their quest to Mont-Blanc, France, where the prestigious UTMB World Series Finals will be held.
In-line with the rapid growth of the sport of trail running, events will be held across six continents, giving all runners more opportunities to live the UTMB experience on a global scale.
While the full calendar of series events will be announced in the third quarter of the year, eight leading, international events are already confirmed across Europe, Asia and Oceania, including:
- UTMB Mont-Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland)
- Val d’Aran by UTMB (Spain)
- Thailand by UTMB (Thailand)
- Panda Trail by UTMB (China)
- Gaoligong by UTMB (China)
- Tarawera™ Ultramarathon by UTMB (New Zealand)
- Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB (Australia)
- mozart 100 by UTMB (Austria)
From 2022, the UTMB World Series will integrate four levels of event…
- UTMB World Series Finals – at UTMB Mont-Blanc, this pinnacle event will now also see the official crowning of the UTMB World Series male and female champions. UTMB World Series titles will be awarded in each of the three key distances of the UTMB Mont-Blanc – known as the OCC (50K), CCC (100K) and UTMB (100 mille) – and qualification can be achieved only by participating in one of the UTMB World Series Events or UTMB World Series Majors.
- UTMB World Series Majors – three UTMB World Series Majors will take place each year, where athletes can go head-to-head at the continental series finals in the Americas, Europe and in Asia/Oceania. Each UTMB World Series Major will include at least one race in each category – 50K, 100K and 100 mile – with elite and amateur finishers having ‘at least double the chance to access the UTMB World Series Finals.’
- UTMB World Series Events – from Europe, to Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Africa, UTMB World Series Events are billed as ‘the best events on the planet, taking place in exceptional locations in the heart of unspoiled nature.’ Each event will include at least one qualifying race in the 50K, 100K or 100 mile categories. These races will award ‘Running Stones’ – with 1 Running Stone equivalent to 1 entry into the UTMB World Series Finals entry lottery – giving runners the chance to be on the start line in Mont-Blanc. Top end runners will also be able to enter the finals based on their performance in the UTMB World Series Events.
- UTMB World Series Qualifiers – these are positioned as the gateway to the UTMB World Series, with ‘thousands of races around the world that are open to all’. Participating in a UTMB World Series Qualifier race is not mandatory to begin an adventure in the series but runners who do take part will benefit from ‘privileged access to the UTMB World Series Events’.
New alliance
UTMB Group and The IRONMAN Group have joined forces through a strategic partnership that will enable them to develop the sport of trail running together. The new UTMB World Series will seek to unite the trail running community by drawing on UTMB Group’s expertise in the sport and The IRONMAN Group’s global experience… ‘to create the future of trail running built around the values of UTMB: surpassing oneself; fair-play; respect for people and the environment; and solidarity.’
Catherine Poletti, President of UTMB Group, said “After 18 years of history that has seen UTMB become known around the world, it has become a brand that not only carries the sporting values of trail running but also fundamental human values.
“More than ever, we want to share this with as many people as possible and allow everyone to participate in an event organized in the same spirit – and with the same quality standards – as the UTMB Mont-Blanc.
“We are certain that combining our experience and what the UTMB brand represents, with the ability and expertise of The IRONMAN Group, is excellent news for the world of trail running and for all its players: the athletes, amateurs, elites, but also their friends and families, the territories, partners and the media.”
The IRONMAN Group has several established trail running events, including the Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB (Rotorua, New Zealand), Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB (Katoomba, NSW, Australia), and the mozart 100 by UTMB (Salzburg, Austria) – all of which will be part of the inaugural UTMB World Series.
Andrew Messick, President & Chief Executive Officer for The IRONMAN Group said “The legacy of excellence and leadership by the Poletti family and UTMB is unparalleled in trail running. Their ability to create transformative and enriching experiences registers deeply with us as the world’s largest organizer of endurance events, and together we look forward to bringing the deep-rooted values, spirit, and camaraderie of trail running competition globally.
“For over 40 years, we have worked to create event experiences that capture the imagination of people from around the world, producing life-changing race experiences for athletes of all levels, from their first step through the finish-line.
“We are grateful for the ability to partner with the talented team at UTMB Group as we marry our strengths in creating the UTMB World Series as a platform to elevate the extraordinary that exists in us all.”
‘The UTMB World Series will provide new services for runners such as privileged access, as well as new and more precise sporting criteria that considers the specificities of trail running. This includes developing the Performance Index as an exclusive asset of UTMB Group and creating new categories for classifying events.’
Performance index
Runners familiar with the sport’s first-ever ranking system will be able to continue using it on the new series platform to evaluate and compare their performance level. Runners with a Performance Index will have privileged access to UTMB World Series races, regardless of their level.
Four new categories based on the km-effort
There will be four UTMB World Series categories including 20K, 50K, 100K and 100 mile which will be based on the km-effort. This is ‘a globally recognized formula for measuring the race distance in trail running’ by considering both the distance and elevation gain to calculate the perceived distance. For example, 100M means 100 miles and represents a 170 kilometre-effort.
‘Top athletes’ consultation’
In the process of defining the new series’ sporting structure, a ‘significant group of international elite athletes were consulted to understand their collective feedback.’ Under the new sports system, to gain access to the UTMB World Series Finals, the best trail runners on the planet will have to qualify by taking part in the UTMB World Series Majors or UTMB World Series Events over a period of 15 months.
The top 10 male and top 10 female runners in each of the 50K, 100K and 100M categories at the World Series Majors will win a place for the next edition of the World Series Finals race of the same category.
The top three male and top three female runners in each of the 50K, 100K and 100M categories at the World Series Events will win a place for the next edition of the World Series Finals race of the same category.
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