The first ever UTMB World Series, which will debut in 2022, has added a further five events in the UK, Corsica (France) and Switzerland.
The new series has now confirmed 20 international events for its debut season in 2022, with more events planned to be confirmed before the end of the year. The inaugural circuit will feature up to 30 events across the globe with a calendar that runs year-round. This includes the UTMB World Series Finals in August in Chamonix, billed as ‘the pinnacle of the trail running year’.
In Switzerland, three new events have been confirmed each with its own unique flavour. The renowned Eiger mountain in Grindelwald, Switzerland, will be the setting for Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB, a race that will immerse runners in the challenging terrain of the Bernese Alps. Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard by UTMB, the oldest Swiss ultra trail, joins the series along with a brand-new event hosted by the ski resort of Crans-Montana, Wildstrubel by UTMB.
Additionally, Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB in Wales is set to become the first-ever UTMB World Series Event in the UK, offering a technical mountain course; and on the French island of Corsica, Restonica Trail by UTMB will take runners on a journey along one of the most famous hiking trails in the world, the GR20.
Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB
Celebrating its tenth anniversary from 15-17 July 2022, the Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB will reward runners with panoramic views including of the notable UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, Jungfrau-Aletsch – the longest glacier in the Alps.
From the 360-degree outlook from Faulhorn at 2,680m, to the final strides along the base of the Eiger north face, runners can take on 101km, 51km, 35km and 16km distances, as well as a ‘Trail surprise’ of approximately 10km, a 51km team race and a new team 250km race.
Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB
Highlighting the mountainous areas of the Snowdonia National Park in northern Wales, Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB takes place across predominantly technical mountain trails, with courses that explore Snowdonia’s most scenic valleys, rugged peaks and epic landscapes.
Runners can choose from three distances including 50km, 100km and the flagship 100 miles – the latter being known as a ‘beautifully brutal beast’ that takes in the most notable peaks of north Wales.
The 2022 edition takes place on 1-3 July 2022 with entries opening in early December.
Restonica Trail by UTMB
The GR20 – or grande randonnée – is a hiking trail that winds its way along the jagged spine of Corsica’s mountainous centre and is the highlight for much of Restonica Trail by UTMB.
From the first step, runners begin a steep climb through dense pine forests, past stone villages and shepherd’s huts that cling to the mountains, skirt around glacial lakes, run through the former capital city of the island, Corte, and follow rivers and waterfalls as they head up to the jagged mountainous interior.
From 7-9 July, Restonica Trail by UTMB will welcome over 1,500 runners across the four distances, 110km, 69km, 33km and 17km.
Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard by UTMB
Known for its scenery, with glaciers and high passes, Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard by UTMB in the Swiss Alps has changing views of the Mont Blanc massif and of several 4,000m Swiss peaks.
Thousands of runners are expected to take to the start line in the famous ski resort of Verbier for an adventure across 140km, 76km, 45km and 26km, traversing alpine trails, passing glaciers, and winding through mountain villages, as well as passing the historic monastery at Saint-Bernard Pass.
From the 8-10 July 2022, runners will experience a journey through some of the most impressive mountain terrain and villages in the Valais region located on the Italian border.
Wildstrubel by UTMB
A brand-new event, connecting the Swiss cantons of Valais and Bern, Wildstrubel by UTMB will take runners on a journey through the northern Alps of Switzerland.
The pinnacle 106km race will include 6,000m of elevation gain on a course designed by Jean-Yves Rey, winner of the 2009 CCC. Runners will embark on a complete loop of the Wildstrubel massif and the Plaine Morte Glacier, crossing two cantons, two linguistic regions and five internationally renowned destinations: Crans-Montana, Leukerbad, Kandersteg, Adelboden and Lenk.
Runners will traverse from one canton to another on a route that takes them via the passes of Gemmi (2,268m) and Rawyl (2,427m), as well as the Via Alpina trail between Kandersteg and Lenk.
Wildstrubel by UTMB will also offer a 50km race from Adelboden, as well as a 23km race from Leukerbad.
The resort of Crans-Montana – which is situated on a high plateau at an altitude of 1,500m and offers views of 40 summits culminating at over 4,000m of altitude – will host the first edition of Wildstrubel by UTMB from 8-11 September 2022.
Next step North America
In May 2021, UTMB Group partnered with The IRONMAN Group to launch the UTMB World Series, which, from 2022, will bring together many of the world’s best international trail running events to provide exclusive access to UTMB Mont-Blanc.
A contingent from the UTMB World Series, including UTMB founders Catherine and Michel Poletti and The IRONMAN Group President & CEO Andrew Messick are together visiting established events in North America that will join the circuit in 2022, in addition to potential future venues for the series. Further details on new events are expected in the coming weeks.
UTMB World Series Events are where runners can begin their quest to the UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix, France, which will be held in the three key distances of the UTMB Mont-Blanc – the OCC (50km), CCC (100km) and UTMB (100 miles).
UTMB World Series Events are also the only place where athletes can collect ‘Running Stones’ for use in the UTMB Mont-Blanc registration lottery for 2023 onwards. Only one Running Stone is needed to enter the lottery. For elite runners, UTMB World Series Events will be the only races where they can qualify for the UTMB World Series Finals.
UTMB World Series 2022 confirmed events (as at 19th November 2021)
- Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB (New Zealand), 12 February
- Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB (Australia), 12-15 May
- Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB (France), 11 June
- mozart 100 by UTMB (Austria), 18 June
- La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB (Italy), 23-26 June
- Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB (Andorra), 24-26 June
- Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (USA), 25-26 June
- Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB, (Wales), 1-3 July
- Restonica Trail by UTMB (France) 7-9 July
- Val d’Aran by UTMB (Spain), 7-10 July
- Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard by UTMB, (Switzerland), 8-10 July
- Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB, (Switzerland), 15-17 July
- Wildstrubel by UTMB, (Switzerland), 8-11 September
- Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB (France), 22-25 September
- Puerto Vallarta México by UTMB (Mexico), October
- Thailand by UTMB (Thailand), 10-13 November
- TransLantau by UTMB (Hong Kong), November
- Panda Trail by UTMB (China), dates TBC
- Gaoligong by UTMB (China), dates TBC
- UTMB World Series Finals; UTMB Mont-Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland), 22-28 August.
