UTMB® World Series bolsters 2022 circuit with addition of events in North America and across Europe

December 16, 2021

UTMB® World Series Majors for 2022/23 season confirmed in Europe and Asia-Pacific regions, with US Major to be revealed at a later date giving runners more opportunities to reach the UTMB® World Series Finals in Chamonix, 2023.

(Chamonix, France) 16 December 2021 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Runners in the USA will be able to experience the UTMB® adventure and begin their journey to the renowned UTMB® Mont-Blanc on home soil, with the confirmation that two exceptional trail running events in North America will join the inaugural UTMB® World Series in 2022. The organizers of the world’s leading trail running circuit have also announced more opportunities for European runners, with the confirmation of additional events in Croatia and Slovenia.

In the US, Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB® in California will take runners back to the birthplace of mountain ultras along the historic Western States Trail, while Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB® in Utah presents a challenge on one of the toughest 50km races in the country.

In central Europe, Croatia’s premier trail running event, Istria 100 by UTMB®, will challenge runners on a course that is as beautiful as it is demanding, while Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB® will immerse runners in serene wilderness of the highest mountains in Slovenia.

First UTMB® World Series Majors confirmed in Spain and Hong Kong

Taking place from the 7-10 July 2022, Val d’Aran by UTMB® is set to become the first ever European UTMB® World Series Major for the 2022/23 season. The event gives runners the chance to experience the wild side of the Spanish Pyrenees across four distances – 161km, 105km, 55km and 15km – and in its inaugural edition in 2021, welcomed over 3,000 runners from 75 different nationalities.

TransLantau™ by UTMB® – a leading race in Hong Kong – has been confirmed as the 2022/23 Asia-Pacific Major. Taking place from the 3-6 November 2022, the event will offer four races on Lantau Island ranging from 25km to the new 140km distance, allowing runners to escape the urbanization of the city and discover the wilderness of Hong Kong.

The 2022/23 US Major will be confirmed in the coming months, and will take place at the beginning of 2023, forming part of the qualification for the first ever UTMB® World Series Finals in Chamonix, August 2023.

The UTMB® World Series Majors offer additional qualification chances for the UTMB® World Series Finals with the top 10 male and top 10 female runners in each of the 50K, 100K and 100M categories automatically winning their place at the 2023 Finals start line. Regular runners will also collect double the amount of Running Stones compared to other UTMB® World Series Events, increasing their chance of being selected through the UTMB® Mont-Blanc 2023 registration lottery.

Follow in the footsteps of ultra-running’s pioneers as Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB® takes you along the historic Western States Trail

On the 23 April 2022, Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB®, will bring runners back to the birthplace of mountain ultras, in Auburn, California. Participants will experience the most scenic and difficult sections of the iconic Western States Trail as they cover up to 15,000’ through the infamous Canyons.

Along rugged trails, runners can enjoy great panorama vistas of the Sierras and rarely seen canyon gullies as they run through beautiful oak and pine canopied forests on fast descents and steep climbs. Crossing streams and old wooden bridges through historic settlements from California’s gold rush days, Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB® is a real journey through time, in the footsteps of the pioneers of ultra-running.

The Canyons Endurance Runs will feature three distances: 100km, 50km and 25km. Registrations are open here.

Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB® offers a big challenge and even bigger views in Utah

Held on the slopes of one of the USA’s top ski resorts, Snowbird in Utah, Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB® has deservedly earned itself a reputation as one of the toughest 50km races in the US. Gruelling verticals, unique, rocky terrain, and endless elevation is met with blue skies, breath-taking views and wildflowers of Utah’s Wasatch Mountain Range.

This iconic mountain race, named after famed American ultrarunner and founder of Speedgoat Mountain Races, Karl Meltzer, offers a distance for everyone including a 13km, 28km and the legendary 50km, which with almost 12,000 feet of vertical climbing – and almost all of it above 9,000 feet – is not for the faint hearted.

Held in July 2022, the race will celebrate its 15th anniversary next year. Entries will open in January on the event website here.

Istria 100 by UTMB® provides a challenge as beautiful as it is demanding

Istria 100 by UTMB® is the biggest trail running race in Croatia, and from the 7-10 April 2022, over 2,000 runners will head to the heart-shaped peninsula of Istria in the north-west of Croatia to take on the challenge.

100-mile, 128km, 68km, 40km and the new 20km courses are all on offer, with the 100-mile challenge providing a course that is as beautiful as it is demanding. Runners can expect technical terrain, old medieval towns, deep forests, muddy valleys and even a little bit of coasteering with breath-taking views stretching all the way to the Adriatic Sea on a journey through the most scenic parts of Istria. Visit the event website here for details on entries opening.

A treasure trove of natural beauty at Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB®

Slovenia’s premier trail running race, Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB®, gives runners the chance to literally run into serene wilderness and explore the outstanding trails of the highest mountains in the country. Named after the mountain range on which it takes place, the event combines mountain paths and accessible trails with more technical terrain and has something to offer every trail runner.

With Slovenia’s highest mountain, Mount Triglav, at its heart, runners on the 170km, 100km and 60km courses will experience a treasure trove of natural beauty, including picturesque Alpine valleys, the dazzling shorelines of Lake Bled and the emerald-green beauty of the Soča River. 10km, 15km and 30km distances are also available, making this is a real celebration of trail running for all abilities.

Based around the alpine resort of Kranjska Gora in north-western Slovenia, the event takes place from the 16-18 September 2022, and entries are now open on the website.

UTMB® World Series 2022 confirmed Events (As of 16 December 2021)

24 leading international events across 16 countries are now confirmed for the first ever UTMB® World Series, promising runners of all abilities from around the world the chance to immerse themselves in the UTMB® experience. UTMB® World Series Events are the only place where runners can collect running stones and begin their journey to UTMB® Mont-Blanc – the new home of the UTMB® World Series Finals.

• Tarawera™ Ultramarathon by UTMB® (New Zealand), 12 February
• Istria 100 by UTMB® (Croatia), 7-10 April
• Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB®, (USA) 23 April
• 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
• Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB® (USA), July
• 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
• Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB®, (Slovenia), 16-18 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), 3-6 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

©UTMB® World Series – click here to watch the map

QUOTES:

Charles Sheya, Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB®
“The Canyons Endurance Runs event is my passion, and I couldn’t be happier to see it join such a bold and pioneering global trail running series as the UTMB® World Series. The beauty and history of the Western States Trail are what make this race so special. This is the birthplace of mountain ultra trail, the holy grail of trails, built on rich tradition and hard work—and we all get to be a part of that history. There’s no better place to celebrate the joy and comradery of trails—join us in the spring!”

Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer, Founder and Race Director, Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB®
“I’m excited and proud to bring the Speedgoat Mountain Races to the forefront of Ultrarunning.  Partnering with The IRONMAN Group and UTMB to be part of the UTMB® World Series is a big step in creating the ultimate World Series event in Chamonix in late August.  It is truly an honor to be part of this magnificent series. Our Speedgoat Mountain Races will be bigger and better than ever!”

Luka Hren, Race Director, Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB®
“There are days, there are good days and then there’s the day you become a part of the world’s largest trail running series. For us, this represents a great opportunity to show the world our beautiful nature and our incredible Slovenia. On the way around the Julian Alps, runners will be able to admire our highest mountain, Triglav and Triglav National Park, the emerald Soča river and the unique world-famous Lake Bled. We are already looking forward to seeing you in the alpine Kranjska Gora next autumn.”

Marko Gregurić, Chairman, Istria 100 by UTMB®
“There comes a time for events to grow or find a new direction of development. My team and I are happy and proud to find that growth among a group of very competent and successful races gathered in the UTMB® World Series. Our idea and passion of creating something unique in Istria to show its beautiful nature, medieval towns and variety of landscapes to trail runners and commitment to the local community has received extra validation through the inclusion of Istria 100 by UTMB® in the UTMB® World Series.”

UTMB® World Series

The UTMB® World Series is a revolution for the sport, that will bring the trail running community together through a new, integrated sports system that is open to all. 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, events will be held across six continents, giving all runners more opportunities to live the UTMB® experience on a global scale. For more information, visit www.utmb.world.

UTMB Group

Over the last 18 years, and since the creation of UTMB® Mont-Blanc in 2003 by a group of passionate friends, UTMB Group has been the driving force behind the development of trail running. The UTMB® Mont-Blanc is the sports pinnacle event, and every year, 10,000 runners earn their place on the start line. UTMB Group also pioneered the LiveTrail® technology, an innovative digital service that supports the management of endurance races. Revered by hundreds of thousands of athletes, UTMB® has become a global, premium, and leading brand. 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 best international events on the planet to provide exclusive access to the sport’s pinnacle event, UTMB® Mont-Blanc. The UTMB® World Series is built on the founding principles of UTMB® Mont-Blanc: surpassing oneself; fair-play; respect for people and the environment; and solidarity. Find out more at www.utmb.world

The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The Sun-Herald City2Surf®, UTMB® World Series events including Tarawera Ultramarathon and Ultra-Trail Australia™, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events including Haute Route®, and gravel racing like Gravel Epic®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

CONTACTS

UTMB Group French media enquiries:
Hugo Joyeux +33 4 50 53 47 51
presse@utmb.world

UTMB Group international media enquiries:
presse@utmb.world
Sabina Mollart Rogerson +44 7922 140148

The IRONMAN Group media enquiries:
press@ironman.com  
Dan Berglund