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Ultra trail of Mont Blanc - UTMB

Ultra trail of Mont Blanc - UTMB
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Ultra trail of Mont Blanc - UTMB. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Hong Kong’s TransLantau by UTMB is a trail run across Lantau Island, with four events ranging in distance from 25km to 130km. Photo: Instagram/ utmbworldseries
Trail running and hiking

Hong Kong TransLantau by UTMB trail run organisers apologise after complaints

Hundreds of runners in the 50km event went without water, while many slam poor organisation, ‘having to fend for themselves’ during typhoon.

Extreme fitness

Nepal racer wins by smallest of margins, edges out China’s Xiang Fuzhao

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Trail running and hiking

UTMB, Kilian Jornet and others discuss trail running future

Trail running and hiking

New ultra running series launches to counter ‘commercial’ giant UTMB

Hong Kong 100 directors create World Major Trails series with races in Asia, Africa, Europe and America, to put ‘original spirit of trail and ultra running’ back at the centre of the sport.

The Hong Kong 100 is one of nine races on the new World Trail Majors. Photo: Vibram Hong Kong 100
Extreme fitness

New UTMB book sheds light on prize money controversy and the race’s founders

The Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc is the most famous and high-profile ultra-running event in the world.

Extreme fitness

‘No less than a boy’: Budha tackles gender norms in Nepal after CCC heroics

‘I will be capable someday of taking care of my family much better than a boy,’ says Hong Kong-based runner Sunmaya Budha, who finished second in prestigious trail race at UTMB.

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Extreme fitness

How excel planning helped Hong Kong resident finish fifth at UTMB

Eszter Csillag climbed from 17th to fifth with a conservative well-planned pace at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc.

Eszter Csillag en route to coming fifth at the UTMB. Photo: Daniel Olvaszto
Coronavirus Hong Kong

Letters | Will Hong Kong’s trail running scene also fall victim to quarantine policies?

Readers discuss how pandemic restrictions are affecting the organisation of an international race in November and how the city’s ongoing crisis of confidence weighs on the minds of arrivals.

China’s top trail running ‘Legion’ leave pandemic behind for UTMB

Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc chief praises recent ‘outstanding performances’ of Chinese runners at top European races as they look to make another splash at Chamonix in August.

Health & Fitness

‘Tough as nails’ Emily Woodland targets 100km post-cancer

Emily Woodland has battled colon cancer for the last year, and is now determined to finish the 100km TransLantau by UTMB this November.

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Emily Woodland has recovered from cancer and is running the TransLantau by UTMB. Photo: Handout
Nepal

Top Nepali ultra-runner lifting women out of poverty with Hong Kong support

Mira Rai emerged as a trail running prodigy in 2014 and has won races around the world. Now the former child soldier wants to help other women like her, and the Hong Kong chapter of Asia Trail Girls is supporting her initiative.

Mira Rai takes part in a training session on a hill on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Photo: AFP

Chinese runners dominate Thailand by UTMB race in Chiang Mai

With a lack of races at home and in the region, Zhao Jiajiu and Xiang Fuzhao took full advantage to win the men’s and women’s races respectively.

Extreme fitness

UTMB comes to Hong Kong as TransLantau added to World Series

‘We hope we can show Hong Kong is not just shopping malls and a big city,’ says Lantau race co-director Sabrina De Nadai of ‘amazing trails’.

Extreme fitness

Hong Kong 100 organiser Janet Ng elected ITRA president

Janet Ng says she wants to see an increase in participation of women in trail running.

Janet Ng has been elected the International Trail Running Association president. Photo: SCMP

UTMB enjoys spectacular ‘rebirth’ after terrible tragedy

The opening of the trail-running festival was marred by the first death of a competitor at the event, before Courtney Dauwalter and Francois D’Haene scored incredible wins in main event.

Spain’s Marta Molist Codina, a mother who works as driving instructor, was the CCC champion. Photo: Michel Cottin/UTMB

UTMB: Wong battles to 11th despite partial loss of vision

Top trail runner from Hong Kong, Wong Ho-chung, finishes 11th at UTMB and talks about losing part of his sight during the race in the French Alps.

D’Haene claims a record fourth UTMB title, but phenomenal Dauwalter steals the show

D’Haene wins another UTMB just weeks after winning the Hardrock 100 mile in the USA, but Dauwalter finishes seventh overall as she destroys women’s field.

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UTMB: Baronian sets men’s CCC record as Molist Codina wins debut 100km

Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc’s 101km Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix men’s race features three-way battle after blistering start.

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Spain's Marta Molist Codina, the women's race winner at the 2021 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc's Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix (CCC) 101km race. Photo: Michel Cottin / UTMB

L’Hirondel and Albon claim breathtaking 55km victories

L’Hirondel smashes women’s record on her way to 20th place as Albon emerges victorious in ‘Battle of the Britons’.

Czech runner dies at UTMB’s TDS race, in first fatality at running festival

Helicopter rescue unsuccessful following fall on steep descent from Passeur de Pralognan in France, as Chinese trail running community share condolences after Gansu deaths.

Coronavirus Hong Kong

Hong Kong trail runner hit by quarantine changes, coach blasts government

Team director Ryan Blair hits out as Nicole Kidman is given ‘a free pass’ while Wong Ho-chung scrambles ahead of UTMB to rebook flights, hotels and family arrangements.

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Wong Ho-chung says his career is in jeopardy now as he is not prepared to do a 21-day quarantine after such a gruelling event. Photo: North Face

UTMB ‘rebirth’ sees races return but with fewer Asian runners

‘Beautiful to be able to organise UTMB again,’ says co-founder Michael Poletti after event was cancelled last year.

Dmitry Mityaev high fiving spectators after coming second in 2019 TDS. Photo: Pavel Toropov
Extreme fitness

UTMB and Ironman partner for World Series, replacing Ultra-Trail World Tour

The Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc Group adds Tarawera in New Zealand and Ultra-Trail Australia to its list and are looking for races in North America.

Extreme fitness

Mud-caked ‘enjoyment’ for 2,700 runners as UTMB returns to China

The famous French brand hosts a race in China’s Sichuan province, with conditions better suited to digging than running. Athletes are required to provide a negative Covid-19 test within a week of the race.

Wellness

Pau Capell misses UTMB course record on ‘Breaking 20’ attempt

The 2019 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc champion attempts to break the 171km (106-mile) route record despite fact that the race was cancelled due to coronavirus

Pau Capell celebrating winning the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc 2019. Photo: UTMB TV
Extreme fitness

As trail races return, what is the new normal and how long will it last?

Bob Crowley, head of ITRA, warns that social distancing rules will be in trail running deep into 2021, but he hopes the community aspect will not suffer.

Runners are called to the start in groups and made to distance at the Trail Porto de Cruz in Portugal. Photo: Aurelio Davide
Extreme fitness

The Beast from the East: Russia’s rising trail-running star

At 1.83m and 82kg, Dmitry Mityaev is not your typical ultra runner, but it does not stop him crushing the 140km Elbrus record.

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Extreme fitness

Runner faces 30 laps of Hong Kong Peak in 100km charity challenge

Rob Naylor bucks online nomination trend by setting himself 100km challenge round and round the same flat road, having never done ‘anything so boring’.

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