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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 ultrarunner Wong Chun-kiu poses on the Central Harbourfront before leading an AIA Vitality Hub running class on April 26, 2025. Wong has completed ultratrail races around the world, including in New Zealand, the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Beijing. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Wellness

The epic feats of Hong Kong ultrarunner who holds free classes in Central

Wong Chun-kiu has run from New York to Los Angeles, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, and around Taiwan – and is helping others to age well too.

Trail running and hiking

Hong Kong TransLantau by UTMB trail run organisers apologise after complaints

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

The Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc and top trail runners discuss how to balance the sport’s development ‘with its values at the centre’.

The UTMB is a week long running festival in Chamonix and has expanded to a 37 race strong World Series. Photo: UTMB
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.

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.

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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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Fans celebrate with Sunmaya Budha as she crosses the finish line in second at the UTMB CCC. Photos: Olly Bowman/Asia Pacific Adventure
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.

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.

Yun Yanqiao approaches the finish line in first place in the 50km race at the Val d’Aran by UTMB. Photo: Val d’Aran by UTMB/Liqen Studio
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.

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’.

The TransLantau has been added to the UTMB World Series. Photo: Sunny Lee
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.

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.

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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.

Courtney Dauwalter at the UTMB finish line. Photo: Laurent Salino/UTMB

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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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.

Runners on a climb during TDS at higher altitude than the main event the UTMB. Photo: Franck Oddoux / UTMB
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.

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.

Daniel Perez Fernandez, a Shenzhen-based Spanish trail runner, competing in the Panda Trail by UTMB. Photos: Panda Trail by UTMB
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.

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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