2017 Tarawera Ultra Marathon
UTMB Group has joined forces with The IRONMAN Group to boost the sport’s international development. Together, they 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 “meet their extraordinary”.
An extraordinary adventure for all runners
The UTMB® World Series 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. 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.
While the full calendar of UTMB® World 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)
As of 2022, the UTMB® World Series will integrate four levels of event:
UTMB® World Series Finals
UTMB® Mont-Blanc is the place where legends of the sport are made, and 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® (100M) – 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 Asia/Oceania. Each UTMB® World Series Major will include at least one race in each category – 50km, 100km 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 take place in exceptional locations in the heart of unspoiled nature. Organised to the highest quality standards to bring the UTMB® adventure closer to runners globally, each event will include at least one qualifying race in the 50km, 100km or 100-mile categories. These races will award Running Stones – with 1 Running Stone equivalent to 1 entry into the UTMB® World Series Finals entries lottery – giving runners the chance to be on the start line in Mont-Blanc. The stars of the sport will also be able to enter the Finals based on their performance in the UTMB® World Series Events.
UTMB® World Series Qualifiers
UTMB® World Series Qualifiers are 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 your adventure in the Series but runners who do take part will benefit from privileged access to the UTMB® World Series Events.
