Mullerthal, Luxembourg 13.09.2025
Source: https://utml.lu and https://www.instagram.com/ultratrail_utml.lu/
The Leopard UTML Ultratrail Müllerthal is a well-established and highly-regarded trail running event in Luxembourg, known for its challenging courses through the stunning natural landscape of the Müllerthal region, often called “Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland.”
While a specific, detailed, year-by-year history of the event’s founding and early days is not widely documented, a general timeline can be constructed based on available information:
- Inception: The event’s origins trace back to at least 2016, with race results and records from that year and subsequent years available on trail running databases. This suggests it has been a fixture in the European trail running calendar for nearly a decade.
- Location and Landscape: The race’s defining feature is its location. It takes place in the Müllerthal region of eastern Luxembourg, famous for its dramatic rock formations, narrow gorges, caves, and lush forests. The courses are designed to showcase this unique “Little Switzerland” scenery.
- Evolution of Disciplines: Over the years, the event has offered a range of distances to appeal to various levels of trail runners. The core distances have consistently included a flagship ultra-marathon (initially around 100km, now typically 111km) and shorter trail races. The event has also added a “Kids Adventure-Run” to encourage younger participation. The race distances have included:
- Ultra-Trail (111 km)
- Long-Trail (75 km)
- Trail (35 km)
- Shorty-Trail (21 km)
- Ultra-Shorty (10 km)
- Kids Adventure-Run
- Qualifying Races: The UTML has been recognized as a qualifying race for the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and, in recent years, the UTMB World Series, cementing its status as a serious and competitive event on the global stage. This means that runners can earn “Running Stones” or “ITRA points” by completing the races, which are necessary for entry into other major international trail events, including the UTMB Mont-Blanc.
- Name and Sponsorship: The event is officially known as the “Leopard UTML Ultratrail Müllerthal,” with “Leopard” being the title sponsor.
The Leopard UTML has grown to become a significant event that attracts both national and international runners, celebrated for its challenging courses and the impressive natural beauty of the Müllerthal.
