Mont-Blanc August 25-31, 2025
Source: https://montblanc.utmb.world/races/UTMB and https://www.instagram.com/utmbmontblanc/
The Montblanc UTMB World Race is the HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc, a prestigious mountain ultramarathon festival and the final event of the UTMB World Series. It is widely considered one of the most difficult and competitive trail ultramarathons in the world.
The event consists of several races of varying distances and difficulties, with the most notable being:
- UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc): Approximately 174 km (108 mi) with 9,900 m of elevation gain. This is the final event of the 100M category.
- CCC (Courmayeur – Champex – Chamonix): A 101 km race with 6,050 m of elevation gain. This is the 100K final of the UTMB World Series.
- OCC (Orsières – Champex – Chamonix): A 57 km race with 3,500 m of elevation gain, serving as the 50K final.
The race follows the scenic route of the Tour du Mont Blanc, passing through France, Italy, and Switzerland.
For 2025, the HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc event takes place from August 25-31, 2025, with the main races happening throughout the week.
The HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc is a week-long event with various races. Here are the exact dates for the main races of the 2025 event:
- PTL (La Petite Trotte à Léon): Monday, August 25, 2025
- TDS (Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie): Tuesday, August 26, 2025
- OCC (Orsières – Champex – Chamonix): Thursday, August 28, 2025
- CCC (Courmayeur – Champex – Chamonix): Friday, August 29, 2025
- UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc): Friday, August 29, 2025
The event also includes several shorter races and a youth-focused race:
- MCC (Martigny-Combe – Chamonix): Monday, August 25, 2025
- ETC (Experience Trail Courmayeur): Tuesday, August 26, 2025
- YCC (Youth Chamonix Courmayeur): Tuesday, August 26, 2025
The history of the HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc is a story of how a single, ambitious race transformed into a global phenomenon and the undisputed pinnacle of the sport of trail running.
The Origins (Early 2000s)
The idea for the race came from a small group of passionate trail runners in the Chamonix valley, led by Michel and Catherine Poletti. They were inspired by the existing “Tour du Mont Blanc,” a multi-day hiking route, and wondered if it was possible to complete the entire loop in a single, continuous effort.
- First Edition (2003): The first official race, then known as the “Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc International,” was held. It was a grassroots event with a small budget and a lot of uncertainty. A total of 722 runners started the race, but only 67 managed to finish, a testament to its brutal difficulty and the challenging conditions. The route followed the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc, passing through France, Italy, and Switzerland.
- Rapid Growth: The race’s popularity exploded almost immediately. The number of entrants doubled in its second year (2004), and by 2005, registration was maxed out in just seven months. This overwhelming demand led the organizers to make the first of many key changes to manage the event’s growth.
The Expansion and Evolution of the Event
To accommodate more runners and create a more inclusive event, the Polettis and their team began adding new races over the years, creating the week-long festival we know today.
- 2006: The CCC (Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix) was introduced, a shorter but still challenging 101 km race.
- 2009: The TDS (Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie) was added, a highly technical 145 km route that follows the historical paths of the Dukes of Savoy.
- 2014: The OCC (Orsières-Champex-Chamonix) was created, a 57 km race that became the final for the 50K distance.
- Other Races: Over time, other races like the PTL (La Petite Trotte à Léon), a non-competitive team event, the MCC, and the youth-focused YCC were also added to the lineup.
The Rise to Global Prominence
The UTMB’s reputation grew beyond the Alps, attracting elite athletes from all over the world. Legendary names in trail running, such as Kilian Jornet and Lizzy Hawker, found their fame and cemented their legacies on the Chamonix course.
- Qualification System: The increasing demand led to a strict qualification system. Runners had to accumulate “points” or “Running Stones” by finishing other recognized trail races to be eligible for a place in the lottery for the main UTMB races. This system helped ensure that participants had the necessary experience to safely take on the Mont-Blanc massif.
- UTMB World Series: In a major turning point, the UTMB partnered with The IRONMAN Group to launch the UTMB World Series. This global circuit of races allows runners to qualify for the prestigious finals in Chamonix. The HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc is now the ultimate final for the series, with the UTMB, CCC, and OCC races serving as the 100M, 100K, and 50K finals, respectively.
Today, the HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc is no longer just a race; it’s a week-long festival that draws tens of thousands of spectators, volunteers, and runners from over 100 countries to Chamonix. It is a true spectacle of human endurance and a testament to the power of a single idea that ignited a global sport.
PODIUM UTMB – 2025
MEN : 1st – Tom EVANS // 2nd – Ben DHIMAN // 3rd – Josh WADE
WOMEN : 1st – Ruth CROFT // 2nd – Camille BRUYAS // 3rd – Katharina HARTMUTH
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