IRONMAN set to became trail blazers of the world

The IRONMAN Group has join forces with UTMB Group – a major player in trail running that has led the sport’s development for the last 18 years – to boost the sport’s international development. Together the two race organisers will launch ‘the world’s ultimate trail-running circuit’: the UTMB World Series.

The IRONMAN Group already has several established trails running events, including the Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB (Rotorua, New Zealand), Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB (Katoomba, NSW, Australia), and the Mozart 100 by UTMB (Salzburg, Austria) – all of which will be part of the inaugural UTMB World Series.

While the full calendar of 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)

The first major trail-running event in Europe by The IRONMAN Group was the Mozart 100® trail running event, held annually in the Austrian city of Salzburg, birthplace of the world-renowned Austrian composer and the event’s namesake. First held in 2012 with a humble 250 participants, Mozart 100 has quickly become a centrepiece of the Ultra-Trail World Tour. Today, more than 1600 athletes from 70 countries participate across 6 single and 3 team events leading up to the event’s ultimate test, the 108km (67 miles) long Mozart 100 race. The next Mozart 100 event will take place on June 19, 2021.

From 2022, the UTMB World Series will integrate four levels of event…

· UTMB World Series Finals – at UTMB Mont-Blanc, this pinnacle event will now also see the official crowning of the UTMB World Series male and female champions over three distances: 50K, 100K and 100 miles.

The landmark race is the most prestigious of races and the whole week is named after it. The Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc is an ultra-marathon mountain race of 100m/170km with approx. 10,000 m of altitude gain, this is the equivalent of climbing from base camp to the top of Everest three times. This race is only for the prepared, with runners spending two nights on the mountain they will start and finish in Chamonix working anti-clockwise around the Mont Blanc massif.

Average time to complete – 40hrs

Terrain – Steep trails and paths that become boulder fields, up to altitudes of 2500/2600m

Requirements – A lot of middle mountain hiking experience is required. Must be able to be autonomous for 4 – 5 hours and be able to deal with difficult weather conditions (wind, cold, rain & snow) both day and night

Qualification is by way of below:

· 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 in Asia/Oceania.

· UTMB World Series Events – from Europe, to Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Africa, each event will include at least one qualifying race in the 50K, 100K or 100-mile categories. These races will award ‘Running Stones’ – with 1 Running Stone equivalent to 1 entry into the UTMB World Series Finals entry lottery – giving runners the chance to be on the start line in Mont-Blanc. Top end runners will also be able to enter the finals based on their performance in the UTMB World Series Events.

· UTMB World Series Qualifiers – these are positioned as 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 an adventure in the series but runners who do take part will benefit from ‘privileged access to the UTMB World Series Events’.

Andrew Messick, President & Chief Executive Officer for The IRONMAN Group said “we have worked to create event experiences that capture the imagination of people from around the world, producing life-changing race experiences for athletes of all levels…as a platform to elevate the extraordinary that exists in us all.”

Catherine Poletti, President of UTMB Group, said “combining our experience and what the UTMB brand represents, with the ability and expertise of The IRONMAN Group, is excellent news for the world of trail running and for all its players:”