Dacia UTMB® Mont-Blanc celebrates its 20th edition with an elite line-up of runners

On Monday 28th August, one of the most special editions of the UTMB Mont-Blanc will begin. This 2023, the great Chamonix event will celebrate its 20th anniversary. In addition, the event will host for the first time the UTMB® World Series Finals with 10,000 passionate athletes ready to take on the great challenge of completing the UTMB, the CCC or the OCC.

Nobody wants to miss the UTMB® Mont-Blanc and the best runners in the world will be on the starting line. In the main event, the UTMB with 171 with 10,000m D+, the American Jim Walmsley, for whom winning this race has become the objective of his life; the Swede Petter Engdhal; the Frenchman Mathieu Blanchard or his compatriot Germain Grangier, winner of the VDA in Val d'Aran by UTMB® in 2022. In the women's category, the focus will be on the double winner of the race in 2019 and 2021, Courtney Dauwalter. The North American will find herself on the start line with great runners, such as the New Zealander Ruth Croft, winner of the CCC in 2022; the Italian Martina Valmassoi, who won the Transvulcania by UTMB® 2023 or the French Blandine L'Hirondel.

There will be no less level on the start line of the CCC. Here will be the Spanish Azara García de los Salmones, winner of the CDH in Val d'Aran by UTMB® 2023; and Marta Molist. Alongside them Ida Nilsson; Audrey Tanguy, double winner of the TDS in 2018 and 2019; and the Americans Addy Bracy and Priscina Forgie. Among the men, four runners stand out from the rest: Jonathan Albon, Andreas Reiterer, Dakota Jones, winner in Transvulcania by UTMB® last May, and Jiasheng Shen.

In the final of the UTMB World Series circuit over the 50K distance, the OCC promises a tough battle, with the Americans in the lead after incredible performances: Katie Schide, winner of the CDH and UTMB 2022 and second in the Western States 2023, Dani Moreno, winner of the 50K at the Eiger 2023, Allie Mclaughlin, winner of the Tarawera by UTMB 2023, and Jennifer Lichter. On the European side, the Spanish Nuria Gil, who won the recently launched EXP de Val d'Aran by UTMB®; Oihana Kortazar and Anna Comet, first and second in the PDA 2023 respectively; as well as the Italian Fabiola Conti and the French Mathilde Sagnes will participate. Not forgetting great international competitors such as Caitlin Fielder (NZL), Miao Yao (CHN) and Toni Mccann (ZAF).

The men's race will be fast and promises furious competition with the presence of two-time 2021 and 2022 Trail World Champion Stian Angermund (NOR), Great Britain's Robbie Simpson and Italy's Francesco Puppi. One of the possible revelations of 2023 is Spain's Antonio Martinez Perez, so keep an eye out for him.

As part of the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the UTMB® Mont-Blanc, the race will pay tribute to the winners of the 100 mile distance from 2003 to 2022. At the event, which will take place on Wednesday 30 August, each of the 22 runners who have achieved one of their greatest sporting achievements here will be presented with a personalised bracelet engraved with the UTMB course.