UTMB 2023 RACE PREVIEW: TOP RUNNERS FOR UTMB, CCC OCC

Posted by mayayo oxigeno on August 14, 2023 in courtney dauwalter, kilian jornet, trail running, Ultra Trail, ultra trail mont blanc 2023, UTMB, utmb 2023, utmb world series 2023 | Leave a comment

UTMB 2023 RACE PREVIEW: TOP FAVOURITES LISTED FOR UTMB, CCC OCC. Our UTMB travels to Chamonix today in order to review the top runners listed for the impending 20th edition of the event., to be held AUG28 to SEP03.

Ultra Trail Mont Blanc legends Kilian Jornet and Courtney Daualter both aim to be there, yet have followed wildly different paths to the start line this year, with the spaniard still on recovery from injury. Let us kick off with the highlights from UTMB 2022 historic sub2oh record by Kilian

UTMB 2023 RACE PREVIEW

TOP FAVOURITES FOR UTMB, CCC OCC

The strongest elite line up ever for the 20th edition of the Dacia UTMB Mont-Blanc and the first ever UTMB World Series Finals. The event marks the 20th anniversary edition of the mythical UTMB race and inaugural Finals of the UTMB® World Series (OCC 50K, CCC 100M, UTMB 100K).

Based on UTMB Index, we will have the best start list ever for the UTMB, CCC and OCC with the biggest names in the discipline: Courtney DAUWALTER, Ruth CROFT, Blandine L’HIRONDEL, Azara GARCIA, Katie SCHIDE, Martina VALMASSOI, Jim WALMSLEY, Kilian JORNET, Tom EVANS, Mathieu BLANCHARD, Jonathan ALBON, Stian ANGERMUND and many others.

Ten thousand passionate athletes taking on the challenge of a lifetime will gather from 28 August to 3 September to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the UTMB® and run the legendary trails around Mont-Blanc. The event is also an opportunity for the most intrepid runners to take part in the first UTMB® World Series Finals in the history of trail running. The line-up includes the unrivalled UTMB (100M category) with its 171km and 10,000m D+ across France, Switzerland, and Italy; the CCC (100K category) which invites runners to take a trip from Courmayeur to Chamonix, and the OCC (50K category), a Swiss experience for 1,979 runners that starts in Orsières.

An extraordinary elite line-up for the UTMB World Series Finals

For the first time in its history, the Dacia UTMB® Mont-Blanc will be the stage for the Finals of the UTMB World Series, launched in 2022. This inaugural event has motivated an exceptional number of athletes to line up on the start line of the UTMB, the CCC and the OCC.

UTMB 2023 THE MEN: KILIAN JORNET STRIVES FOR MORE

Among the men, the American Jim WALMSLEY, for whom the UTMB has become a lifelong goal, the defending champion and Spaniard Kilian JORNET, the Swede Petter ENGDAHL, as well as the French Mathieu BLANCHARD who just confirmed his attendance. However, the spaniard is yet to confirm he is recovered from the edema he suffered on his hip some weeks ago.

Also ones to follow closely, Briton Tom EVANS, who came 3rd in 2022 and is this year’s winner of the Western States 100 Endurance Run, Swiss runner Jonas RUSSI, winner of the Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB® 2023, and his fellow countryman Jean-Philippe TSCHUMI, who shared victory at the 100K Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB with the American Ben DHIMAN, could also spring a surprise.

The list of favourites goes on (full list available here) and includes Pau CAPELL (ESP), Zach MILLER (USA), Robert HAJNAL (HUN), Jiaju ZHAO (CHI), Arthur JOYEUX BOUILLON (FRA), Thibaut GARRIVIER (FRA) and Ludovic POMMERET (FRA), winner of the TDS 2022.

UTMB 2023 THE WOMEN:  COURTNEY DAUWALTER STANDS OUT.

In the women’s category, Courtney DAUWALTER – double winner in 2019 and 2021 – returns after an already exceptional season. Will the odd years bring her luck? Having just completed a historic double by winning the Western States and then the Hardrock 100 two weeks later, she could go down in history by posting a third victory over the longest distance of the Dacia UTMB Mont-Blanc.

Courtney Dauwalter win and record at UTMB 2021

UTMB 2021: François D’Haene & Courtney Dauwalter, kings of Mont Blanc.

Eyes will also be on New Zealander Ruth CROFT, winner of the CCC and 2nd in the Western States 2022, Germany’s Katharina HARTMUTH, this year’s winner of the Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB, Italy’s Martina VALMASSOI, winner of the TDS 2022, and Hungary’s Eszter CSILLAG, 5th at the 2022 edition of the UTMB.

Not forgetting France’s Manon BOHARD CAILLER, 3rd in the 2023 World Championships and winner of the 2021 edition of the TDS, and Blandine L’HIRONDEL, who will be racing her first 100-miler.

CCC 100K THE FAVOURITES

  CCC 2022 LIVE REPORT HERE

CCC 2022 TOP3. Photo Mayayo

UTMB 2023: TOP CCC 100K WOMEN

The CCC field will be international, with Spaniards Azara GARCIA and Marta MOLIST – 1st in the Mozart 100 by UTMB® in 2022 – competing alongside Ida NILSSON (SWE), Emelie FORSBERG (SWE), Audrey TANGUY (FRA) – double winner of the TDS in 2018 and 2019 – Addie BRACY (USA) and Priscilla FORGIE (CAN).

UTMB 2023: TOP CCC 100K MEN

Among the men, 4 runners with a UTMB Index in excess of 900 will be lining up: Jonathan ALBON (GBR), 2019 World Champion, Andreas REITERER (ITA), 2023 Trail World Vice-Champion and 3rd in the 50K at the Eiger in 2023, Dakota JONES (USA), winner of the 100K on the Transvulcania by UTMB® in 2023, and Jiasheng SHEN (CHN), who finished 4th at the most recent 100M Western States and 4th at the CCC in 2022.

OCC 50K FAVOURITES.

OCC 2022 DUEL MERILLAS VS MARTÍNEZ. OCC Live 2022 race report

THE WOMEN

The 50K UTMB World Series final – the OCC – promises a tough battle, with the front-runners all high-performing Americans: Katie SCHIDE, winner of the UTMB 2022 and second at the Western States 2023, Dani MORENO, winner of the 50K at the Eiger 2023, Allie MCLAUGHLIN, 50K winner at the Tarawera by UTMB 2023, and Jennifer LICHTER.

From Europe, Spain’s Nuria GIL CLAPERA, Oihana KORTAZAR and Anna COMET PASCUA, as well as Italy’s Fabiola CONTI and France’s Mathilde SAGNES will be racing. Not to mention some great international competitors in the shape of Caitlin FIELDER (NZL), Miao YAO (CHN) and Toni MCCANN (ZAF).

THE MEN

The men’s race will be fast and furious with two-time 2021 and 2022 Trail World Champion Stian ANGERMUND (NOR), Zegama winner Manuel MERILLAS (ESP), Great Britain’s Robbie SIMPSON and Italy’s Francesco PUPPI lining up to do battle. Spaniard Antonio MARTINEZ PEREZ could also be one to watch in 2023!

OTHER RACES

TDS, ETC, MCC or YCC

TDS 2022 TOP3 MALE FINISHERS. TDS 2022 live report.

145km, 40km, 15km and a youth format are on the programme for the week of the Dacia UTMB Mont-Blanc giving everyone the chance to enjoy the party and discover the legendary trails around Mont-Blanc.