Information treasure

Due to HOKA for sponsoring iRunFar’s protection of the 2022 UTMB.

As soon as once more, UTMB is, surely, essentially the most aggressive path ultramarathon males’s area on the earth. The truth is, we’d enterprise a guess that it’s extra aggressive than any two different race fields put collectively. Whereas that’s nothing new, it’s nonetheless one thing to get enthusiastic about. On prime of that, it’s extremely internationally numerous, with prime rivals from throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. The 2 males producing essentially the most pleasure for this yr’s race are Kilian Jornet and Jim Walmsley, whereas a who’s who of path ultrarunning may have the possibility to indicate us simply how robust they’re.

As a reminder, the picturesque course covers 171.5 kilometers (106.5 miles) with over 10,000 meters (32,800 ft) of climbing because it circumnavigates the Mont-Blanc massif in a counterclockwise course from Chamonix, France, by Italy and Switzerland, earlier than ending again in Chamonix. Whereas the UTMB Mont-Blanc competition has expanded into every week with eight races, two of which — the CCC and TDS — are themselves among the many best path ultras on the earth, UTMB stays the queen race of the competition and the crown jewel of the path ultramarathon season.

A particular because of HOKA for making our protection of UTMB attainable!

Thanks additionally to Squirrel’s Nut Butter and BUFF® for his or her assist of our UTMB protection.

Tune in to our stay protection of UTMB beginning at 6 p.m. CEST (10 a.m. MDT within the U.S.) on Friday, August 26. You’ll be capable of comply with all of the motion proper right here on iRunFar!

Make sure you try our in-depth UTMB ladies’s preview for a have a look at the ladies’s race — it is going to publish tomorrow!

The Favorites to Win the 2022 UTMB

The competitors on the entrance of the lads’s UTMB area can be as robust as ever, that includes each family names and some runners you may not know so effectively. Listed below are the 5 runners with the perfect likelihood of ending atop the rostrum.

Kilian Jornet

One may identify Kilian Jornet the favourite to win this yr’s UTMB on the premise of him having extra wins than another man within the area along with his victories in 2008, 2009, and 2011. Alternatively, one may counter that he’s solely run the race twice within the final decade, taking second to François D’Haene in 2017 and DNFing in 2018. I’d counsel placing that to the aspect and the truth that in mid-July, Kilian beat François, the perfect mountain 100-mile runner of the previous half-decade, head-to-head on the Hardrock 100, as a motive he’s the person to beat. That’s not the one exclamation level in Kilian’s season to this point, as he set a nine-minute course report on the Zegama Marathon in his tenth win of the race. Now, it’s time to do not forget that Kilian’s run UTMB 5 occasions with nice success in 4 of these runnings. He did undergo his solely hiccup on the season in taking fifth whereas battling cramps at Sierre-Zinal in mid-August.

However — and it’s a giant however — if there are two guys on the earth with an opportunity to outrun Kilian at UTMB, one in every of them is American Jim Walmsley and he’s working the race. (The opposite being François.) Jim’s shortcomings at UTMB are well-known. His finest end is fifth place in 2017, which he adopted up with DNFs in 2018 and 2021. That mentioned, anybody who says Jim isn’t able to profitable UTMB is, effectively, improper. Sure, Jim’s finest identified for his success as “quicker” races than UTMB, resembling his wins and course report on the Western States 100, however simply this yr he gained the Madeira Island Extremely-Path 115k (MIUT), a race that effectively approximates working three-quarters of UTMB. Jim’s spent all the summer season residing within the French Alps, so he’s absolutely invested on this yr’s UTMB and can be lots accustomed to the terrain he’ll be working on race day.

Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz

Whereas it might have been superb to see France’s Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz race Kilian and François at this yr’s Hardrock 100 as he was slated to do, Aurélien was as a substitute celebrating changing into a father. After Kilian and Jim, Aurélien and the subsequent two males make this a fascinating favorites part to write down, as an argument may very well be made for slotting every of those different three males into this third place. I place Aurélien right here on the recency and power of his 2021 marketing campaign highlighted by his second-place end eventually yr’s UTMB. Final yr, he additionally gained the Transgrancanaria 126k and took third on the Extremely Pirineu 100k. One shouldn’t say that his 2021 got here out of nowhere, nevertheless it’s by far his finest season to this point and will point out an upswing for a runner nonetheless on the youthful aspect of 30. Aurélien DNFed his solely different UTMB competition race, TDS in 2018, however took second at MIUT in 2018 and third on the Extremely Pirineu 110k in 2017.

If you wish to hitch your cart to a rising star, try Germany’s Hannes Namberger. He’s been robust since moving into ultras within the second half of 2015, however over the previous 18 months, he’s gained the Lavaredo Extremely Path 120k … twice, gained the 2021 MIUT, gained the 2022 Penyagolosa CSP 110k, and brought sixth eventually yr’s UTMB, his first race longer than Lavaredo’s 120 kilometers. What’s extra, Hannes has a managed strategy that has largely prevented any disappointing performances in his races. Hold your eye on Hannes.

Pau Capell

Even when you may not know Aurélien or Hannes at this level, you most likely know Spain’s Pau Capell for his many ultramarathon successes, together with his UTMB win in 2019 and a sixth-place end on the race in 2017. He’s additionally gained TDS in 2016 in addition to taken third and sixth at CCC in 2018 and 2015, respectively. That mentioned, one has to wonder if Pau is totally again after his knee surgical procedure final summer season. Sure, he’s gained and been on the rostrum at some smaller races over the previous yr, in addition to taking second to Pablo Villa at Transgrancanaria in March, however he DNFed at each the Extremely X Azores final November and Lavaredo this June. Nonetheless, his most up-to-date run at UTMB is his win simply three years in the past.

Extra Prime 2022 UTMB Males’s Runners

Mathieu Blanchard

A podium at UTMB might be the top for an ultrarunner’s profession and, to this point, such would appear to be the case for Mathieu Blanchard, who was third eventually yr’s UTMB. Over the previous half-decade, Mathieu has run constantly strongly at UTMB races, having additionally been thirteenth at UTMB in 2018 and tenth at CCC in 2019. This Frenchman residing in Canada had a great first half of 2022, together with inserting fourth at MIUT and fifth on the Lavaredo Extremely Path.

Spain’s Pablo Villa is a really up or down runner on the most important phases. He’s been working UTMB Mont-Blanc races for a decade and in that point has been fourth at TDS in 2012 early in his extremely profession, DNFed TDS in 2017 and 2018, gained TDS in 2019, and DNFed UTMB in 2021. That sample was mirrored by his latest working at Transgrancanaria, the place he tied with Pau Capell for the win in 2020, DNFed in 2021, and beat out Pau to win earlier this yr. Which Pablo will we see at UTMB?

Nonetheless solely 31 years previous, France’s Thibaut Garrivier has already been working ultras for a decade. Throughout that point, he’s discovered success at shorter UTMB races, taking sixth at OCC in 2017, second at CCC in 2019, and profitable CCC in 2021. These outcomes aren’t any outliers. He’s additionally gained Transvulcania 73k in 2019, taken third at The North Face 50 Mile Championships in 2019 and Transvulcania in 2018, and second at Path du Ventoux 46k in 2019. To this point this yr, Thibaut’s run effectively, inserting fourth at Path du Ventoux and second at MIUT behind Walmsley and forward of Blanchard.

Tom Evans

After a giant yr in 2018, Tom Evans of the U.Ok. has raced extra sparingly on the world ultrarunning stage since then. That 2018 season included a win at CCC and a 3rd on the Path World Championships, after a fourth at CCC a yr earlier. Since then, he was third at each the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile and Western States 100 in 2019 and gained the Tarawera 100k in 2020. Evans has a pair of victories to this point this yr, profitable the second-longest distance races on the MIUT (85k) and Transgrancanaria (60k) festivals.

Excepting a DNF at UTMB in 2018, New Zealand’s Scotty Hawker seemingly retains getting higher and higher on the UTMB Mont-Blanc races. He was 58th at UTMB in 2014, eleventh at UTMB in 2017, third at UTMB in 2019, and second at CCC in 2021. Anybody know what Scotty’s been as much as this yr?

Till final yr, Erik-Sebastien Krogvig’s finest extremely efficiency was seemingly an outlier third place at Lavaredo Extremely Path in 2017. Then, the Norwegian stepped issues up final yr, not solely equaling that third place at Lavaredo, however including a win at TDS to his resume. To this point this yr, Krogvig has DNFed MIUT and brought second at Path 100 Andorra by UTMB 100k.

So far as we are able to inform, France’s Germain Grangier ran his first extremely at OCC in 2015, the place he took third. He’s returned to the UTMB races practically yearly since, DNFing CCC in 2017 and taking fifth at CCC in 2018 earlier than transferring as much as UTMB, the place he was ninth in 2019 and fifth final yr. Final yr, Grangier was additionally third at Path du Ventoux, DNFed Lavaredo Extremely Path, and was third on the Swiss Alpine 68k. This yr, he’s gained the 41k SkyTour Matheysin and Swiss Canyon Path 83k.

Final yr, Benoît Girondel took second at TDS to Krogvig in an in depth race. The Frenchman has expertise on the highest degree, having gained the Diagonale des Fous 164k on Réunion Island in each 2017 and 2018, earlier than DNFing the race in 2019 and 2021. Previous to his success at TDS final yr, Girondel had DNFed CCC in 2019. He’s gained his solely lengthy race we all know of to this point this season, the Swiss Canyon Path 115k, which he additionally gained final yr, however in a time of 11:02 final yr versus 11:49 this yr.

Dani Jung

Final month, Italy’s Daniel Jung introduced his infectiously constructive perspective to the Hardrock 100, the place he took fourth behind Jornet, D’Haene, and Dakota Jones. That run definitely exhibits he’s in prime type, however the Hardrock/UTMB mixture is one heck of a double until your identify is, effectively, Jornet or D’Haene! After all, perhaps Dani will present us he’s a type of superhumans. His fourth at Hardrock isn’t Dani’s solely prime run of late, as he gained Diagonale des Fous final October and was second at Penyagolosa CSP in April behind Namberger.

It’s not a stretch to say that Tyler Inexperienced is on the prime of his sport in the intervening time. The American was second eventually yr’s Western States 100 and fourth this yr. In 2021, he additionally gained the Black Canyon 100k. Again in 2019, he gained the Bandera 100k, gained the Cascade Crest 100 Mile, and took second on the Javelina Jundred Mile. Final yr, Tyler received his first style of the UTMB Mont-Blanc races in taking tenth in TDS.

Tim Tollefson of the U.S. has two UTMB podiums to his identify, having taken third in each 2016 and 2017. Since then, he’s DNFed the previous three runnings of the race in 2018, 2019, and 2021. This yr, regardless of a powerful build-up, he had a subpar end on the Western States 100 after ending fifth on the race final yr.

The final time Scot residing in France Andy Symonds was at UTMB, he was fifth in 2019. He ran the race two years prior, inserting sixteenth in 2017. After taking fourth at Path du Ventoux and profitable the Matterhorn Ultraks 50k in 2021, he’s gained a pair of much less acquainted races in France to this point this yr.

In 2021, Switzerland’s Mathieu Clément completed ninth at UTMB, the Mont-Blanc 90k, and Extremely-Path Cape City 100k. Whereas solely 27, Mathieu began racing UTMB occasions with the OCC in 2016, when he was nineteenth, whereas persevering with on to take thirteenth at OCC in 2017, twenty fourth at CCC in 2018, and sixteenth at CCC in 2019 earlier than that top-10 UTMB end final yr. This yr, he’s DNFed MIUT and brought fourth on the Mozart by UTMB 105k.

Luis Alberto Hernando

It’s not that way back when Luis Alberto Hernando was a prime candidate for a podium spot on the world’s greatest path ultras. Heck, the Spaniard gained three-straight Path World Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018 … after being second in 2015. Oh, and he was second at UTMB in 2015. In 2019, he ran CCC, and gained, however DNFed it final yr. He’s run largely smaller races and hasn’t all the time gained the previous few years, however perhaps he’s saved a little bit magic for an additional run at UTMB.

Thus far, Norway’s Hallvard Schjølberg has run 4 UTMB races. On the upside, he was fourth at UTMB in 2018 and fourth at TDS in 2019. On the draw back, he was twenty eighth at UTMB in 2017 and DNFed UTMB final yr. Final yr, Hallvard additionally DNFed the Lofoten 100 Mile, whereas he gained the Pirin Extremely 100 Mile.

Romania’s Robert Hajnal shocked many when he completed second at UTMB in 2018. That’s by far his finest race at UTMB as he DNFed in 2017 and 2019 and was thirty ninth in 2021, whereas he was eighth in CCC in 2015. Since his go at UTMB final yr, Hajnal’s been on an upswing, taking third at Penyagolosa CSP and fifth at MIUT late final yr, forward of profitable the Istria by UTMB 100 Mile, taking fifth at Transgrancanaria, and inserting seventh on the Lavaredo Extremely Path to this point this yr.

Nonetheless Extra 2022 UTMB Males to Watch

Ho-Chung Wong of Hong Kong returns to UTMB having positioned within the prime 10 previously two runnings, ending tenth man in 2021 and sixth in 2019. Racing’s been largely restricted in Hong Kong and China over the previous few years, along with his most notable different consequence for the reason that begin of 2020 being a fourth place on the 2020 Vibram Hong Kong 100k.

David Laney

Whereas it’s been some time since his finest UTMB performances, a third in 2015 and a fourth in 2016, don’t go counting David Laney out. Simply final yr, the American was fourth on the Canyons 100k, was third on the Ultravasan 90k, and ran a 12:34 100 miler on the observe. To this point this yr, Laney’s gained his native Gorge Waterfalls 100k and Siskiyou Our Again 50 Mile in getting ready for UTMB.

Lengthy a powerful runner in shorter distance path races, Beñat Marmissolle of France upped the space in 2021, taking over what seemed to be his first 4 races over 100k. That included taking seventh at MIUT after ending third at Diagonale des Fous, his 100-mile debut.

A four-time podium finisher at the Ultratrail Ehunmilak 168k, together with profitable in 2019, Spain’s Jon Aizpuru ran its 91k sister race this yr, inserting sixth. After DNFing UTMB in 2019, Aizpuru was 14th man eventually yr’s UTMB.

Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon of France positive brings his finest self to the UTMB races, along with his third at TDS final yr and his ninth at CCC in 2018 being two of his finest runs from his many ultramarathons. One other prime efficiency of his could be his ninth at MIUT in 2019, a race at which he was thirteenth man earlier this yr.

Ending only one place behind Joyeux-Bouillon in taking fourth at TDS final yr was his fellow Frenchman Alban Berson. Alban has additionally positioned seventh on the 2021 Lavaredo Extremely Path and 14th on the 2019 Mont-Blanc 90k.

Polish runner Marcin Świerc improved from second at CCC in 2017 to profitable TDS in 2018. I suppose that numerical development continued to zero, when he DNFed UTMB in 2019. He’s had some hit-or-miss racing in Poland since then.

Japan’s Masatoshi Obara has run UTMB 3 times and has improved every time. He was forty first man when he ran in 2014, sixteenth in 2016, and eighth in 2019. Can he enhance once more?

Seth Swanson

The sooner 2010s noticed Seth Swanson of the U.S. crush it practically each time he raced, with performances like a pair of seconds on the Western States 100 in 2014 and 2015 and a fourth at UTMB in 2014. In more moderen years, his outcomes have been a bit extra up and down, however previously 5 years he’s been second on the Lavaredo Extremely Path in 2017, third at Extremely-Path Mt. Fuji 100 miler in 2018, and gained the Bighorn 100 Mile in 2019. Final yr, Swanson returned to the UTMB races, the place he was seventh at TDS.

China’s Can-Hua Luo ran UTMB in 2019, taking eleventh. His finishes in China have largely been on the rostrum earlier than, throughout, and after that 2019 season. We’re undecided if he’s spending a chronic time within the Alps forward of UTMB, however Luo was second on the 72k race within the Montreux Path Competition a couple of weeks again.

France’s Julien Chorier has 4 top-10 UTMB finishes on his resume, with the most recent being an eighth place in 2016. Since then on the UTMB competition of races, he’s been seventeenth at UTMB in 2017, ninth at TDS in 2018, and thirty third man at OCC final yr, whereas DNFing UTMB in 2019. Nonetheless, Chorier is placing up strong outcomes, with a fourth on the Hardrock 100 and a sixth on the Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile in 2021 together with an eleventh on the Eiger Extremely-Path 100k and twelfth at Transgrancanaria this yr.

Jason Schlarb

The U.S.’s Jason Schlarb was fourth at UTMB again in 2014, however extra just lately completed as forty sixth man in 2017 and nineteenth in 2019. Since then, he’s gained the IMTUF 100 Mile in 2020 and been eighth on the Eiger Extremely-Path 100k final month.

Going again a couple of years, Lithuania’s Gediminas Grinius had three top-10 finishes at UTMB: eighth in 2017, second in 2016, and fifth in 2014. Over the previous few years, his prime finishes may be taking seventh and ninth at Transgrancanaria in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Even Extra 2022 UTMB Males to Watch

• Gautier Airiau (France) – sixth 2021 TDS; tenth 2018 & eighth 2017 OCC; 2nd 2022 Skyrace des Matheysins
• Pere Aurell (Spain) – tenth 2021 CCC; third 2022 Transgrancanaria
• Remi Berchet (France) – 1st 2019 Endurance Path des Templiers 106k; 2nd 2019 Échappée Belle 150k
• Jonas Buud (Sweden) – sixteenth 2021 Ultravasan 90k; 2nd 2012 UTMB; 5-time podium finisher of the IAU 100k World Championships; 1st 2021 Excessive Coast Extremely 130k
• Sage Canaday (U.S.) – 2nd 2019 Pikes Peak Marathon; 1st 2017 Lake Sonoma 50 Mile (Sage’s placement on this preview displays his return from a pulmonary embolism suffered in Might 2021)
• Maxime Cazajous (France) – 4th 2019, third 2018, & fifth 2016 Diagonale des Fous
• Avery Collins (U.S.) – eleventh 2021 MIUT; fifteenth 2021 CCC; sixth 2017 Western States 100; 1st 2022 Scenic Path 119k
• Sylvain Court docket (France) – 1st 2022 Extremely Tour des 4 Massifs 151k; 1st 2018 Mont Blanc 90k; third 2016 & 1st 2015 Path World Championships 85k
• Francesco Cucco (Italy, lives in France) – fifth 2021 & 2018 Diagonale des Fous; 4th 2021 Transgrancanaria; 14th 2021 CCC; twelfth 2022 Lavaredo Extremely Path
• Mark Darbyshire (U.Ok.) – third 2022 Penyagolosa CSP; 1st 2021 Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100k
• Guo-Min Deng (China) – third 2020 & 4th 2019 Vibram Hong Kong 100k; sixth 2019 Lavaredo Extremely Path
• Ji Duo (China) – third 2020 Panda Path by UTMB 160k
• Jimmy Elam (U.S.) – fifth 2022 Bandera 100k; 1st 2020 Bear 100 Mile
• Rod Farvard (U.S.) – 4th 2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k; 4th 2022 Bandera 100k
• Luís Fernandes (Portugal) – thirteenth 2022, eighth 2020, sixth 2019, & eighth 2018 Transgrancanaria; ninth 2022 & seventh 2019 MIUT; 18th 2017 UTMB
• Ugo Ferrari (France) – sixteenth 2021 UTMB; eleventh 2022 Transgrancanaria; 4th 2016 TDS
• Maxime Grenot (France) – ninth 2021 MIUT; seventh 2019 TDS
• David Hedges (U.S.) – 1st 2022 Monte Rosa Walter Waeg 93k; 1st 2021 Extremely-Path Harricana; 2nd 2022 Breakneck Level Path Runs Marathon
• Didrik Hermansen (Norway) – seventh 2022 Transgrancanaria; third 2018 Ultravasan 90k; thirteenth 2017 UTMB; 2nd 2016 Western States 100
• Moisés Jimenez (Venezuela, lives in France) – ninth 2022 Lavaredo Extremely Path; sixteenth 2019 UTMB; tenth 2018 TDS
• Harry Jones (U.Ok.) – 1st 2022 Mozart 100 by UTMB, 4th 2020 Transgrancanaria; fifteenth 2019 UTMB; eighth 2018 CCC
• Arnaud Lejeune (France) – tenth 2021 Mont-Blanc 90k; eighth 2013 & 2012 UTMB
• Ionel Cristian Manole (Romania) – 1st 2021 Val d’Aran by UTMB 160k; sixth 2019 Tor des Géants 360k
• Walter Manser (Switzerland) – seventh 2021 Mont-Blanc 90k; third 2019 Eiger Extremely-Path 100k
• Thibault Marquet (France) – 1st 2021 Échappée Belle 150k; sixth 2021 Mont-Blanc 90k
• Jérôme Mirassou (France) – sixth 2018 TDS
• Jeff Mogavero (U.S.) – third 2022 Damaged Arrow Skyrace 52k; third 2019 Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile; sixth 2020 Bandera 100k
• Ryan Montgomery (U.S.) – 2nd 2021 Javelina Jundred Mile; 2nd 2019 Tahoe 200 Mile
• Hirokazu Nishimura (Japan) – 1st 2022 Extremely-Path Mt. Fuji
• Cody Reed (U.S.) – 1st 2019 Extremely-Path Cape City 100k; 2nd 2019 & 2018 Tarawera 100k; seventh 2018 Western States 100
• Petter Restorp (Sweden, lives in France) – third 2021 Tor des Géants; 4th 2019 Mont-Blanc 90k; eleventh 2018 UTMB
• Lluis Ruiz (Spain) – sixth 2021 Extremely Pirineu 100k; 14th 2019 UTMB
• Jonas Russi (Switzerland) – sixth 2022 Lavaredo Extremely Path; sixth 2021 Endurance Path des Templiers 111k; 2nd 2021 Tor des Géants
• Eric Sorenson (U.S.) – 2nd 2022 Speedgoat 50k; 1st 2017 Marin Extremely Problem 50k; eighth 2018 The North Face 50 Mile Championships; 1st 2022 John Cappis 50k
• Sean Van Horn (U.S.) – 4th 2021 JFK 50 Mile; Nolan’s 14 finisher (45:57)
• Yan-Qiao Yun (China) – sixth 2019 & tenth 2018 TDS; 1st 2017 Vibram Hong Kong 100k
• Jia-Ju Zhao (China) – eleventh 2019 CCC; seventh 2020 Vibram Hong Kong 100k
• Fotios Zisimopoulos (Greece) – 1st 2021 Spartathlon 250k; third 2021 Transgrancanaria; tenth 2021 Lavaredo Extremely Path

The 2021 UTMB males’s podium (l-to-r): 2. Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz, 1. François D’Haene, and three. Mathieu Blanchard. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

On the Entrants Checklist, However Not Racing the 2022 UTMB

Beforehand, However No Longer on the 2022 UTMB Entrants Checklist

• Dylan Bowman (U.S.)
• Anthony Costales (U.S.)
• Hugo Deck (France) – Now entered in TDS
• Jordi Gamito (Spain) – Now entered in CCC
• Dmitry Mityaev (Russia)
• Min Qi (China) – Now entered in TDS
• Ryan Sandes (South Africa)
• Xavier Thévenard (France)
• Aleksei Tolstenko (Russia)

Name for Feedback

• Who would you decide as your favourite to win from Kilian Jornet and Jim Walmsley? Who else would you decide to win?
• Who will find yourself on the rostrum?
• Which runner do you suppose could be the greatest shock on this yr’s UTMB?
• Care to provide a shout out to a attainable prime contender who isn’t on this preview?
• Know of anybody in our preview who’s positively not racing? Depart a remark to tell us.