UTMB_ 20 Years of Passion, 20 Years of Emotion
Press Release / 04.09.2023
Driven by the desire to celebrate the 20th edition of the race that has become a legend, the Dacia UTMB Mont-Blanc 2023 kept all of its promises with the best elite field in its history* as the new host of UTMB World Series Finals and its three iconic races — the UTMB, the CCC and the OCC. As well as the Finals, each of the races was once again punctuated by sporting feats and great emotions out on the trails and then under the iconic finishing arch.
In this anniversary year we've enjoyed some extraordinary events! A highlight was the launch of the UTMB Legends, an initiative of the UTMB World Series which recognised and celebrated the 12 male and 10 female winners of the UTMB whose sporting skills and remarkable talent have helped to make the UTMB famous over the years.
On Friday evening six of them (re)took the start of the UTMB, in relay, to relive past emotions: Francesca CANEPA (winner 2018), Caroline CHAVEROT (winner 2016), Krissy MOEHL (winner 2003 and 2009), Karine HERRY (winner 2006), Dawa SHERPA (winner 2003) and Vincent DELEBARRE (winner 2004). Each trail runner completed a section of the 170km route and its 10,000m of ascent, which crosses the borders of France, Italy and Switzerland.
It was also a week to thank all those involved in the region - elected representatives, local residents, volunteers and associations from the 18 communes of the Mont-Blanc region - who come together every year to make the Dacia UTMB Mont-Blanc an extraordinary event. Driven by the same love of trail running and the mountains, it was only by working together that we were able to offer an unforgettable human adventure to runners, supporters and fans from all over the world.
A week dedicated above all to our shared passion for the mountains and trail running. A sport with exceptional values of authenticity, humility, solidarity, respect and fairness. These are the values that have inspired the founders of the event since its inception in 2003, and that throughout the week have been embodied in the many stories that make up the great story.
Friendship, in the image of François D'HAENE, four-time winner of the UTMB, who assisted American Jim WALMSLEY in Vallorcine. Courage, exemplified by the 113 PTL teams, who stood together in the face of particularly difficult weather at altitude at the start of the week.
There was also the unforgettable solidarity of the 31 guide runners from the Cap Grand Air Association who, after a year's preparation, set off on the OCC (55 km / 3,425m+) with an all-terrain joëlette wheelchair carrying Roxane DI CARMINE, crossing the finish line in 13:02.
A look back at a memorable week of sport
Starting on Monday, the MCC, a festive 40 km race aimed primarily at locals, volunteers and partners, saw 1,130 runners take to the trails between Martigny-Combe in Switzerland and Chamonix. After more than 3 hours French runners Simon PACCARD and Clémentine GEOFFRAY were the first to cross the 2023 finish line in the men and women's categories.
The 145 kmTDS, which set off from Courmayeur on Monday night, was won by Frenchwoman Maryline NAKACHE and Canadian Christian MEIER, a victory made all the more impressive by the fact that the difficult weather conditions made the adventure all the more challenging.
On Tuesday, the ETC, a rendezvous for short-format enthusiasts, enabled the young Spaniard Sara ALONSO and the Swiss Roberto DELORENZI to claim their first victory on this new course (15 km / 1,200 m+), which offered views of magnificent scenery on the sunny side of Mont Blanc and the Italian Alps.
First Finals of the UTMB World Series
On the OCC, which started in Orsières on Thursday, spectators were treated to a very fast race, an intense battle between the favourites and a breathless final stage that we love in trail running. The race saw an impressive comeback by the favourite, Norwegian Stian ANGERMUND in 4h42, followed by Italian Francesco PUPPI in second place and Spaniard Antonio MARTÍNEZ PÉREZ in third. In the women's race South African Toni MCCANN won in 5h18, ahead of American Katie SCHIDE and China's Miao YAO.
On the CCC, the large crowds at the finish line in Chamonix witnessed a magnificent finish. Norway's Yngvild KASPERSEN won the race in 11:51, more than half an hour ahead of second-placed Zimbabwean Emily HAWGOOD with American Helen MINO FAUKNER in third place. In the men's race British runner Jonathan ALBON won in 10:14, ahead of China's Jiasheng SHEN and American Dakota JONES.
This was the 1st Finals of the UTMB which, for the first time in the race's 20-year history, crowned an American double with Courtney DAUWALTER and Jim WALMSLEY taking victory.
WALMSLEY became the first American man to win the legendary event, while DAUWALTER became a legend by completing an iconic treble in trail running after winning the Western States 100 and the Hardrock 100 earlier in the summer.
American Zach MILLER and French runner Germain GRANGIER rounded off the men's podium, while German Katharina HARTMUTH and France's Blandine L'HIRONDEL rounded off the women's podium in an event that was as impressive as ever.
